My heart just breaks. I was subjected to these interviews as a youth. I had endured many years of sexual abuse as a child beginning at the age of 4. The perpetrator was not a member of the LDS church, but was my mother’s step-brother. My victimizer threatened me that he would hurt me and…
My childhood was very painful. This was not necessary the fault of the Mormon church, but rather my biological father was/is pedophile and abused me sexually, multiple times. Which lead to my brother’s sexually abusing me as well. He also physically abused my brothers and this went on for about 12 years. Never was I…
I didn’t find out that masturbation was a sin until my bishop had a fireside for the youth. After that I felt extreme guilt because I couldn’t stop. I honestly thought I was the only girl who did this, I was so ashamed. A few years later after admitting it to close guy friends in…
As a child I would have these one on one interviews with bishops behind closed doors. The sexual questions began when I was a teenager. Very uncomfortable considering I wasn’t taught what “chastity” meant. My family never talked about sex. So it was hard learning different things from leaders in the LDS Church. I was…
Hello, Sam, If I were in your ward, if I were your friend, I’d stand beside you and witness that you are quite certainly the most selfless person that I’ve ever known. I marched with you this spring, my first time ever in Utah, and I listened to you and others defend me in a…
When I was 14 I felt the need to repent for being raped by my 18 year old friend. During the interview, I was asked which positions were performed, what sex acts happened, how many times, the specific dates, what I was wearing, if I had feelings for him, why I put myself in that…
When I was 14 years old the youth of our ward took a trip to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. My dad was the bishop and conducted my recommend interview. He asked me about chastity. I was somewhat hesitant and embarrassed, but decided to share with him a non-consensual experience I had…
The amount of shame and unbearable guilt I felt as an innocent teenager caused permanent damage due to this line of sexual questioning and incorrect doctrine. I also remember the Stake President staring me down when I was with his daughter. Incorrectly assuming terrible things about me I suppose. This stuff has consequences. I developed…
When I was 16 I had been dating someone for awhile. It was standard to have a bishop’s interview to get a dance card and stuff. I went in to my interview already nervous because my boyfriend and I had been “petting.” My bishop asked if I was dating, if I was in a relationship,…
It wasn’t until I was 40 that I realized the damage Mormon bishop interviews had played a part in my life. By all accounts I am a successful and happy man. But behind the scenes I have led a life of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Not all of this can be blamed on Mormonism…