I left TSCC in my early 20s almost 45 years ago. My parents were “pioneers” of Mormonism in a small Australian city, hence branch presidents and later bishops were well known to the whole family. I was asked as a 12,13,14 year old if I “self abused”. I did not know what that meant. It was explained by this person who was a close associate of the family. I was unable to speak to my parents about this. I was also told by family friend (YM president at the time) that I could be his 2nd wife. My defense to this was to bury myself in my books and stufies. I did not have teenage friendships at school and at the enforced Mormon mating meetings was uncomfortable with the dolly role expected. At University I was able to escape from the Mormon mound and thanks to a career and a Never Mo husband have had a fulfilled life in many respects. I do not make friends easily and it is only through the explanations of a NeverMo friend that I was able to recognize that this intrusive questioning was both abnormal and destructive. The relationship with my parents, especially my mother is fractured as they were close friends of the authority figures who they allowed to intrude into my adolescence. They would endorse them and their right to humiliate me. My brother, still a practicing Mormon , has suffered more damage than me and is only now, at the age of 70 starting to share some of it with me. The duplicity of church adherents and their minimization of the harm they cause still infuriates me and refreshes the humiliation and shame inflicted on me
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