#837 Name Hidden. CS: 1,4,5,7,8

My mother went to the bishop when we were young and my fathers abuse escalated. She was threatened with excommunication for attacking the priesthood and warned not to continue in that attack on the church. Because the church was more interested in protecting the image of the priesthood they chose to silence my family by…

#833 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9

My church upbringing taught me that sex was something to feel guilt and shame for. Starting around age 12 My Bishops regularly asked sexually explicit questions regarding my sins. I was sexually abused from the ages of 8 to 11 by a family member who was also a member of my ward. The perpetrator’s father…

#831 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8. Other: Sexual abuse from boyfriend

When I was fifteen years old I had a boyfriend who was manipulative, coercive, and abusive. I was confused because he told me he loved me and he bought me flowers. He made me feel special. Behind a closed door, he started to force me to do sexual things that I didn’t want to do.…

#830 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,5,8

I am a mother. When my children were young, two of them were sexually and ritually abused by a family member. The children came forward with their story when that family member was far away serving an LDS mission. Through two family therapists, a child play therapist, DCFS and a police detective investigation – the…

#828 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

When I was 8 years old, the Sunday School teacher told the class that the bishop was the best friend we had. We could take our problems to him, and he’d always listen, and help. I took myself to visit him as soon as class dismissed. I told him what daddy had been doing to…

#825 Tamara N. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8

Growing up, I believed ANY and ALL questions asked by members of the bishopric helped them decide my level of worthiness and understand the nature of my sins. I never thought to ask my parents to sit in each interview with me; it just wasn’t ever done or encouraged. I saw that my parents trusted,…

#822 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,8

I felt impressed to tell my own story although I was a couple years older than a legal minor. I grew up in the Church. I was blessed to have wonderful leaders that watched out for me. I met my wonderful husband through the church and will always be grateful for it; however, I cannot…

#821 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8. Other: Fear of relationships with the opposite sex.

The worthiness interviews containing questions of a sexual nature drove me to avoid relationships with the opposite sex out of fear of sinning for my entire young adult life. I could have dated as a teenager. I didn’t. I was asked to prom. I didn’t go. I could have had normal healthy relationships, but I…

#816 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

My Mormon story: growing up in Utah you had to be Mormon to be able to play with your friends. So i had been baptized around 4th grade. I took the lessons on my own, would go to church and sit by myself. I would fast alone as a young child because my dad and…