I am a fairly sensitive person that also deals with a guilty conscience, and as a young man in the church those interviews caused many years of psychological damage on my developing mind. The guilt and shame I dealt with almost destroyed my self-confidence and self-worth, all because I was normal, I had hormones, I was attracted and desired the opposite sex, and did masturbate from time to time. I prayed and prayed and yet those desires never left. Not only did those interviews make me feel like some kind of sexual monster, but I also dealt with the guilt of having to lie to my bishops. Dishonesty was out of character for me, but admitting would result in the whole ward finding out because I wouldn’t be able to partake of or perform my sacrament duties. If I hadn’t have had things to take my mind off of the guilt and shame, such as good friends and hobbies, it scares me to think of how much worse it could have been for me, such as deep depression or possibly suicide.
Since leaving mormonism I have healed, I realize there was nothing wrong with me, I did nothing wrong, I was a great kid. I also realize that those men have no authority over anyone and those interviews are very inappropriate and damaging. Damaging to many young members that don’t have a choice in being confronted with such questioning.