Did the bishop ever ask you if you masturbate

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Hrm... I recall being asked if I were chaste or living the Law of Chastity. I don't recall being asked specifically about masturbation, though it was implied. Frankly, the Bishop I had during my teenage years was a great man. He's probably one of the nicest, most empathetic people I've ever known.

Now. My Mission Prez. He straight up asked if we were masturbating.

- Dr. C

[_Mattie]

What a strange obsession.

The person who told me about it said I would learn a lot of interesting things on this message board. I think I'm finally beginning to understand what he meant. It's the people here who are so interesting.

I'm mad because you are calling me a liar. Do you not get mad when people call you a liar when you are not lying?

I never called you a liar at all.

What a curious reaction you are having to what I did say. Very curious.

[_Rambo]

What "kind of stuff" are you talking about? All I said is that I was never asked about masturbation. I didn't question if anyone else was. I have no reason to doubt what others here are saying about it. I haven't called anyone a liar. I don't think anyone is a liar. What a strange reaction to what I did say!

The only think I don't get is what seems to be an obsession with this particular topic by people on this forum. I just don't understand that. That's all. It seems like a strange thing to focus one's anger about Mormonism on. I never would have expected that. That's why I find it curious.

ok I'm sorry but that's what it seemed like you were saying.

I've tried to explain why this topic comes up so often. Did it not help?

[_Drifting]

Mattie, of all the different threads on this board you seem to be posting mainly on the masturbation ones. Why is that?

[_Buffalo]

What's the difference between a Dementor and the Mormon church?

One is a dark presence that sucks all the joy and life from your soul, and the other is a character in the Harry Potter books.

Sounds kinda familiar. LOL

Yeah, I'm going through your blog and reading most of the posts and checking out the links right now ;)

[_Rambo]

I knew many bishops who asked the specific question and one who stated "I don't ask if they have masturbated anymore. I ask when was the last time."

Yeah my last bishop asked this way. He just assumed that we all masturbated and that's when I knew every guys does it. It was actually good for me cause I didn't feel so alone about it anymore. That I wasn't the only one having this "problem."

[_stemelbow]

I was asked about it once as far as I recall. I think I've mentioned this before. I was somewhere in the15 to 18 range when I had an interview with the bishop and he simply asked, "do you have a problem with masturbation?"

I was more concerned that I didn't really know what it was, how it worked, than that he asked me. I'm pretty sure I sat with a blank stare after the question while I tried to figure out what exactly he had asked.

Mattie,

I've been trying to find some value to the discussions on this forum, but so far it seems to me nothing more than a place where former LDS members gripe about what they don't like about Mormonism.

For the most part that is true. Some see it as a mirror image of RfM (recovery from Mormonism). Largely its not about discussing, particularly with LDS posters. You'll notice much of my participation here has to do with calling people out for their attacks on LDS folks. For that I'm a "board nanny" as they would, it seems, prefer they could say whatever they like without concern.

The person who told me about it said I would learn a lot of interesting things on this message board. I think I'm finally beginning to understand what he meant. It's the people here who are so interesting.

I agree.

Yeah, Rambo can be a weiner.

[_Runtu]

What "kind of stuff" are you talking about? All I said is that I was never asked about masturbation. I didn't question if anyone else was. I have no reason to doubt what others here are saying about it. I haven't called anyone a liar. I don't think anyone is a liar. What a strange reaction to what I did say!

The only think I don't get is what seems to be an obsession with this particular topic by people on this forum. I just don't understand that. That's all. It seems like a strange thing to focus one's anger about Mormonism on. I never would have expected that. That's why I find it curious.

What you did say is that you were never asked, and you doubt your brothers ever were, either. Why would you say that if you thought we were being truthful? I'm not obsessed with masturbation and don't talk about it much, if ever. But it was and is an obsession in the church, and it comes up all the time in interviews, whether or not you doubt it.

I'm sorry if I overreacted to your post, but you certainly implied that our experience wasn't at all typical. I look back on all that guilt-tripping about masturbation, and it just seems so misplaced.

[_Buffalo]

The only think I don't get is what seems to be an obsession with this particular topic by people on this forum. I just don't understand that. That's all. It seems like a strange thing to focus one's anger about Mormonism on. I never would have expected that. That's why I find it curious.

A lot of us just don't think it's appropriate for a grown man to be taking other people's kids into a locked room one by one and asking them about their genitals and what they do with them, and then asking for elaborate details.

[_stemelbow]

Don't take this out on Mattie. That was just pathetic folks. There's no reason to paint her as one who is delegitimizing your experience. She has a different experience and perspective. As it is, I was asked about it only once as I recall, throughout my life.