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…
When I was around 12 years old my much older sister’s husband molested me and his 9 yr old son. We didn’t tell anyone. A year or so later my brother-in-law told our bishop what he had done. My nephew and I were called in to the bishops office. We were interrogated about every, single,…
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…
My family moved frequently as I was growing up, so my twelfth birthday was spent in a new ward. My family wasn’t in this ward long and moved within the year, so I never endured more than one interview with this man. But I remember the extreme hatred and fear I felt after my interview…
I was 11 when I discovered masturbation while changing into my pajamas one night. I continued to do it almost every night before I went to sleep, as it felt really good and helped me fall asleep more quickly. Several months later, my father called me into his room for a monthly interview; we had…