We have 3 teenage boys and a 6 year old daughter. We will be “dropping in” during these interviews from now on. The whole “grooming thing” clicked with me. For those that say “Well my Bishop doesn’t ask those questions…..” The whole being along in the room is conditioning/grooming that child. I see that now.…
While myself and my children are out of the church, I was significantly affected by the teachings of shame regarding masturbation and felt the effects of self loathing and worthlessness. I discussed these effects as well as the issues of grooming and potential abuse in the context of worthiness interviews with my faithful, attending mother.…
I really don’t have a great sense of exactly how to communicate just how damaging these one on one bishop interviews involving sexual topics by untrained men with authority for and from the church have been to me so this will probably come off long and not very concise. I think those that read the…
I want to spend a little time sharing my story. I do not want to give too many details but give readers a pretty good idea of what happened to me. I grew up in Arvada Colorado. In about 1987, there was an older man that moved in the ward, probably better not to share…
I recognize my mother’s voice in another story here, so I think it’s time to share mine. When I was a child, I had a very zealous bishop who thoroughly, searchingly interviewed me 2-4x/year starting around age 11. When I was first asked about subjects such as pornography, masturbation, bestiality, etc. by this bishop, I…
When I was 15 I slept with my boyfriend. It wasn’t until later that I realized I had done so because I didn’t feel like I could say no. Anyway, I felt a ton of guilt and went to my bishop that week to start the repentance process. All I wanted to do was confess…
I don’t think my story is anywhere near as hurtful and disturbing as others who have come forward. I offer my respect, love, and support to each of the brave people who have shared their horrific realities with the world through this forum, and I add my voice to the collective voice crying for these…
Former Mormon bishop asks church leaders to stop interviewing kids about sex behind closed doors ST. GEORGE — A petition to stop the practice of one-on-one interviews between Mormon leaders and children has garnered over 5,000 signatures. The petition states closed-door meetings between adult men and children that include questions pertaining to sexual matters are…
Dear Bishop: Don’t Ask My Kids About Sex There is a movement taking place against the inappropriate practice we keep traditionally in place within Mormonism of adult males asking about sexual behaviors of minors (including masturbation) as part of worthiness interviews. I’ve been sharing my concerns about this from the perspective of all parties involved…
Report: Mormon Masturbation Interviews Damage Children Protect the children: The aggressive interrogation of children about masturbation and sex by Mormon church officials constitutes child abuse. The Mormon church has a dirty little secret most outsiders know nothing about: Children as young as eight years old are often aggressively interrogated by local church officials about masturbation…