I was sixteen when I was called into the Bishop’s office – I didn’t know why.
You see, I grew up in a “non-mormon” home with an agnostic dad until my parents got divorced – then my mom married a mormon man who insisted we all become mormon. I never fully realized what all this entailed – and then came that interview.
Bishop _______ explained this would be a routine interview for young women. Asking me about my social life; he asked how often I “go out” I answered that “I go out with my friends” once or twice a week… He said girls don’t go out that much unless they are “putting-out”
“Putting out?” – I didn’t even know what that meant. He stated that a young girl like me who dated a lot must be having sex with the boys or I wouldn’t be so popular. This mortified me.
He further explained a lot of things like masturbation and sexual activities that prior to this I had no idea of. He asked a lot of questions regarding sexual purity and such and being quite innocent about these things I didn’t know how to respond. He accused me of being a liar because I maintained my innocence.
His demeanor was anything but spiritual. It was dirty. What I thought was going to be a good experience with what I expected to be a holy man turned out to make me feel dirty – and violated.
It has troubled me ever since, and that was nearly forty years ago.
Thank you – Lori Dunn