FGM and Mormons

Last month an article I wrote about female genital mutilation (aka as female genital cutting or female circumcision) and Mormons was published in an on-line journal called Square Two which deals with "faithful LDS thought on contemporary issues." You can read that article here: http://squaretwo.org/Sq2ArticleEmmettLDSFGM.html

The gist of the article is that there is evidence of the mildest form of FGM (stage IV)--pricking of the clitoris--being practiced on some LDS girls in Indonesia. The question then arises that if it happens among LDS girls in Indonesia might it then happen among Mormons in Africa where FGM is also commonly practiced among all religious groups--including Christians. I was unable to confirm if FGM has been practiced among Mormons in Africa so there is more research that needs to be done. What I did find out is that many other Christian Churches with congregations in Africa have spoken out against FGM. Within the Mormon Church I was able to find examples of Church leaders condemning cultural practices from Africa, like paying a bride price (lobola) or spending exorbitant amounts on funerals and weddings, but nothing about FGM. In fact I have not yet found any official mention of FGM by Mormon leaders (in conference talks, Ensign articles, the Handbook of Instructions, letters from the first presidency).

In the conclusion of the article I made these recommendations:

"Since FGM/C has been practiced among Mormons in Indonesia and might be practiced in Africa, it makes sense to consider ways to make sure that Latter-day Saints understand that this is not part of the gospel culture.Possible actions to be taken might include: 1) seeking out information from local Relief Society and Young Women leaders (in Africa, Indonesia and in any country where there are immigrant communities who come from areas where FGM/C is practiced) as to whether or not FGM/C is practiced by women and girls in their ward/branch; 2) determining the severity of this cutting and then deciding if all forms of FGM/C are not in keeping with the gospel cultures or if the ceremonial prick of Stage IV as practiced in Indonesia is acceptable: 3) suggesting other coming of age activities/ceremonies that are in concert with the gospel culture, if a ceremonial prick is considered unacceptable. Additionally, even if FGM/C is found not to be practiced among Mormons, the LDS Church should still join the chorus of other Christian churches in openly condemning this harmful practice."

Since the publication of the article two positive developments have come to my attention.

In a September 11, 2016 address (minute 3:41) at Windsor Castle, Elder Jeffery R. Holland, an apostle in the LDS Church, spoke out against FGM (perhaps the first mention of this practice by a church leader) as one of many forms of violence against women. 

He said: “Unfortunately violence toward women is not limited to times of war. Instances of female genital mutilation, removal of bodily appendages, and honor killings persist during times of peace….Surely God knows of their suffering and weeps with them. As Isaiah [22:4] lamented: Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.” 

He said: "Unfortunately, violence toward women is not limited to times of war. Instances of female genital mutilation, removal of bodily appendages, and honor killings persist during times of 'peace.'.... Surely God knows of their suffering and weeps with them. As Isaiah lamented, 'Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.'"

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/transcript-elder-holland-religious-persecution-forced-migration-conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raHYOLu0uck&feature=youtu.be 

 

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/windsor-conference-religious-persecution-holland?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSNewsRoomTop15+%28RSS%3A+LDS+Newsroom%29

Sadly, this important statement was included at the first of a speech that mainly focused on two other important and current issues--helping refugees and religious persecution, both of which have received considerable attention over the past year by Church leaders. Unfortunately this ground breaking statement about FGM did not get mentioned in either of the main Church produced articles about the speech including a Church News article (image below) that briefly mentioned women's issues including "sexual violence against women," but did not include mention of specifics like FGM, and an article in the Deseret News that mentioned "sexual violence" against women: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865662516/At-Windsor-Castle-Elder-Holland-joins-international-leaders-in-talks-on-religious-persecution.html)

Last week I was contacted by a staff member of US Senator Harry Reid (a Mormon and a Democrat) from Nevada. From this staff member, who had some questions about my article, I learned that for over two decades Reid has been at the forefront of US government efforts to curtail the practice of FGM. He first learned of FGM in 1994 and was the author of the 1996 law banning FGM in the US for girls under 18. He also sponsored the Girls’ Protection Act, which banned vacation cutting. This law passed as part of the fiscal year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.  He also initiated two broad and comprehensive reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which were just released, looking into how the US is addressing FGM. http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/676833.pdf. http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/678098.pdf.

I applaud the long time efforts of Senator Reid and hope that the speech by Elder Holland might be the beginning of Church efforts to help stop the horrible practice of FGM. 


UPDATE (2-19-20)

On February 19, 2020 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posted online an updated Handbook of Instructions. Handbook of Instructions.

Happily included in the Handbook was this entry:

I look forward to seeing how this new policy is disseminated and taught to members of the church in areas of the world where FGM is still a cultural practice. 

