Mormon Church Censures Retired Rexburg Physician

A retired Rexburg physician accused of molesting female patients has been stripped of key Mormon Church privileges, a newspaper reported.

An official of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed Thursday that Dr. LaVar Withers is barred from entering Mormon temples, teaching Sunday school or holding church office while on probation.

“It is our understanding that has happened at this point,” Scott Grow of Boise, second counselor in the church’s area presidency covering the Northwest, parts of Canada and Alaska, told The Idaho Statesman.

Withers said the report was untrue.

“I have no comment for you people,” he said. “If you go printing that stuff, you’re lying again. You’re getting nosy and not dealing with anything that is any of your business.”

Withers surrendered his license to practice medicine last summer amid allegations that he had sexually molested more than 23 women during his 32-year career. He has denied the charges and insisted he planned to retire this year.

Grow said Withers is on probation - the mildest sanction the church imposes.

It is not unusual for the church to restrict a member’s activities if questions about moral conduct arise, he said.

Church probationary restrictions usually are leveled by a bishop or stake president and do not require a decision by a disciplinary council. A bishop or stake president also can lift probation and reinstate all privileges.

In cases involving legal matters, more serious discipline such as ex-communication usually is held off until court action is completed.

Withers faces a legal claim from a Ricks College student who alleges he abused her in March at Madison Memorial Hospital. The Idaho attorney general’s office also reportedly has taken over a criminal investigation into the Withers case.

G. Farrell Young, Withers’ stake president in Rexburg, declined to discuss the case.

“I promised Dr. Withers that I’d make no comment about that,” Young said. “I think you can trust Elder Grow’s word. I would rather not have my name on that kind of statement.”

In a letter dated Aug. 23 to a Mormon woman who had complained Withers squeezed her breast, Young said: “We have followed up with this matter in very prayerful consideration and in consultation with other church leaders, including general authorities. We have pursued the course of action that was deemed most appropriate.”

But in a Sept. 1 interview with The Idaho Statesman, Withers said he was a member in good standing with the church.