I confessed to masturbation to several priesthood leaders as I struggled with it from age 12-19. One bishop around age 14 told me I was “preying on my own sexuality!” He was a kind and genuine man, but because of this idea I identified myself as a predator. I felt like a deviant much of…
I never thought my story would be important but now that I see others standing up to protect children from these harmful interviews, I feel I cannot be silent. When I was 8 years old a friend I did not play with much came over to my house. We went in my room and she…
I still struggle putting this down on print and still have the shame that the church issued to me with my abuse. When I was approximately 7/8 years old I walked the few blocks to my cousins house to play. We lived in a very safe are of Sandy Utah and this was a common…
When I was 16 we went to visit my grandpa who was living in Rexburg at the time and my older brother who was attending Ricks. One night I woke up to him fondling me and reaching his hand up my shirt. I was so shocked and terrified I could barely say who are you?…
I was sexually abused by my step-brother when I was an eight year old girl. It continued for two years. My family was broken and dysfunctional and there was no adult I felt I could talk to. Like many victims of sexual abuse, I kept it to myself for years. I was never asked any…
My story is about how the Bishop of the church got information that I had had premarital sex. I was about 15 years old. It was my boyfriend, a convert to the church, that had told the Bishop what he and I did. I did not know this had taken place because we had broken…
My story starts outside of church. From the age of seven, I experienced sexual assault and harassment from multiple sources. Other children, adults I knew, perfect strangers. As an example, without revealing some of the more traumatic experiences, when I was eleven or twelve, I was out shopping and the proprietor of the store approached…
When I was a cute newlywed I was asked probing questions by a young bishop (whose sweet wife was pregnant with their 9th child) about what I enjoyed in the bedroom, which positions and techniques brought me pleasure, etc. Being young and naive and conditioned to answer personal sexual questions posed by my priesthood leaders,…
I went on my own accord to visit the bishop with my then boyfriend, whom I loved very much. We had been sexually active, but decided we’d really like to “make things right”. I was terrified to have to talk to anyone about this, but decided it was the right thing to do to confess.…
When I was 16 years old I moved to a new ward in Herriman, Utah. The first day at church right when we walked in the door we happened to meet the bishop. After my mom had talked to him for a few minutes and she had started talking to someone else, he then came…