#149 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7
My bishop started asking about masturbation at age 14. The interview I remember most vividly was my 14th birthday interview to advance in the priesthood. I don’t remember much about…
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Warning: Sexually Explicit content.
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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.
#150 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8
The first time I was asked about masturbation, specifically, by a bishop, I was 12 years old. It was before my first temple trip, in a recommend interview. I understand…
#151 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,8
I have a son that recently turned eighteen years old. I have a photo of the two of us that was taken ten years ago when I baptized him into…
#153 Name Hidden. CS: Other: Not sure what category(ies) this falls into.
My story is not as stark or traumatic as the ones I have read here, but the whole concept of an adult male asking a young teen female these questions…
#154 Matthew M. CS: 1,2,3,7,8
I joined the church when I was 12 years old, I had never masturbated or looked at pornography. I was certainly old enough to partake in these activities, I just…
#155 Name Hidden. CS: 1,6
When I was 12, our bishop was the type that liked to focus on sins and really make sure someone is pure. I was innocent and inexperienced, and I took…
#156 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,8,9
The bishop I had from age 12 to mission departure was seemingly obsessed with the sexual purity of the youth in our ward. My biannual youth interviews with my bishop…
#157 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,8,9
While in high school I struggled with sexuality. I kind of liked girls and occasionally acted on it. I went to my bishop for support thinking that’s what I was…
#158 Tyler W. CS: 1,2,7,8
I would’ve been 14 when I first found out that viewing pornography and masturbating were “sins.” I told my bishop and he encouraged me to tell my parents so I…
#159 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,8,9
My story is short and not nearly as bad as others. I’ve suppressed these memories for a long time now. I don’t remember much detail. Just the shame that came…
#160 Wade W. CS: 1,3,8. Other: Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder
I converted to the LDS Church in Utah when I was 16. I had known since about age 5 that I was attracted to other boys, but it wasn’t until…
#161 Jared S. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9
So I was always kind of a weird child(at least, in my mind) I can remember sneaking into our family’s computer room in the middle of the night when I…
#162 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4. Other: Thoughts of self-mutilation
I struggled with pornography and particularly masturbation from the age of 11, when I hit what I considered to be ‘early’ puberty. I’ve always had a strong sex drive. I…
#163 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,6,7,8
When I was 12, I had a bishop in the Centerville Utah ward named _____. He interviewed me on several occasions. He asked me personal questions about masturbation, if, when…
#164 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,4,8,9
I am writing on behalf of someone close to me who told me that he gets asked specific, vile questions regarding sexual behavior by the bishop of his church. Whenever…
#165 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3,7
When I was 17 I went to a “party” at a college-aged guy’s house. He was the friend of a friend of mine, a friend I’d expected to be there…
#166 Name Hidden. CS: 1,3
Last year when Trump was elected, a friend of mine started a website, I’m Not Just A Statistic. I shared a story of nearly being raped (but a dear friend…
#167 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,4
I was Mormon for the first 16 years of my life, and quit due to a few different things. I was also a “jack Mormon,” which means I was often…
#168 Name Withheld CS: 1,2,4
Fighting all embarrassment and fear of repercussions, I want to bravely share my experience preparing for a church mission and meeting with the bishop as a 17-year-old boy. Like all…
#169 Brian B. CS: Suicide of my Son.
I did lose a 14 year old son to suicide in 2014, this petition is correct about the risk of suicide attached to these interviews. In my most painful moments…