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LDS Church Holds Missionary HOSTAGE on His Mission (from Ep. 2001)

Mormon Stories Podcast

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When Mormon missionaries are sent abroad, the Church often takes their passports under the pretense of “keeping them safe.” However, many missionaries report feeling trapped, unable to leave on their own terms. This was the reality for Kevin and Jen Lundquist’s son in Lithuania, where his mission president not only refused to let him return home but also subjected him to unethical, pseudoscientific psychological treatment that worsened his depression. Desperate to free their son, Kevin used his connections and issued a serious warning to the Church. Watch what happened next.

Full episode coming soon!
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20 Comments

@ivantheteribul 4 months ago

I just read somewhere (Reddit I think) that this one missionary wanted to leave, they held his passport and wouldn't give it back, so he went to the U.S. embassy/consulate nearby, they gave him an emergency one, and he up and left.

@FFM115 1 year ago

That moment when you realize you’re not dealing with the church of Christ but rather with a corrupt corporation.

@pscCRPS 1 year ago

It is refreshing to see a strong man who stands up for his child

@alissagalyean1843 1 year ago

We need to stop threatening the church with reporting them to the authorities and just report them. Not reporting them when they violate the law is what allows them to perpetuate breaking the law and causing harm.

@nobueno36 1 year ago

"Dont try to make the church work for you." Profound words.

@yankeecitygirl 1 year ago

One of the hallmarks of a cult is restriction of free movement.

@lhopi 1 year ago (edited)

This is my sister and brother-in-law. I’m so glad they had an opportunity to share their story ❤ Thanks Mormon Stories.

@dehende07 1 year ago

The dad told his son to "never make the church work for you"...... I started crying instantly, He just don't know that he said his son free with those words and he also sent me free as well...THANK YOU

@benjamingardea4511 1 year ago

Now these are parents!!! For all the people who disown their kids for their sexuality or lack of belief of anything else, this is what unconditional love looks like. You brought them into the world. It’s your job to love them!

@sethf4385 1 year ago (edited)

I came out gay to my Brazil mission president in 1999. I was so depressed/suicidal, I asked to leave after 3 months. Thankfully my mission president was a great person (said try staying another 3 months then see). He assigned me some awesome companions who helped me finish my 2 years. Because of great people on my mission, I made it out alive. Otherwise, I’m not sure what would’ve happened. I’m now religion free for 20 years and happier than ever. Not a happy experience in that homophobic religion.

@randallsmith7885 1 year ago

“Don’t try to make the church work for you.” This is the truth. The church is a rigid corporate structure that serves its own purposes and the wants of its leaders - just like any other organization.

@jacobopstad5483 1 year ago

The love of these parents for their son really touched me.

@KevinLundquist-l3s 1 year ago (edited)

I am the dad in the video (Kevin) Many of you have asked why I didn't pursue this further against the church. It had nothing to do with the church as I would have loved to, but more not exposing my friend and getting him involved unless I absolutely had to. He was doing me an amazing favor just supporting me and even talking to me and so I wanted to limit his involvement as much as possible cause he could have just told me he couldn't help me. Knowing that he had my back if I needed him was enough to meet my goal of getting Josh home and yes I would have loved to expose this but not at the cost of having to get help from someone that had no business in the situation. To be honest, when I emailed him I didn't know if I would hear back and when I spoke to him and asked for his help I was 90% sure he wouldn't get involved so I felt like I had spent the political capital I needed to get my son out of there and didn't want to push it further. Thank you everyone for the very supportive comments and again to John and Margi for inviting us on Mormon Stories.

@Truth666-Truth 1 year ago

I wish he had reported the Church because no doubt they were holding onto every missionary's passport. Who knows how many missionary's were held hostage?

@grigsbyriver 1 year ago

I served a mission years ago (75-77), and when we met the mission President, he collected all of the passports saying that he was doing it for safekeeping, and that they would be returned if we needed or wanted them. 7 or 8 months into my mission, a group of us were joking about how we were being held hostage because of the passport thing and I stood up for the mission president. I said I was sure he took them in good faith and would return them if we asked in good faith. They all laughed at me. So I wrote and asked and was refused. Then I wrote again and mentioned what he had said when he took the passports and challenged him to keep his word. And I got it. Of course he had to say when he returned it that I seemed to have some “emotional” need for it. Later, under a new mission president, I was asked to turn it in and I refused. I told the new mission president that it was mine and that I had a right to keep it. And that was that.

@ttiiddyyy 1 year ago

Bravo parents. Love your kids unconditionally, even if the church won’t.

@AnnieJensen-q2z 1 year ago (edited)

The fact that these parents had to threaten an FBI investigation to get their own child off this mission should alarm every parent. These church leaders aren't the parents of these young people. As a mom, this whole story makes me sick to my stomach.

@Geared_4_3ver 6 months ago

Holding someone’s passport is a crime.

@wereotters 1 year ago

I really wish I had parents like these

I had a similar in some ways experience where I also had my coming out on my mission and became suicidal. I was sent to a therapist but unlike his therapist mine encouraged my coming out

I was sent home by the mission president but upon returning home, my parents tried to force me into conversion therapy. And when I refused because of all my experiences, they then kicked me out onto the street.

I would have given anything to have parents as supportive as this. You’re showing more love than most queer children of Mormon parents experience and you deserve all the commendations for it

@darlaspafford-davis7087 8 months ago

In my opinion, living and then sharing this experience is your son's and your family's mission. You've likely saved more souls with this, than any typical Mormon mission ever does.
Thank you.