I was first groomed and raped at age 9 yrs old by my sister’s Sunday School teacher. My family were devout Mormons, and my parents were in marital turmoil with 4 small children. I did not “report” until I was in a facility at age 19 for attempted suicide. My parents then attempted to search…
I knew I was gay as early as I was 8. All I knew is that what I felt was wrong and evil. That was constantly reiterated at church for the next decade of my life. The amount of self loathing and shaming was crippling at times. No one knew. When I was 11, I…
1976 was when I turned 12 years old. That year my bishop had a priesthood interview with me so I could become a deacon. My bishop was a kind man, but asked me if I had troubles with masturbation? I did not understand the word, but figured I needed to say yes. I was that…
My first memory of my father abusing me was when I was 3 years old. He molested me in the bathtub. I knew it wasn’t the first time it happened, and it didn’t feel good. He said things to me I’m not quite sure I understood but it was in a rhythmic tone, like a…
Adeline This is my second child, born so quickly, with a head so round, that folks would ask if I had a c-section. I’d take revenge by telling them about the 32 stitches in my backside. This is my toddler who would get so excited about hugs that she’d curl up in a ball and…
20 Years. That’s how long it took for me to unravel the mess created by my Young Women’s President. I won’t go into a lot of detail about that, because this is a place for inappropriate Bishop’s interviews. But if you’ll bear with me, It DOES involve a Bishop’s interview that ended with the cold…
This is a story about one of my children whose life was impacted in a huge way due to explicit sexual worthiness questions by clergy. Growing up in the church, the gospel was a large part of his identity and self-worth. All of that changed upon turning 17 years old and being disciplined by the…
During interviews with the bishop, I was shamed into believing that I had to share sexually explicit details of intimate relationships that I had with boys. I was made to believe that I would never be able to go on a mission, let alone ever go to the temple. Years later, I still struggle with…
I was raised in a family with half a dozen siblings. Very close, very conservative. My parents were very “morally driven” and extremely uncomfortable with anything adult oriented or things they deemed inappropriate. Easiest examples being the censorship they used for the family TV Many channels were blocked, we weren’t allowed to watch mainstream shows…
I have had too much shame to share my story with even my closest friends. I have been faithfully active for 40 years. In the past five years I have been on a break due to this very subject. I am bold and sassy and able to have a voice in every other area of…