I confessed to masturbation to several priesthood leaders as I struggled with it from age 12-19. One bishop around age 14 told me I was “preying on my own sexuality!” He was a kind and genuine man, but because of this idea I identified myself as a predator. I felt like a deviant much of…
I never thought my story would be important but now that I see others standing up to protect children from these harmful interviews, I feel I cannot be silent. When I was 8 years old a friend I did not play with much came over to my house. We went in my room and she…
I still struggle putting this down on print and still have the shame that the church issued to me with my abuse. When I was approximately 7/8 years old I walked the few blocks to my cousins house to play. We lived in a very safe are of Sandy Utah and this was a common…
When I was 16 we went to visit my grandpa who was living in Rexburg at the time and my older brother who was attending Ricks. One night I woke up to him fondling me and reaching his hand up my shirt. I was so shocked and terrified I could barely say who are you?…
I was sexually abused by my step-brother when I was an eight year old girl. It continued for two years. My family was broken and dysfunctional and there was no adult I felt I could talk to. Like many victims of sexual abuse, I kept it to myself for years. I was never asked any…
My story is about how the Bishop of the church got information that I had had premarital sex. I was about 15 years old. It was my boyfriend, a convert to the church, that had told the Bishop what he and I did. I did not know this had taken place because we had broken…
How do I even begin to try and explain the damage being abused as a child has caused me. I was 6, we had been friends with this family for a few years, our families did a preschool co-op together. My friend was the same age as me. We had play dates, saw each other…
My story starts outside of church. From the age of seven, I experienced sexual assault and harassment from multiple sources. Other children, adults I knew, perfect strangers. As an example, without revealing some of the more traumatic experiences, when I was eleven or twelve, I was out shopping and the proprietor of the store approached…
When I was a cute newlywed I was asked probing questions by a young bishop (whose sweet wife was pregnant with their 9th child) about what I enjoyed in the bedroom, which positions and techniques brought me pleasure, etc. Being young and naive and conditioned to answer personal sexual questions posed by my priesthood leaders,…
I went on my own accord to visit the bishop with my then boyfriend, whom I loved very much. We had been sexually active, but decided we’d really like to “make things right”. I was terrified to have to talk to anyone about this, but decided it was the right thing to do to confess.…