These are personal accounts of the negative consequences that inappropriate interviews have had on people.
I grew up in the 70’s. My dad is mentally ill –probably a mix of Asperger’s (back when there was that), Bipolar, OCD, and PTSD. He’s never been professionally diagnosed. His symptoms, however are not that complicated. –Not that different from a 2-3 yo with sensory overload or impossible to manage frustration or confusion. –only…
My first experience of sexual abuse was from a member of my bishopric when I was ten. He practiced ritualistic abuse using scriptures, twisted covenants, and his leadership position to sexually abuse and torture me for 9 months, including at least one instance in our church building. He convinced me that we do not share…
I know this petition is aimed at ending one-on-one interviews with children, but these interviews can be damaging to adults as well. I’d like to see the practice changed altogether. No child should be subjected to one-on-one interviews period, and no one – child or adult – should feel the religious pressure to sit through…
I was 12. I lived in an all American Ward (My Dad was stationed in Germany in the US ARMY), they just built the Frankfurt Temple. I was so excited to do baptisms for the dead to make my Grandma in Utah so proud of me. I was interviewed by our Stake President for Temple…
When I was a sophomore in high school I joined the Mormon church. I had been a member for 6 months when I joined a club at school, and was elected to State Office. For a year and a half I traveled around the state and country with the other state officers and our chaperone/advisor.…
At age 13, I was sexually abused by a school teacher (LDS). When I finally worked up the courage to talk to my Bishop, he told me that I had jeopardized the temple marriage and celestial standing of this man, but I could be forgiven. He made suggestions like take cold showers and sleep with…
I will tell my story anonymously as it the internal and external impact Church teaching around sexuality and expectations of worthiness evaluations by Church leaders still impacts me substantially. If a leader in the Church takes seriously these stories including mine, and wishes to communicate with me about the harm they have done, I will…
When I was 12 years old (F) I went to see my bishop for my first temple recommend interview. I was so excited! The bishop at the time was the father of one of my best friends. He was a nice man and I never felt uncomfortable around him. The interview was completely normal, up…
When I was at BYU, I was called into the bishop’s office. My bishop was a 60 something Orem raised seminary teacher. He had decades of experience interacting and counseling youth. He started off this meeting by saying, “I prayed to see who the new Relief Society President should be and the answer was you,…
When I was 15 we had a sleepover at our Mia Maids leaders home. We were in the basement with her two teenage sons. I had a crush on her 19 year old son about to go on a mission. Everyone was asleep and I was up reading. He came out of his bedroom and…