* 1960’s-1970’s- (3 to 18 yrs. Old) I was trafficked as a child – sexually abused and tortured by members of Polygamist groups, as well as other perpetrators and pedophiles within the communities of Bluffdale, Riverton, and throughout the Salt Lake Valley. This child trafficking occurred in homes, church buildings, basements, school buildings and other…
My wife and I were very TBM several years ago when the bishop, a marriage and family therapist of 20+ years asked him before his baptism interview, with both of us in the room about masturbation and touching himself. A 7 year old! We were both in shock but did not know what to say…
I grew up in a small farming community in Oregon. Fifteen years ago there were (and still are) many LDS members in my home town. I remember being 11 years old and getting ready to leave primary (finally!) I don’t know if this was a stake wide thing or just our ward…but my Bishop held…
I was raised in the church. I was seventh generation Mormon – something often boasted about in our family. We were the picture perfect LDS family. Every Sunday you’d find us planted in our pew 20 minutes before sacrament started so we could listen to the prelude music and “get spiritually readied.” My family was…
I’d been dating a young man in my ward for over a year. We were young, and often found ourselves alone, which over the course of the year lead to some inappropriate behavior (as defined by The Church). We both decided it was time to come clean. However, my father was our bishop so we…
A lot of other people’s stories are a lot more impactful then mine. Truth be told I was one of the lucky ones. My parents never taught me about sex. Being a small embarrassed child I never wanted to have the talk, but soon enough puberty set in, and I began to start masturbating. Truth…
I have two stories to share regarding inappropriate and perhaps illegal or at the very least unethical actions directed by men in church leadership positions. When I was 16, I had never been kissed and was asked to come over to a boy’s house. He was the son of the fist councilor and I met…
Adeline This is my second child, born so quickly, with a head so round, that folks would ask if I had a c-section. I’d take revenge by telling them about the 32 stitches in my backside. This is my toddler who would get so excited about hugs that she’d curl up in a ball and…
Our son, 30 years old, called to tell us what happened when he was a teacher. Said a girl called asked him to meet at a park, she kissed him for about 5 seconds, than stopped. They both left. At church the next day, the bishop grabbed our son by the arm pulled him into…
It is difficult to express the damage that is done to children who are, in all other aspects of their lives, protected by laws that rightly prohibit adults from inappropriately questioning a child to protect their innocence. Yet, when it happens at a church we shy away in fear of being called persecutors of the…