#494 Brittany D. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8.

To begin, I will say that I was three when a man first took away my sexual agency. My father, a pedophile, showed me porn that included Rape, origies, and children. Fast forward, to age 12, when I had my first worthiness interview. Somehow, it felt normal, because it was for a group youth trip…

#493 Amanda M. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8

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…

#490 Name Hidden. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Other: Loss of will to live and dying of a terminal illness.

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…

#487 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Other: Eating Disorders

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…

#486 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,6,7,8

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…

#485 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9. Other: Gaslighting; feeling like I’m crazy because I’m told my abuse was a sin and not abuse

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…

#483 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9

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…

#481 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

My first experience of sexual abuse was from a member of my bishopric when I was ten. He practiced ritualistic abuse using scriptures, twisted covenants, and his leadership position to sexually abuse and torture me for 9 months, including at least one instance in our church building. He convinced me that we do not share…

#480 Name Withheld. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8

I know this petition is aimed at ending one-on-one interviews with children, but these interviews can be damaging to adults as well. I’d like to see the practice changed altogether. No child should be subjected to one-on-one interviews period, and no one – child or adult – should feel the religious pressure to sit through…