#447 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,10

As a young child, I overheard whispered conversations between my mom and her younger sisters at family reunions. As soon as I or my grandparents drew nearby, the subject would change….Usually to something like “Oh, do you want a popsicle? I think we should get out popsicles for all the kids!” I do remember hearing…

#446 Brian A. CS: 1,2,3,7,8

After reading many of the stories here, I find myself fortunate, and I realize that it could have been so much worse. But the shame that I felt surrounding topics of sexuality were still potent. I was only 11 or 12 when I learned about the church’s stance on masturbation. I learned it in the…

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

I’m deeply saddened reading these stories. Although mine isn’t on the severity scale as some of those on here, I think the church needs to know that this happens everywhere. They are not one in a million. This shame happens to EVERY child in EVERY congregation in our church. In some degree. Just putting a…

#439 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9

There is so much. I can not write it all. I was beaten for masturbating. I was snuck up on if my bedroom door was closed or in the shower to “catch me in the act” so I could be beaten again if caught masturbating. I was raped by a guy I had gone on…

#436 Allen M. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9

I was asked specifically at 13 if I masturbate (had never heard the term before), and if I watched pornography (had heard the word, but didn’t know what it meant. Bishop got to explain them to me… Now because of his explanation, I learned I had been masturbating for 7 years (discovered it on my…

#435 Sadie W. CS: 1,2,3,7,8,9

My story begins at 2 or 3 years old when I was molested multiple times by/with the permission of a woman in her home during “daycare”. My mother, instead of reporting the incident to police, chose to report it to her bishop. I was examined by a doctor and he found that my hymen had…

#434 Name Withheld CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

My name is Julie. At the time of this writing I am 34 years old. I was born and raised in Utah within the Mormon church. I come from a multi-generational family with deep roots in Mormonism. Most of my family joined at the very beginnings of the church under Joseph Smith or Brigham Young.…

#433 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,7,8

***Sam, thank you for your hard work, selfless service, dedication to protect our children. I don’t know if this counts but I believe my bishop could have stopped the sexual abuse I endured from a brother and two cousins. My abuse was the span of age 4-10. My baptism interview is where I thought I…