Just thought I would throw this question out there before the board went to sleep (where does the time GO?).

As a convert at 20, I knew nothing about the personal line of questioning that all teens and preteens! go through. I think it is borderline sexual harrassment at least. Glad I wasn't asked those questions. I probably would have told him where he could stick his BOM, the creepy old geezer. LOL.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/04/2010 08:58PM by FreeRose.

I raised my children in the church - but I left when my 3 oldest girls were all teenagers. When I found out just *exactly* what went on in the worthiness interviews with the bishop, I was horrified.

Once, one of my daughters emerged from the Bishop's office in tears. I don't want to go into what happened but, suffice it to say, the line of questioning triggered an emotional reaction in her because of past abuse.

Grrrrrrrr.

Totally and absolutely inappropriate!

;o)

I think the church should not interview minors without a parent present at all. And they should not pry into an individuals sexual and emotional development.

My Father was Bishop during most of my years in YW, so I was unaware of any intimate questions during interviews. It was only when I came here I realised what was going on. Suddenly certain incidents and comments I'd heard over the years made sense.

I'm from the UK and during my time as an active member of the church, Bishops tended to be converts and less likely to question too deeply. My Father was popular amongst the youth and viewed these interviews as a chance to get to know them better. Unless somebody went to him with a confession, the most he would ask was "Have you been morally clean?". He would not be as popular and loved if he behaved like some of the abusive Bishops some people have had the misfortune to encounter.

Saying that, once in a while, there are reports in the UK press about a members inappropriate behaviour with a minor, so things do go on, even if its not the Bishop.

Specifically what are the questions?

Have you ever masturbated?
Do you know the forms masturbation takes?
Have you ever viewed pornography?
Have you ever kissed a girl?
Do you engage in "heavy petting"?
Have you ever seen a girl naked?
What were you thinking about when you saw pornography/girl naked?

Then came the lectures about pornography/masturbation. These usually centered around the possibility of becoming gay or some type of pervert or sexual offender.

I got these questions while being interviewed to become a deacon just before my 12th birthday. My bish seemed like a pretty typical guy. Of course this was in Utah Valley in the late 80's and early 90's. If you're an adult convert you need to get educated about the indoctrination of children in the church. I was born into the church so I knew no other way of life like adult converts do. Makes it HARD to distinguish fact from mere opinion especially when faced with an authority figure.

I was a convert in my teens have never encountered anything like that in any of my interviews with bishops over the years. I have told my own two children that if they are with any church leader and are being asked questions they don't like, to say, "I won't answer" and to leave and get myself or my husband.

I was a convert at 21, and I raised all my kids in TSCC. I never knew about this BS of youth interviews until they were happening, and even then I didn't know the bishop was discussing sexual topics with my kids. When I found out I was sick.

dam cult...

2 Weeks after my baptism my bishop asked the materbation question, I almost got up and left, resigned little over a year later