#254 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,8,9

My parents are amazing people. They are always there for me (turning 30 this year) and have never judged or meant to harm me or my brothers in any way whatsoever. That said, the influence the Mormon church has had on their parenting was without a doubt very harmful. I have been drawn to women…

#252 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

I was molested by my older brothers for several years. One night my mother sat me down and asked me about it because my parents had caught one of my brothers trying to sneak into my room the night before. I had enough foresight to bar the door knowing he would come in. I felt…

#250 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8

I learned to masturbate as an infant. It was no big deal to me. I only did it while alone. I had sexual ideas and daydreams when I was a child. I started to think these thoughts were bad. My bro brought porn mags into our room. He did not hide them well. I started…

#249 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

This happened more than 20 years ago. I was 11. My dad left us when we were young. My mom was an alcoholic and a prostitute. My family life was hell. I don’t know the whole story but my mom took the missionary lessons when I was young and got baptized. She went through cycles…

#248 Maddie K. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9

I was 12 years old when I found out what masturbation was. I did not find out from the internet (not a thing at that time). I did not get curious looking at dirty pictures or even from being told by friends what it was. I was told in graphic detail what it was by…

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

I didn’t even know what masturbation was until my bishop asked me. I lied because I was embarrassed and thought it was something I was supposed to know about. I looked it up online and discovered porn at an early age. I confessed to my bishop and ended up living in guilt and shame my…

#244 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8. Other: Lost opportunities due to shame filled “best dating years.”

When I turned twelve years old, it was time for my Aaronic Priesthood interview. Everyone seemed to be talking about it like it was a big deal. For me, it was the first time I can remember ever getting the complete attention from the bishop. Our bishop was newly called. He as the father one…

#243 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8

Like others here, I feel a little nervous to tell my story. Interviews starting when I entered Young Women’s. All I heard until I was actually kissing boys was whether I was “keeping the law of chastity”. I didn’t kiss a boy until I was 17 years old, and that boy (who became my first…

#242 Jeremy C. CS: 1,2,3,5,6,7

Growing up in Utah I was regularly asked about whether I touched myself (even how I did it, and where) by my bishop and the counselors. I think I was asked about it starting around 8 years old, and all through my teens and into my twenties (I’m early 30’s now). I’m sure I was…

#241 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8

My (now adult) son suffered public shaming as a teenager because he was honest in his interviews with the bishop when asked if he masturbated. Numerous times after being ordained a priest (age 16) and having been called in for a worthiness interview with the bishop, my son would be told he couldn’t administer the…