#61 Lisa B. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9

The first interview I remember was my pre-baptism interview when I was 8. The bishop took me into his office, having my parents wait outside. He asked me a lot of different questions, including whether I had ever touched myself. Due to the tone in which he asked, I recognized that “touching myself” was a…

#60 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7

I turned twelve in 1973, while living in Cache Valley, Utah. I spent the two years I was a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood in Utah. I do not recall any intrusive or poignant, sexually-themed questions at all during that time. But we moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee around my fourteenth birthday. The sexualization of my…

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

Just like many other young women in the church, I was specifically taught from a young age that my worth was dependent on my purity. Young women are taught that we are responsible for young men’s thoughts and actions. I was taught that if I dressed immodestly that I was “walking pornography” to the men…

#54 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6,8. Other: Obligation to be straight married despite being gay

I’m gay. I thought if I was the perfect Mormon boy, God would cure me of my gayness because obviously this is sinful. When I found out as a teenager that masturbation was a sin I wanted to die. I felt worthless and terrible. I knew I had to tell the bishop if I wanted…

#53 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. Other: Sexual abuse by the bishop

Trigger Warning * Sexual assault involving a bishop* **If you are a survivor of molest, be very cautious about being triggered reading my story!!!** * Sam Young, THANK YOU for Holding THIS TORCH. I cannot begin to tell you how much your work in shedding light on these interviews means to me!!! This post contains…

#52 Ryan W. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7

Bishop’s interviews are so damaging to young people. And adults. The damage I suffered because of these interviews and the teaching that masturbation is a sin, has been severe and has carried into my adult life and into my marriage. I’ve been married for 8 years and because of the church’s teachings and bishops interviews…

#51 Carianne W. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7

I am a girl and I remember as early as 4 or 5 years old casually feeling slight sexual feelings that were immediately followed by shame and guilt. I was on my bed in my room and had already had doctrine ingrained into me that I was bad for feeling those feelings. Feeling like you’re…

#50 Katie J. CS: 1,2,3

I was not asked inappropriate questions by bishops/counselors, but I still suffered incredible guilt and self-loathing because of the general process of worthiness interviews. I was terrified by the prospect of these interviews. As a young child, I thought I’d be excommunicated for fighting with my sister. As a teen, I thought I’d be excommunicated…

#49 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,5,6,7. Other: Intentional Self Harm

I first experienced orgasm as an 8 year old girl, at the hands of a teacher. I didn’t understand the sensation I had felt nor had I wanted it. It was in discussing it with a friend (who was also being abused) and her “older” sister (who was 10) that we were told that what…