At 7/8 years old I was introduced to the sexual side of myself. I won’t tell that story, but as a young child, I only knew that what I was experiencing felt good. I wanted to recreate that feeling, so I started masturbating. I was taught in church, by leaders, that masturbating was a sin…
Approximately 50 years ago, I was molested and raped as a young girl in a small Mormon farming community in SE Idaho. It has taken years for me to realize the impact that this has had on my life. The abuse took place over time by the area counselor to the Stake President. The covert…
My mission president’s monthly interviews with sister missionaries in my mission were emotionally abusive and left me spiritually debilitated and suspicious of all priesthood leadership and closed-door interviews. Our president tried to make it sound like he was just checking up on our worthiness, but he always wandered into vulgar territory with lewd, probing questions…
It has taken a lot of thought and courage for me to even begin to share my experience. I have only ever shared the consequences I have suffered as a result of the church, but not the worthiness interviews themselves. Though I believe many people who are LDS are good people, my dad wasn’t one…
I was raped by a stake president’s son when I was 14 (in 1994). The bishop did not let my mother come into the interview she arranged (which she did because she thought I slept with someone — not bothering to know the details of my rape). Instead of suggesting I press charges or get…
My three sisters and I were abused by my mom’s Mormon best friends sons for many years. When the abuse was discovered, our mother shamed us into KNOWING that it was our fault. How does a 4 year old get blamed for a 12 year old playing doctor in the Mormon role of men and…
I was born/ raised in the church, and growing up I took my religion very seriously. I was attending a Young Single Adult Ward, and I’d been carrying around tremendous guilt for years. As a kid, I was repeatedly molested by my older brother. My memory on when it first started and ended is hazy,…
Hi Sam! I saw your Facebook feed months ago, and it intrigued me. As I was reading about your cause, my heart was so saddened, not only for the victims I read about, but it then dawned on me, my own children have been subjected to these interviews. I am an active member of our…
From when I was twelve onward, I was asked by my bishop in semi annual interviews sexual questions. He asked me, from when I was 12, if I engaged in petting or necking. I had to ask for clarification about what that meant. He asked me if I watched pornography. I had to ask for…
I first joined the church at 19, at this time I was suffering from depression and anxiety and even though I hadn’t had all of the missionary lessons – due to my mother not wanting the missionaries in the house – after repeated requests and pressure from the missionaries I agreed to be baptised. I…