Read The Stories

Warning: Sexually Explicit content.

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.

#748 Terese J. CS: 4

My first Bishops interview I remember being so nervous! He asked me ALL the questions, but when he asked me if I masturbated I was scared, nervous and confused… I…

#747 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8. Other: It in a way normalized the sexual abuse going on in my life already. It sort of set this ideal for men in my mind as being sexual deviants in a strange sort of way.

I can’t remember exactly how old I was I want to say, 12 or 13… I know is was quite Young. I was called into the bishops office for an…

#746 Thomas I. CS: 1,2

I have never been formally diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, but I have so many Aspie traits that I identify as one. I have been blessed with many wonderful leaders over…

#745 Collette L. CS: 1,2,3,4,6

Story #1 I was taken to a member of our stake presidency when I was 15 because my parents learned my boyfriend and I had “gone too far.” He asked…

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

I used to live with legal guardian parents Michael and Judy and their two kids, and I only stayed with them because they lived in the area where the school…

#743 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,6,8

When I was sixteen, I had a boyfriend. He was handsome, funny, and smart. He was a gentleman, always opening doors and carrying things for me. He was investigating the…

#742 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7. Other: Severe Clinical Depression

As the only member in my family, I’ve fought hard to carve a path for myself in this church. As a 15 year old new member I had already experienced…

#741 Arlene C. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8

I debated for many months whether or not to share my story. It is not as bad as many of the early stories that I read that broke my heart.…

#740 Name Withheld. CS: 3,8

This story is not about me but about a close friend. This friend suffered from anorexia for their entire life, after many years of fighting this battle, they finally turned…

#739 Mandy L. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8. Other: Inability to form secure romantic relationships

I was something of a perfectionist as a child with a strong desire to please God and my family. My youthful guilt dwelled on typical experiences, amounting to no more…

#738 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,7

Incentivize me to lie. Teach me to hate myself. When in my teens, I was asked if and how often I would masturbate. As a young kid, I didn’t have…

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

When I 14 years old my mom caught me looking at pornography. Because of this my parents made me meet with our Bishop. I did not feel comfortable doing this…

#736 Name Hidden. CS: 1,4

During an interview with a bishop (approximately 14 years old), I was asked if I “practiced self abuse”. I had no idea what that even meant. I remember talking about…

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

I’ve been wanting to share with you my experience with the baptismal interview I had at the age of 10. I was currently being sexually abused by a close family…

#734 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6

When I was a teenager, my bishop asked me if I was involved in masturbation. I had no idea what that meant. He explained it to me in detail. At…

#733 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,4,6

I was made to feel I was the ONLY ONE of all the deacons, teachers & priests who had ever masturbated. My bishop scheduled interviews without my parents’ knowledge, and…

#732 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,6,7,10

When I was 16, I had sex with my boy friend, my bishop at the time told me that no worthy return missionary would ever have me. DEVASTATING my world!…

#731 Kristine D.K. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. Other: PTSD, anxiety, persistent nightmares

Around my eighth birthday I was excited to be baptized. The plan was my father would baptize me. Both he and my grandfather would be there on Sunday for confirmation.…

#730 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,6

I joined the church as a 21-year-old woman who had been sexually active prior to joining. After my baptism I struggled with masturbation. I went to my YSA branch president…

#729 Name Hidden. CS: 1,4,6,7

When I was 13 or 14 years old, I was asked by my bishop if I had ever masturbated. I felt a terrible sense of shame, because I had masturbated.…

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