I was sexually abused twice as a child by a family member. First, at around 7 years old, and then again at 9 years old. That in itself was a difficult thing to overcome, and I was told by family that it wasn’t my fault, and that I was a victim. My abuser wore garments…
I was born into the LDS church. I attended faithfully with my family. Went to nursery, primary, and young women’s every Sunday except for the few Sundays we were out of town on vacation. Church was a major part in my life. I believed in its doctrine because it had been ingrained in me since…
“Do you masturbate?” It was the first time I had heard the word, and it sounded like something bad, so I quickly said no. I was 14 years old, and He was the bishop. As a 14 year old I was dating a young man in the same ward. During the same set of interviews,…
As a child I was taught that it was wrong to touch yourself – but that your husband could touch you after you got married. I remember as a young married woman still feeling shame to even explore my body in a non-sexual nature. But my husband could touch anywhere he wanted. He would frequently…
I was 16 and had to go in for a temple interview. I carried an immense amount of guilt surrounding abuse I suffered at the hands of an older girl years ago. It subsequently had caused years of shame, guilt, and repetitive masturbation episodes to relieve stress when memories of what was done to me…
I was raised LDS and left the church at age 23, and resigned officially at age 33 (when I learned this was an option for me). I was raised in a large family, falling in the middle of 4 boys, I was the eldest girl. Much of my childhood is a blank as I can’t…
My story is pretty much exactly what to expect at minimum for a regular bishops interview to receive a temple recommend. I always lied about masturbating because I never wanted anyone to learn of my shame I hid at night. Every time I masturbated I would cry profusely for hours curled up in a ball…
I am a female, and was around 14 when this happened. My home ward had (still has) a HUGE problem with gossiping and I was often the topic of gossip among some of the adult members in my ward. I was called into the bishops office for a temple recommend interview and he asked all…
I started to be sexually abused around age six by my brother. Then when I was 12, I was gang raped by 5 grown men. After the rape, my grandfather started to rape me as well as my brother. I am a recovered bulimic and in my 60’s. I have been in counseling all my…
When I was age 11-15, I had different experiences with different bishops. I have never had the courage to say anything, and I also have never had a place where I can feel safe to talk about it. These men are part of my family’s community still to this day, and the encounters were so…