UPDATE (7-31-2020)

Today the Church issued a statement indicating more changes in the handbook of instructions. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/handbook-update-july-2020?lang=eng&cid=email-OCA_HandbookUpdate_072420_CTA  Included in those changes were several updates to the section on Moral Issues on such topics as sperm and egg donation, fertility issues and birth control. There was also a change to the statement on FGM, now there is no indication of further policy direction which leaves it unclear as to whether the ceremonial prick of Type IV is equally condemned alongside the full removal of female genitalia found in Type I-III. As far as I can tell, the Church has yet to offer any public announcement, discourse or publication about the ban on FGM.

 

 

UPDATE (11-11-3021)

Nice to see a local LDS chapel in Reading England being used for a Conference calling for the end of FGM.   https://rva.org.uk/event/ending-female-gential-mutulition-fgm-in-a-generation-be-part-of-the-narrative/

UPDATE (11-22-23)

As part of an inter-religious council effort, the Upper Hill Stake Center in Nairobi Kenya hosted an Anti FGM drama festival for Muslim girls' schools. This is a commendable effort, but sadly the article makes no mention of the Handbook of Instruction condemnation of the practice. Nor does it posit that perhaps LDS girls might also be subjected to FGM and need to be taught that FGM should not be practiced. 

https://news-africa.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/inter-religious-council-of-kenya-holds-interfaith-collaboration-for-action-on-gender-based-violence-at-the-upper-hill-stake-center

UPDATE (2-18-2026)

Statement of Consensus Concerning Female Genital Mutilation

This April 2000 Statement by the Seventh Day Adventist Church is a good example of what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints could do:

https://family.adventist.org/statement-of-consensus-concerning-female-genital-mutilation/

Selected quotes:

"Ministry to the entire person leads Seventh-day Adventists to be concerned about the widespread practice of female genital mutilation*. Often referred to as “female circumcision” or, more recently, “female genital cutting,” such practices currently affect scores of millions of living women and girls, with additional millions of girls disfigured annually. These estimates do not account for the young girls who die as a result of the more radical forms of genital mutilation. These practices range from excision of the clitoral prepuce to complete removal of the vulva with closure of the vaginal opening. Our central concern, expressed in this statement of principles, is for all forms of female genital injury that lead to physical dysfunction or emotional trauma. Moreover, such procedures are often done with unclean instruments, without anesthesia, on forcibly held young girls between the ages of four and twelve. Hemorrhage, shock, infection, incontinence, damage to surrounding organs, and massive scarring are frequent results. In addition to this physical devastation, genital mutilation is also emotionally traumatic.

Women who have been subjected to genital mutilation are also often afflicted with a variety of long-term gynecological health problems, including fistulas, chronic infections, and problems with menstruation. Upon entering marriage, intercourse is usually a painful, traumatic event, often necessitating reopening of the scarified vaginal opening. Childbirth may also be impeded due to rigid scarring of the tissues. At times, maternal and fetal deaths also result.

In the cultures where female genital mutilation is prevalent, the practice is considered justified for a variety of reasons. It is believed, for example, that such mutilation will preserve virginity in unmarried women, assist in controlling their sexual drive, strengthen sexual faithfulness for married women, and increase sexual pleasure for their husbands. It is also believed that removal of all or part of female genitalia improves cleanliness, is cosmetically desirable, and makes childbirth safer for the infant. Because of these beliefs, women who have not undergone such procedures may be considered unsuited for marriage. Despite evidence against such reasons, and despite the efforts of numerous human-rights organizations, the practice of female genital mutilation continues in a variety of cultures, with a prevalence exceeding 90 percent in some countries.

In some cultures, female genital mutilation is defended as a form of religious practice. While Seventh-day Adventists strongly advocate protection of religious liberty, Adventists believe that the right to practice one’s religion does not vindicate harming another person. Thus, appeals to religious liberty do not justify female genital mutilation....

Because female genital mutilation threatens physical, emotional, and relational health, Seventh-day Adventists are opposed to this practice. The Church calls on its health care professionals, educational and medical institutions, and all members along with people of good will to cooperate in efforts to eliminate the practice of female genital mutilation. Through education and loving presentation of the gospel, it is our hope and our intention that those threatened by this practice will find protection and wholeness and that those who have been subjected to this practice will find solace and compassionate care."

Dialogue. Articles/Essays – Volume 58, No. 3

Confronting Men’s Violence Against Women and Girls in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Suzanne E. Greco

This 2025 article in Dialogue discusses Violence Against Women and Girls in the LDS Church. While FGM is not mentioned. It certainly fits within the framework.

https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/confronting-mens-violence-against-women-and-girls-in-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints/

"Violence against women and girls stands as a pervasive violation of human rights on a global scale, unfolding relentlessly each day in myriad manifestations. Defined by the United Nations, VAWG is “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering of women, including threats of such act, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.”[5] The repercussions of such brutality are profound, casting shadows of short-term and enduring physical, financial, and emotional tolls upon women and girls."