When I was 12 or 13 we had a youth caroling activity where the young men and young women rode on a trailer on hay bells with blankets to keep us warm and we would go around our stakes boundaries and sing Christmas carols to the neighbors. One of the young men who was a…
I’ll start from my earliest memories. I do not share this to brag. I do not share this to cause pain or hurt (although I’m sure it will do both). I share this to show the other side. To show that the LDS church does cover up these types of things. I feel my bishops…
I thought for a long time that I was alone in feeling that the interviews were damaging and shaming. This is the story of how my experience with Bishop interviews led to me leaving the LDS church and cutting all ties with my blood family. A bit of context. I am a female. Being raised…
When I went to college I met a guy and began to date him. He told me that he looked at pornography and I didn’t really know what to do about that. I went to the bishop and he encourage me to date him as he told me he was a “good catch” and everything…
When I was in high school, I was raped by someone I trusted. At the time, I couldn’t comprehend what happened to me. I felt dirty and guilty for being involved with sexual activity, even though it was not my choice. I went and talked to my bishop and explained that this young man had…
When I was about 13-14 there was a lot of abuse in my home mainly from my parents to me. Now I know more information of classic abuse situations, I had one written by the very definition. I was told that we don’t talk about our family situations outside of our home to anyone. I…
A forum to tell my story? Really? I have been discounted and labeled a sinner by Mormon leadership and doctrine for so many years it’s impossible for me to believe any one actually cares to hear my story unless it’s to condemn me while promoting the truthfulness of the Mormon Gospel. Currently our 12-year-old granddaughter…
I went to a church university in the mid 1980s. I was super young and naive. I was also raped by my Family Home Evening Brother. We had been playing “Night Games” by the church, and he offered to walk me home for safety’s sake. This particular semester I lived with only one other girl…
I love the church so much. I really really do. And it is because I love the church so much that I am supporting this cause. The experiences shared in these stories are heart wrenching. Adolescents do not need probing into their sexual lives by older men alone in a closed room. The only question…
Trigger warning — I’m being honest and open where I never have before. If you have suffered from abuse, I caution reading this. Feel free to skip to the end where I discuss why I’m sharing my story. I’m male, as a boy I believe I was abused at a young age, but don’t remember…