These are personal accounts of the negative consequences that inappropriate interviews have had on people.
I experienced incredible shame over masturbation. Barely a teenager, the scripture in Matthew 5:29-30 became constant in my mind: 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should…
I grew up as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints in the UK. I remember the Bishop’s interviews very intrusive and embarrassing and also I felt violated looking back now as an adult. I grew up in a ward that there were many leaders men who were very egotistical and…
I never was asked explicit sexual questions in bishop’s interviews, but I feel such pain and anguish with every story shared here, and with the experiences of my loved ones. The constant barrage of chastity lessons in Mutual taught me that sexual feelings were evil, that we needed to be pure in thought at all…
I received heavy doses of shaming at the hands of leaders. I was made to feel ashamed of my body, and my natural urges. I got asked numerous times behind closed doors with leaders if I masturbated. I usually lied. Before my mission, a leader at the MTC wanted to hear all the details of…
When I was a young man, I couldn’t stop masturbating. It was just too hard, and I was too weak. Guilt destroyed me. I sinning in a way that was so bad it was “second only to murder”. I considered suicide after I had been clean for a while, but I was too scared that…
When I was 15 and in my sophomore year of high school, I had a nonmormon best friend who happened to be a boy (which was a sort of “scandalous” thing in my ward). It was a normal bestfriendship and we spent a lot of time together during school and after school. I was already…
I’d been molested by a neighborhood boy when I was young. Got Baptized LDS. Moved out of state. Forward years later. I’m 15 and have my first boyfriend. We are kissing and petting at that age. My mom found out and called our Bishop. When I got home from school one day mom told me…
When I was 12 I had my first temple worthiness interview. The bishop asked me if I followed the law of chastity. He said, do you know what that is? I told him no. he said, “it means have you touched yourself or let other people touch you?” I could tell the correct answer to…
Was asked only once if I masturbate after being asked if I follow the Law of Chasity. I fell into complete silence and the man interviewing me proceeded to ask if I knew what masturbation was. I sat in that chair trying hard to recall the word from a health class but kept thinking of…
The late Mormon Pres. Spencer W. Kimball asked me explicit sexual questions, in clearing my return to BYU. (’69) I was falsely accused of “Homosexual Activity” on-Campus, although I am Gay. Like: “Have you practiced Sodomy, Fellatio, Oral Sex, etc.?” Thought he was ” Speaking in Tongues. ” LOL!!! +, I’d just been Baptized an…