I recognize my mother’s voice in another story here, so I think it’s time to share mine. When I was a child, I had a very zealous bishop who thoroughly, searchingly interviewed me 2-4x/year starting around age 11. When I was first asked about subjects such as pornography, masturbation, bestiality, etc. by this bishop, I…
When I was 15 I slept with my boyfriend. It wasn’t until later that I realized I had done so because I didn’t feel like I could say no. Anyway, I felt a ton of guilt and went to my bishop that week to start the repentance process. All I wanted to do was confess…
I don’t think my story is anywhere near as hurtful and disturbing as others who have come forward. I offer my respect, love, and support to each of the brave people who have shared their horrific realities with the world through this forum, and I add my voice to the collective voice crying for these…
When I was in my late teens, I was called into the Bishop’s office, out of the blue, and interrogated for over one and half hours, regarding sexual acts that I knew nothing about. With each question the Bishop asked, I answered NO, as I was unaware of what he was talking about. I was…
Those who read my story may well conclude that I have no business posting alongside those who have been subject to the horrors of sexual abuse and assault. My story is perhaps altogether commonplace. I share it because I am convinced that many members of the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints have suffered…
My father was in church leadership as were all the males in my family dating back to Joseph Smith himself and are direct descendants of him. My maternal grandfather was a stake president, the first in the stake where I now live. He had a large family and every one of his children as well…
I honestly can’t say that I know exactly where it all began. The trouble is that the fond memories intertwine with the inappropriate and drawing that line to decipher between the two was very difficult as a child, especially when I was too young to understand. The abuse and grooming was such an integral part…
This is not a story about a mandated bishops interview. But it does show the nature of the naive Mormon mindset that just because someone is a bishop, they are completely trusted with your child. When I was a teenager, we moved across the country. The culture was very different from the one I had…
We had postponed my daughter’s baptism for months so that her older brother could return from a sales job and baptize her. Days before the scheduled baptism we got a text from our bishop that our son was not ” worthy” to baptize his sister because he had masturbated that week. Our bishop encourages youth…
This is my story for all the men and women who’s hearts and souls are broken because of men at church. This My story for you. I didn’t know who he was until he was my leader, before then, he was the new kid’s dad. He told us stories about him, about his violence. I…