Concluding our series on Mormon leaders and inappropriate interviews regarding sexuality, we provide 4 more mini-interviews with Mormon Stories listeners who share their experiences discussing sexual matters with LDS leaders.  We also check back in with past guest Bishop Sam Young who seeks to provoke conversation and change around this subject.

From his petition:

“For decades, it has been common practice for Bishops, Bishopric Counselors, Stake Presidents, and Stake President Counselors to pose questions of a sexual nature to children. There are reports of this happening to children as young as age 8. These questions are being asked by an older man, all alone with the child, behind closed doors and often without the knowledge or permission of the parents. Almost universally, these men have no comprehensive training.

Here is a list of potential harm. All the risks below are actual consequences that have been experienced from sexual interviews with LDS children.

1. Suicide.
2. Attempted suicide.
3. Suicidal ideation.
4. Inappropriate shame and guilt.
5. Childhood filled with self loathing.
6. Adulthood filled with self loathing.
7. Normalizing children to sexual questions by adult men. (Grooming)
8. Sexual abuse. (Pedophilia)
9. Impaired sexual relations after marriage.
10. Years of recovery from childhood shaming. Often lasting decades.”

Sam Young‘s petition can be found here if you want to sign: https://protectldschildren.org

Fox13 news coverage of Sam’s efforts can be found here

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Part 4: Mormon Stories listeners “Isabela” and Hannah share their story

Part 5: Mormon Stories listeners “Sarah” and David share their story

Part 6: John interviews former Bishop Sam Young about his intentions behind the petition to stop sexually-oriented interviews of Mormon youth

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Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

 

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

6 Comments

  1. Nancy December 8, 2017 at 10:07 am - Reply

    Don’t ever be quiet Sam

  2. Jay December 8, 2017 at 1:44 pm - Reply

    Shouldn’t the mormon leaders who ask the inappropriate questions regarding sexuality be asked to resign?

  3. Dot December 8, 2017 at 1:54 pm - Reply

    Sam, nobody can ever say about you that you are past feeling.

    You are so appreciated Sam. I am inspired by you!

  4. Karen December 9, 2017 at 1:47 pm - Reply

    John, I was so glad you asked Sam the masturbation question. First his response was such an excellent model to all about boundaries. We all have the right to say “no.” Sadly, the message received in many cultures, particularly by girls, is, “You better say ‘no’ at the right times. Otherwise, your answer should always be ‘yes,'” i.e. obeying authority and/or males.

    I also appreciated your question because it served to emphasize just how inappropriate this line of questioning is. And, yeah, if a bishop or anyone else in a position of authority gets to ask such questions, then it’s fair game to be asked them too.

    Well done, John. You’ve got guts. Many thanks to Sam, too. I signed the petition.

  5. Fan of John- December 9, 2017 at 4:57 pm - Reply

    Sam- Could not be prouder to sign !! It is amazing that this was ever aloud to happen on such a scale.
    This is a bad policy and another example of how lacking in transcend knowledge of human nature the Mormon church is. ” Fake Church , So Terrible ” : )
    John- Love hearing these stories, So glad I could help a little with my donations.

  6. John Lee December 12, 2017 at 1:00 pm - Reply

    I can relate to David’s part where his leaders ask him to name manes. After telling my mission president that I gave myself a tattoo, he demanded to know who my companion was at the time. made me so mad!

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