LDS Church Bishops – the starting position for ALL other “higher” leadership positions in the LDS Church such as Stake President, etc. – are appointed ONLY based on being the highest tithing donor and being a church attending male in the congregation. NO OTHER CRITERIA are actually considered or used. There is NO screening or…
Sam, First of all, I just want to tell you how moved I am by what you are doing. I can’t remember when I first stumbled across your cause but I know it was around the time that Harvey hit Houston because I remember thinking about you when I saw the news. I’d like to…
I always dreaded the interviews. Even when my dad was the bishop. That probably made it worse honestly. I knew it was abnormal for kids my age to be exposed to this type of questioning but it’s not like I had any choice to go. Throughout my youth and early adult life I struggled with…
When I was 12 years old I was sexually abused by my dad. He was serving in a bishopric at the time. And he had earlier served as a bishop. After I was 18 and finally told someone the words from my stake president was to “forgive and forget”. My dad was not released from…
My beautiful daughter was tormented by the questions asked by her bishop in the worthiness interviews. I did not know anything about this until you stood up against this horrific practice. I asked her if this had happened to her, and she told me some of the details. When she was twelve, the bishop asked…
I’m telling this story in hopes that it will help many not go through what I have. My motive is not to shame anyone my motive is to bring to light what’s going on behind closed doors I would also like to add that what I’m about to say most people do not know about…
I have three major incidents in my life within the church that I feel strongly compelled to share. I want my story to be heard so that it can be a force of change among so many others. My story began sixteen years ago, at the age of six. I was molested by my primary…
When my brother Keith was in high school he had an interview with our local bishop, who was a cruel, condescending and judgmental person. Keith confessed to some sexual activity with a girl and the bishop shamed him, put him down and left him completely devastated. That night my father came home and Keith had…
It has taken a lot of thought and courage for me to even begin to share my experience. I have only ever shared the consequences I have suffered as a result of the church, but not the worthiness interviews themselves. Though I believe many people who are LDS are good people, my dad wasn’t one…
I was raped by a stake president’s son when I was 14 (in 1994). The bishop did not let my mother come into the interview she arranged (which she did because she thought I slept with someone — not bothering to know the details of my rape). Instead of suggesting I press charges or get…