#528 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,7,8,9

When I was in high school, I was raped by someone I trusted. At the time, I couldn’t comprehend what happened to me. I felt dirty and guilty for being involved with sexual activity, even though it was not my choice. I went and talked to my bishop and explained that this young man had…

#527 Name Withheld CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8

When I was about 13-14 there was a lot of abuse in my home mainly from my parents to me. Now I know more information of classic abuse situations, I had one written by the very definition. I was told that we don’t talk about our family situations outside of our home to anyone. I…

#522 David F. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,10

A forum to tell my story? Really? I have been discounted and labeled a sinner by Mormon leadership and doctrine for so many years it’s impossible for me to believe any one actually cares to hear my story unless it’s to condemn me while promoting the truthfulness of the Mormon Gospel. Currently our 12-year-old granddaughter…

#521 Lori E. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

I went to a church university in the mid 1980s. I was super young and naive. I was also raped by my Family Home Evening Brother. We had been playing “Night Games” by the church, and he offered to walk me home for safety’s sake. This particular semester I lived with only one other girl…

#518 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6,7,8

I love the church so much. I really really do. And it is because I love the church so much that I am supporting this cause. The experiences shared in these stories are heart wrenching. Adolescents do not need probing into their sexual lives by older men alone in a closed room. The only question…

#516 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6,7,8. Other: Not the victim in the typical sense — Trigger — victims, please avoid this.

Trigger warning — I’m being honest and open where I never have before. If you have suffered from abuse, I caution reading this. Feel free to skip to the end where I discuss why I’m sharing my story. I’m male, as a boy I believe I was abused at a young age, but don’t remember…

#513 Jennifer N. CS: 1,2,3,5,7,8

Long story short I was adopted and converted to the church. At age 4, I was already being sexually abused and raped. No one believed me and I had an “over active imagination” I was “coming on” to my abuser. At 8, I wasn’t allowed to get baptized because I wasn’t ready or “good enough”…

#510 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,7,8

I am an active member of the church. When I served my mission, a man broke into me and my companions apartment. He held a knife up to my neck and sexually assaulted me. Not knowing the church protocol, I called my mission president. I don’t think he knew what to do and wasn’t prepared…

#509 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Other: Foundational damage to my testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel and the LDS Church.

I was sexually abused by family members (aunts and cousins) and babysitters from my earliest memory (as a toddler). One such abusive event actually resulted in my drowning death but I was miraculously and gratefully revived. All of my abusers were “faithful” members of the LDS Church. I have also since learned that the abuse…

#508 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8

I first discovered masturbation around 6 years old. I had no idea there was anything wrong with it and I simply called it “getting butterflies”. I remember at 8 being asked in my baptismal interview if anyone touched me on my private areas or if I touched myself. This caused anxiety within me. Was it…