#682 Christian D. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8

I discovered self-love at age 11. It was sorta an accident, but I really enjoyed it. I knew it must be wrong because my mother caught me once and we had a meeting with the Bishop that lasted an hour. We talked about playing with the special present before Christmas, and that I shouldn’t arise…

#677 Samantha G. CS: 1,4,6,8,9,10

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…

#675 Wade R. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8

During my developmental years as a teen I often struggled with depression. I was weighed down with guilt and tore myself apart with self-loathing. I was conflicted, frustrated, embarrassed, confused, and suffering. My source of pain was due to my personal sexual sins. These minuscule sins included very infrequently masturbating (never to completion) and sometimes…

#672 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,7

First of all I am no longer a member, having resigned 2 months after being released as a YSA Bishop in the Pacific Northwest. In 1999 while serving as a Bishops Counselor, I was interviewing youth for an upcoming temple trip. In the course of my interviews I was asked to follow the handbook of…

#667 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9

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…

#666 Rena Lesué CS: 1,2,3,4,5

On a Platter Originally printed in Gris-Gris, issue 6, (Jan. 2016), and again in The Exponent II, Part 1 (10 April 2018) and Part 2 (11 April 2018). At the beginning of our two-week residency in Barcelona, my writing cohort met for cocktails in the home of Bob Antoni, a West Indian writer whose fame,…

#664 Pamela M. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9. Other: Secondary violation from questioning due to external sexual abuse from another priestood holder and ex family member

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…

#663 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8

When I was seventeen, the stake executive secretary knocked on the door of my Sunday School class during the second hour. He said the Stake President would like to meet with me. Of course, my heart started to race and I began to sweat. I was nervous. The first thing that goes through your mind…

#662 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,4,5,7,8

My mom had remarried,I was 15. I was trying to make friends in our new ward. I was sexually active. My mom set up an appointment with the bishop. My bishop told me that I would never find a “worthy husband” because “who would want Abc gum.” I struggled with self worth until leaving the…