Utah state representative responds to 93-year-old man’s public prayer about ‘evil’ in schools

93-year-old Allen Young, who is the father of Orem Mayor David Young, performed a public prayer during a recent meeting of the Orem City Council where he said that “evil things” are being taught in schools.

Young’s prayer started on a positive note when he expressed gratitude for both his country and the freedom afforded to him. Following this, he lashed out at the public school system.

“There’s so many problems today in the school system. It wasn’t that way when our children were in school. They didn’t have to fight the evil things that are being said and done and taught in the school system,” Young said, according to Deseret News.

Young also prayed that Proposition 2 will pass in November. If this happens, Orem City to break away from the Alpine School District and then be able to form its own district.

“Here is an opportunity, we pray, to be able to change at least one portion of the state’s school system, to be able to render some of the evil influences that are going on in some of the schools. I’ve heard so much about the many evil things, not necessarily from family, but from teachers and others,” Young added.

Young’s prayer pleaded with residents in Orem to “really put some thought and prayer into studying the issues, that they make the right decisions at the right time on Nov. 8,” which is Election Day.

Sydnee Dickson, who is the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, expressed her shock at Young’s comments, calling them “a dagger in my heart.”

“I was so dismayed to hear a public prayer recently that our schools are filled with evil. It was just a dagger in my heart because I testify to the contrary every day. Our schools are places of joy, caring, and kindness, and learning,” Dickson said.

Deseret reported that Mayor David Young joined his father in calling for Preposition 2 to be passed in a recent Facebook post.

“It’s up to you to decide how you will vote. But if the numbers from the state auditor are accurate, then Orem’s at risk students receive less operations money per student and contribute substantially more to the other communities than they receive in capital funds. Orem students deserve better,” Mayor Young wrote.