These are personal accounts of the negative consequences that inappropriate interviews have had on people.
Constant shame and guilt, the feeling before and after every meeting with the bishop. Awkwardly entering the room sitting down alone. Three feet away from a man I have never known in my life in the slightest. My guts twisting and churning knowing what questions are to come soon that I in the moment would…
Hello! My name is William and I am celebrating my 28th birthday today… Even though I am so grateful to have another year of life, there were times where it was not that easy…. Confusing aspects of sexuality in my childhood started around 7 years of age, where my bishop at the time, had to…
Where to start? So many instances though 4 stick out in my mind the most. I think my experiences were more of the run-of-the-mill variety – though it’s sad to have to say that at all. TL;DR: As a child I ruined an important relationship with my mentor/leader due to what I confessed during an…
I grew up in an LDS home in Utah. Church every Sunday, parents fulfilling church callings, 2 brothers and 2 sisters. At 12 years old I went to the bishop for a temple recommend. I hated the closed doors and one-on-one “interview”. It was scary. He asked me the questions about tithing and chastity. Not…
I grew up in a very active LDS home. My father was my bishop twice when I was young. I loved all my bishops. However, whenever my birthday came up, I dreaded the interview. I had been sexually molested as a child by a neighborhood boy, so being alone with a man filled me with…
Writing a list is easier for me than delving into the heart breaking emotions. Here it is: Sexually assaulted in high school. Perpetrator goes on mission. Confesses his crime in MTC Continues mission with no consequences, writes me telling how he loves attending temple every week. Named me as victim in his confession. My bishop…
Long history of masturbation . Convert to church at 15. Parents not members . Aged 18 confessed to bishop of my problem. He said I need to ask you this … do you do it in front of a mirror? Do you feel anything entering you? Never understood why he asked those questions and I…
When I was a little girl, I was sexually abused by my older brothers and an older cousin. I was 3 when the abuse started. It happened almost daily until I was 9 years old. When my parents found out what happened, they took my brothers and I all to see our bishop. In an…
I grew up in the church. From a young age, I was taught the church’s “law of chastity” from church materials such as the pamphlet “For the Strength of Youth”. This pamphlet says, among other things, that sexual sins are more serious than any other sins except for murder and denying the Holy Ghost, that…
I’m honestly not sure where to start with this. How do you fit your story into just words? I hope I can express how I felt and how I feel to anyone willing to read my story. I want to tell my entire story, because I am finding this very healing. Sorry for the length.…