#291 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6,7,8,9. Other: Self-harm
As far as I can remember, I was attracted to other boys – at least since age 6 – but I had no idea it was sexuality, let alone homosexuality.…
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Legend for Consequences Suffered (CS):
- Inappropriate shame and guilt
- Childhood self-loathing
- Adulthood self-loathing
- Normalizing children to sexual questions by adult men. (Grooming)
- Sexual abuse. (Pedophilia)
- Impaired sexual relations after marriage.
- Years of recovery from childhood shaming. Often lasting decades.
- Suicide Ideation
- Attempted Suicide
- Suicide of a loved one or friend.
#292 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8
When I was 7 or 8 years old I was molested by an older neighborhood boy as well as a babysitter. As I grew up and learned at church concepts…
#293 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,6. Other: Attempted self-mutilation
I was lucky, like some others here were, that my bishops were never lascivious men asking too-personal questions. The self-hate and attempted self harm I blame firmly on my parents…
#294 Name Hidden. CS: 4
20-ish years ago, in the seventh grade, I had a history teacher. He was single, in his late 30s, and he was very interested in having kids come swim at…
#295 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,6,8
When I was 4-8 years old I was molested by a neighbor kid. I remember being sick to my stomach, afraid to fall asleep at night for fear that I…
#296 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,4
Long stories made short are the best when you’re still healing from the traumatic consequences you incurred. My first real boyfriend at the age of 21 was a priesthood holder.…
#297 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6,7
I have many stories of shame from the Mormon Church. But one that sticks out, and pertains to this issue is this: I grew up in a prominent SLC Mormon…
#298 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,8
My childhood bishop was a good man. I write this story not to blame him but to blame the system that would put an untrained man in a room with…
#299 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9
I was a 14 year old child. I was raped. Had just had a lesson on “virtue”, the week before. I was so traumatized. I didn’t tell my parents because…
#300 Carol. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7
I did not realize until I started typing how difficult this might be to share. I am flooded with so many emotions. I grew up in a very devout Mormon…
#301 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,8
Like most teenagers, I masturbated. During a worthiness interview, I was asked if I had masturbated. I was honest and admitted that I had. I don’t remember the details of…
#302 Ryan J. CS: 1,2,3,4,5. Other: Learning how to lie well when I never imagined developing such a casual relationship with lying.
I support the stories shared here, and am now willing to publicly share my own. After just turning 12, I was scheduled for my first “worthiness interview” with my bishop…
#303 Drew B. CS: 1,8
My branch president said, “You can’t think gay thoughts, they will lead to going to hell.” I was 7 years old when two older boys sexually assaulted me. These boys…
#304 Name Hidden. CS: 1
Shortly before my daughter‘s 13th birthday, she came downstairs and found me in the kitchen making dinner. She had a horrified look on her face as she handed me her…
#305 Michael K. CS: 1,2,4,6,7
During one of my earliest worthiness interviews as an adolescent, the interviewer asked if I masturbated. I needed a definition because I hadn’t experienced it yet. Then I was asked,…
#306 Name Hidden. CS: 1
As an older teen I had sex with my boyfriend, J. I went to my bishop and confessed. The bishop asked for J’s name and ward, which I gave him.…
#307 Chris M. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8
“’You asked me once,’ said O’Brien, ‘what was in Room 101. I told you that you knew the answer already. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room 101…
#308 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8
Local church leaders conduct worthiness interviews with their members, even the children. Every child in a Mormon congregation will have at least one interview with the presiding member of their…
#309 Tosh K. CS: Other: I’m a gay man that was spiritually compelled to tell my leaders that I had sinned.
On my own volition and guilty feelings, I was compelled to tell my ecclesiastical leaders that I was gay and had been having relations at a park at the west…
#310 Melissa G. CS: 1,4,7,8,9. Other: Shame after a rape
I was raped when I was 17 by the Stake President’s 22 year old RM son. I was terrified to say anything to anyone because I was afraid I would…