When I was 14 I reported my rape to my bishop. Except since I was 14 I didn’t know it was rape. I wasn’t even really sure what happened. My bishop, a man who I believe was doing his best, was untrained in such matters. I repented. For my rape. My rape went unreported and…
I was born into the LDS church, raised and lived my whole life in the heart of LDS country, Utah County. There’s no escaping the influence of LDS church because it is everywhere here, and most people are LDS. This type of situation leads to feeling like you are in an inescapable bubble of shame…
Upon my son’s cancer diagnosis at age 15 he said he did not want to live. He said he was a bad person. He then recounted the many times his bishop and seminary teacher had talked to him about “touching himself” over the previous 3 1/2 years. I was devastated and heart broken to know…
Hi my name is Val. I am 61 years old, been married for 39 years and the father of 5 sons. I am a victim of sexual abuse and the shame that was instilled in me at 17 by my bishop. My abuse started when I was around 5 years of age. I was sexually…
I was sixteen when I was called into the Bishop’s office – I didn’t know why. You see, I grew up in a “non-mormon” home with an agnostic dad until my parents got divorced – then my mom married a mormon man who insisted we all become mormon. I never fully realized what all this…
As a child I experienced repeated sexual abuse. I knew that I didn’t like what was happening to me, but I didn’t know exactly what it was and I didn’t want to talk about it with anyone. Due to my experiences I became sexualized in my early childhood and I began to explore this new…
Hello, I am a 35 year old man. Gender, Sex, and Sexuality are important. They are as much a part of us as our arms and legs, heart, lungs, brain, and senses. There is a huge focus on the importance of chastity and fidelity in the LDS churches, which also speaks to the importance they…
I was sexually abused as a child and as a teen. At my baptism interview, I remember feeling shame for the abuse, and this continued well into adulthood. After telling my Bishop that I was sexually abused as a teen, I had to go through the repentance process, including not taking the sacrament, while my…
I was sexually assaulted by a brother when I was 9 years old. I froze, didn’t know what was happening and was threatened that if I ever told it would break up my family and it would be my fault. As I turned 12, I began having the standard’s night lessons on chastity and morality.…
I was sexually assaulted as a youth. The church teachings of no sexual relations before marriage caused me years of guilt and shame. At the time my good bishop told me it was not my fault, I was still considered a “virgin,” never look back and let it go. I did that as best as…