Dear Mr. Young, March 22, 2018 I only recently discovered your work yesterday—your website, and stories of LDS children abused by ecclesiastical interviews. I glanced briefly at the headers for some of the stories on your web site, and knew I had to submit a story. I apologize for the length of the narrative, but…
When I was 9 years old, I was molested by a boy who lived in my neighborhood. I told my parents right after it happened. My parents got the boy and parents involved. Asked for my story, then the boys side. The boy’s parents asked for the cops not to get involved. (The boy was…
My father physically/sexually abused, neglected, and abandoned his children, with no remorse. When this was brought to the attention of multiple bishops and stake presidents, his vehement denial was all they needed to brush us off. He continued to go to the temple with his recommend and hold callings in his ward… now he is…
I was a very dedicated member of the church as a youth. I didn’t do anything that would lead to me talking to the Bishop other than my annual meeting. My mother is very open talking about sex and sexuality with me, but every time I had an interview with my Bishop I would dread…
I haven’t really discussed this with anyone before. However, I have been following your movement and it has sparked memories of being ask questions about masturbation during bishop interviews in the 80’s and 90’s. I was very ashamed to have to confess to having sexual feelings and to have acted on them in private. My…
I went to my bishop as a teenager for help navigating trauma from childhood physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. He connected me to some resources and was an empathetic and curious listener– too curious, sometimes. We met a couple times a month for about year. He was always physically affectionate with me giving full body…
Beginning when I was 9 years old, I had an older brother that repeatedly tried to coerce me into playing sexual games with my 7 year old sister. I was too young to understand what was happening then, but many years later I learned that he had begun raping her. When I wouldn’t go as…
I was a young adult during the time in which the internet and online porn were becoming popular. It seemed that every Sunday or General Conference was filled with endless warning of porn. I was probably an “expert” on porn before I had even had a chance to know what it really was. Before I…
I was molested at a very young age by a family friend. Then, I was molested again by another family friend from the time I was 11 to around 15 years old. He would touch me everywhere and spy on me when I changed or bathed. He stripped me down one night while I was…
I’ll never understand why my parents thought it was a good idea or allowed me to stay overnight with a 60 year old (approx.), single man who recently immigrated to the United States when I was about 7 or 8 years old, but they did. This man was someone my father was instrumental in bringing…