#737 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,7,8

When I 14 years old my mom caught me looking at pornography. Because of this my parents made me meet with our Bishop. I did not feel comfortable doing this but at the time felt that it was what I had to do really, because my parents told me I had to. My meeting with…

#735 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9

I’ve been wanting to share with you my experience with the baptismal interview I had at the age of 10. I was currently being sexually abused by a close family member. The Bishop worthiness interview is something I’ll never forget. When he asked me if I was having sex with family members, I froze. I…

#734 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6

When I was a teenager, my bishop asked me if I was involved in masturbation. I had no idea what that meant. He explained it to me in detail. At my next interview, he asked me about masturbation again. I still did not understand. So he proceeded to describe it again. I was very uncomfortable…

#733 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,4,6

I was made to feel I was the ONLY ONE of all the deacons, teachers & priests who had ever masturbated. My bishop scheduled interviews without my parents’ knowledge, and I had to go to his house, alone, to talk to him. I was shamed. I thought I was the worst person alive, and probably…

#732 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,6,7,10

When I was 16, I had sex with my boy friend, my bishop at the time told me that no worthy return missionary would ever have me. DEVASTATING my world! The SHAME was overwhelming! My hopes/dreams in all that I’d been taught/molded to live for!!! Within 2 years I had ‘found’ an older (18 YEARS…

#731 Kristine D.K. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Other: PTSD, anxiety, persistent nightmares

Around my eighth birthday I was excited to be baptized. The plan was my father would baptize me. Both he and my grandfather would be there on Sunday for confirmation. Since I was born in April, it felt good to be joining the ranks of my older classmates. I don’t remember exactly which day the…

#730 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,6

I joined the church as a 21-year-old woman who had been sexually active prior to joining. After my baptism I struggled with masturbation. I went to my YSA branch president after each time crying and repenting. Lots of self-loathing, shame and mostly guilt. Fast forward a few years and I was married. My husband was…

#728 Sarah R. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

I am a convert. I was born and raised into a catholic family on both sides. I was introduced to the church at 15 and soon desired to be affiliated and grow in my testimony of the gospel. I was interviewed at 15 and asked several questions that made me feel entirely dirty. I felt…

#727 Tara T. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Other: Eating disorder for 15 years, postpartum anxiety and depression

My story is difficult for many to believe, but I have spent many years healing and finding evidence to validate to myself that it is true and many of my family member have started speaking about abuse they remembered years after I held onto the hope that my experiences were to crazy to be true.…