If you have previously read my story - all this does is add a few paragraphs in the middle. I need to have it accurately recorded some place where I can link it from elsewhere.

If you haven't read it - well, thanks for your interest, dive right in!

http://exmormon.org/phorum/read.php?3,1800845

I will definitely read.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2016 01:09PM by msmom.

Wow, I really admire the strength and resilience you displayed during those years.

Wow.....thanks for pouring out your soul with us. Very courageous.

Great story! Never, never look behind the curtain if you want to remain LDS!

When your role model is Joseph Smith, shit happens. Poor Mrs Teacher. Probably lots of those.

I can't help but think of the young bishop with 4 kids at BYU as my stepson.

He would have a heart attack at hearing your story. Not so much because he's a prude, but he most likely has never had an experience as fabulous as that, so it has to be WRONG!

One thing I didn't realize as a young mormon is how naive and ignorant the leaders often were. And if they weren't that sheltered, they were certainly going to put on like they were!

I made a self imposed rule when I was 14. No way, no how, not ever, was I going to talk to any older man about my sex life. Never! I stuck to that rule, and boy am I glad!

As I got older I had to adjust that rule a bit. I had to make the rule also apply to younger men than me. Too bad hahah. I'm sure I could have shattered their little minds.

The only younger guy that knows about my sex life is my husband. I'm happy to keep it that way.

They have served a senior mission at least once. One of their kids appears to be an exmo! (Confessing to some facebook stalking!)

In a TR interview some 30 years ago, I decided to come clean and confess that I was Masturbating. What came next was a horrible experience. The Counselor who interviewed me was overly sensitive about such things and unloaded on me. He told me how disgusting the practice was and how I offended God. I didn't receive my TR, had to explain to my Wife, I was suddenly tainted. Went back to the bishop who was kind hearted about it. Just told me "You are forgiven. Don't bring it up in your next interview!".

This experience taught me that deception was far better than confession.

Note to self: Never confess again. Masturbation is NOT a sin! Confession is the sin!

Well written msmom. Thank you.

RB

Great exit story, thanks for sharing. Doug sounds like a great guy...but it sounds like you weren't really in love with him when you got married. How did your feelings for him evolve?

Our early marriage was all about serving the lord in every way. It didn't really matter that we barely knew one another, we shared that commitment. We did loving things for one another - wildflowers, a favorite cookie.

From early on I wanted to get back to working on my undergrad. I did the occasional evening class. Doug's reaction to anything that took me "away from home" was, "How can I help you do that?" He has spent most of our marriage worrying that he robbed me of my young adulthood and he seems to feel he needs to make it up to me somehow. Hard not to love a guy like that!

I ultimately finished a master's degree and was offered a job in Illinois with full relocation. The salary was only slightly less than what Doug (aka Drdad) was earning. He announced that it was my turn. He left his job and became at stay at home dad in 1988. He was the only SAHD either of us had met. Just to keep it interesting for him, we added one more son to the mix after moving to Illinois. Not only did he juggle elementary and pre-school schedules, he did so with a baby on his hip.

During his at home years, he also went to school to preserve his sanity. 9 years later he had Ph.D. and an offer to teach college in Boston so we moved to Chelmsford to the house we still live in today.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2016 01:45PM by msmom.