I tend to be verbose, so excuse me if this is long. I was first asked if I masturbated when I was 14, I believe. At the time I’d only heard of it in regards to boys and thought it was only sinful because of “seed being spilled.” (I had that impression because of the…
I had just turned 12 years old. My sister was the Laurel President and absolutely loved the Young Women’s program in our LDS faith. I was so excited to share this with my sister. Just like other youth my age, it was time for me to be interviewed by my Bishop. He was a young…
I am one of the many men who was repeatedly sexually shamed in interviews. This line of specific and graphic sexual questioning took place since I was 12 years old and lasted until after my mission. I was grilled about it explicitly by bishops, stake presidents, mission presidents, and young men’s leaders. Even now as…
For my baptismal interview, I was asked if I kept the law of chastity with myself. I was confused, nervous, embarrassed. I slowly nodded. He said he had hoped I was too young to even know what masturbation was, but that “you never know.” I had been a victim of molestation as an even younger…
I had been molested by one of my brothers friends for several years between 11 & 14. This boy would sneak into my bedroom at night when he thought I was asleep. We finally moved and I felt it was something I needed to talk to someone about it but didn’t feel comfortable talking to…
I started having a sexual relationship with my first serious boyfriend at the age of 16. He was also a member of the church. We decided as a couple that we wanted to repent so that we could be worthy for temple marriage. I made an appointment with my bishop to start the repentance process.…
i was constantly asked as from 14-18 if I was masturbating by my ward leader; my bishop referred to it as, self abuse. I had struggled with that before, but had stopped. I felt ashamed for feeling uncomfortable discussing with my bishop, because it was basically understood at that time that I would be separated…
My story may seem insignificant to some, but for me it had a huge impact on my personal self worth while growing up. I was molested one time as a young child, and I was so confused and ashamed that I hid it from everyone and pretended it was just a bad dream. I wasn’t…
My uncle started molesting me when I was 6 years old. At my 8 year baptismal interview I “confessed” what my uncle was doing. My bishop told me he would make sure and “handle it”, and stressed the importance of my baptism and how it would “wash me clean again.” It continued for years…. When…
My bishop freely admitted to forcing confessions out of youth regarding pornography use. He said this to a room full of women, as he was teaching a Relief Society lesson on pornography. According to the bishop, when the Spirit tells him that a youth is involved with pornography, he brings him/her into his office repeatedly…