Hello, Sam, If I were in your ward, if I were your friend, I’d stand beside you and witness that you are quite certainly the most selfless person that I’ve ever known. I marched with you this spring, my first time ever in Utah, and I listened to you and others defend me in a…
My bishop at the time was a family member… I was 11 at the time… it was a Sunday afternoon we were at home we were a few members families for a dinner. Kids we were playing and as we were playing we lost the door keys. During the evening I had the duty to…
When I was 14 I felt the need to repent for being raped by my 18 year old friend. During the interview, I was asked which positions were performed, what sex acts happened, how many times, the specific dates, what I was wearing, if I had feelings for him, why I put myself in that…
When I was 14 years old the youth of our ward took a trip to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. My dad was the bishop and conducted my recommend interview. He asked me about chastity. I was somewhat hesitant and embarrassed, but decided to share with him a non-consensual experience I had…
The amount of shame and unbearable guilt I felt as an innocent teenager caused permanent damage due to this line of sexual questioning and incorrect doctrine. I also remember the Stake President staring me down when I was with his daughter. Incorrectly assuming terrible things about me I suppose. This stuff has consequences. I developed…
I was asked if I masturbated before I knew what is was and before the thought had occurred to me. I was 13. It sounded bad, so I stammered out a “no.” I had to ask my friend who had just had the same question in her interview. As I grew more mature and ,…
I was born into and raised in another church. I was baptized as an infant, received my first communion, went through catechism, and was confirmed as a member of that church when I was 15-years-old. Six months later I met a beautiful girl that was Mormon. She was not just beautiful in appearance; she was…
When I was 16 I had been dating someone for awhile. It was standard to have a bishop’s interview to get a dance card and stuff. I went in to my interview already nervous because my boyfriend and I had been “petting.” My bishop asked if I was dating, if I was in a relationship,…
It wasn’t until I was 40 that I realized the damage Mormon bishop interviews had played a part in my life. By all accounts I am a successful and happy man. But behind the scenes I have led a life of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Not all of this can be blamed on Mormonism…
Aside from the invasive interview questions. I was asked such questions out of the interview senario (casual talk questions). I remember I was about 13 and I was waiting for the cultural hall to be opened for an activity. And our current bishop at that time was also outside waiting. And out of nowhere he’d…