I grew up in the church. I vividly remember sitting through a Young Women’s lesson one Sunday when I was 15 or 16. The lesson was on chastity. Our well meaning leader explained to us how chastity is similar to touching rose petals. The more the petals are touched, the more wilted they become. I…
I finally had the courage to confess my “sins.” I sat in the bishops office shaking, explaining that I had a messed up. He asked detailed, explicit questions that I felt uncomfortable answering. He lectured me on orgasm and erection. He looked at me accusingly like I was some kind of criminal, “where exactly did…
At BYU-Hawai’i, while a student, I came out as gay to my bishop. His response was to ask me detailed questions about what I liked to think about and imagine while masturbating. I wasn’t even confessing anything about masturbation, rather I was trying to get advice on what to do about my sexual identity. After…
I have my own story of shame and acceptance of abuse instigated by inappropriate questions and shaming from a bishop when I was a teen but, today I’m sharing my adult son’s story. My son is unaware of Sam’s movement as any talk of religion triggers his depression and anxiety. He has dealt with severe…
I was 21 when this happened, so I wasn’t a child except in the sense that my extremely conservative parents kept me purposely “innocent” without teaching me about sex or my body. We didn’t have tv or the internet, so I was really shielded. I went to BYU and attended a field study in Mexico…
For my entire life, I was taught that obedience to counsel was of utmost importance. This teaching alone is dangerous. If the counsel reeks of guilt and shame, there is no reason it should be heeded, at all. Yet, this was the life I lived. That I was raised in. One where questions couldn’t be…
Was born and raised in the Mormon Church in Provo Utah. I have been questioned inappropriately by Bishops since age 8. When I was 12 years old, My Bishop’s name was _____. He would always start on our sessions with a hug and hold my hands. While holding my hands he asked questions about masturbating…
I accidentally discovered masturbation right after I turned 12, and I engaged in the act just one time. Shortly thereafter, the bishop told the parents of the ward that they needed to talk to their kids about sex and to send the kids to him if there were issues. My parents, who never questioned a…
I was raised LDS and when I was 14 I felt I needed to talk to the bishop about my first sexual experience because I believed that God could only forgive such horrible sins next to murder with the bishop as a tool. I was 14 and got felt up by a 15 year old…
I was raised in the church, and while I didn’t always know if I believed it was the ONLY true church I did my best to follow its basic teachings through my childhood. I didn’t drink, didn’t do drugs, didn’t date until I was 16, held leadership positions for youth, and didn’t miss any temple…