Bippity Bop…A Sin It’s Not

Bippity

Six thousand years ago, Adam and Eve were driven from paradise into mortal space. Destined to be founders of the human race. God and angels gave them counsel and commandments to embrace. But, there was a glaring omission of something they were NOT told to stop. Here, I’ll call it Bippity Bop.

Adam and Eve were warned, “Don’t eat that fruit.” But, regarding Bippity Bop, the angels were mute.

Sixteen hundred years passed ’til the great flood doused the earth. In Noah’s story there is no mirth. Except for eight souls, all mankind became has beens….all because of plentiful sins. But, not because of BB. You see…from Adam to Noah, the big B-Bop was never forbidden by God.

The land dried out. People began to sprout. From Shem to Peleg. Nimrod to Nehor. Then Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob’s twelve more. And what about Bippity Bop? Nary a word from our Heavenly Pop. He never commanded that it stop.

Three and a half millennia after Adam, Moses is rescued from the Egyptian river. Finally, we’re at the most prolific law giver. Ten signature commands on tablets were written. You can see them all detailed from Exodus on. Hundreds & hundreds of laws were spawned. Ruling every aspect of those who hold deity in awe. All bound together, they’re called the Mosaic Law. But guess what got missed. You got it. Not even a hiss of Bippity Boppity ever being dissed.

Fifteen hundred more years pass. The Babe is born in the lowest class. The most marvelous of teachings the world would ever hear, are now cherished…held mighty and dear. Did He utter the phrase, “No B-Bop?” Nope. The author of all commands, big and small, never mentions the B’s. Nope, not at all.

Finally, the year 1820 is here. The restoration, just getting into full gear. The famine of God’s word, ends with a seer. Revelation upon revelation. Certainly, there will be a call for Bippity Bop’s cessation.

Joseph Smith? Nope. He never called for Bippity Bop to stop.

The Book of Mormon? Certainly filled with lots of good stuff. But, it ignores the Bippity, strangely enough.

Doctrine & Covenants? As far as a commandment, the Bop is completely absent.

Six thousand years! He’s not a tyrant. It’s time we pay attention to where God is silent.

From Whence Comes the Notion That Loads Bippity Bop with Such Emotion?

For 16 decades, the LDS church harbored racist teachings, doctrines and practices. Where did they come from? We have apostles. Thanks to our current crop, we now know they were all just made up. Simply plucked out of thin air…by men…who were prophets. Not from heaven. Not from revelation. Not from God. Rather, it was our former prophets who put racist words into God’s mouth. It was never God who was racist. It was the leaders of His church.

Fortunately, we now condemn and disavow our racist past. At the thought of our former teachings, we are now aghast.

Into God’s mouth we’ve put lots of words, in our historical past. The words men insert, simply won’t last.

If you still think Bippity Bop is a sin, please go read the most correct book again.

Bippity Bopptiy Boo is natural for kids to go through. And adults? It’s even normal for them, too.

Bippity Boppity, Bippity Boppity, Bippity Boppity……

Boo!

“Protect the Good Name of the Church.” -Satan

Pharisees I’m starting to think, that as a church, we don’t believe in following the core teachings of Christ nor his example. Follow the prophet…sure. But, follow Jesus?

Minister to the “Least“

I love the Savior’s parable about the preeminent importance of reaching out to “the least of these.” Over the past 3 years, I have become associated with more and more members who are on the margins. Rather than minister, we reject them. We ignore them. We silence them. We force them to pursue their journey in pain and loneliness. We bury our heads in the sand. According to this beautiful parable, Christ would say to us, “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”

“Protect the Good Name of the Church“

As a church leader, I heard this phrase many times. I heard it again yesterday.

No way is this the embodiment of Christ’s example. The babe was born in a lowly manger. On a starry night. Filled with peace and light. But…he didn’t remain a helpless babe. He grew into the wise, powerful and OUTSPOKEN adult, whose life and teachings we worship. At least, we say we worship.

Where did He ever command, suggest or intimate that protecting the good name of the church was even a thing? Never. Instead, he called out the very top leaders of His church in unequivocal and embarrassing terms. Here is a sampling of Christ’s words spoken directly to the church leaders of his time: Fools. Hypocrites. Blind guides. Whited sepulchers. Murderers. Generation of vipers. In one chapter alone, he called the leaders hypocrites seven times. Openly expressing disdain for these men, their traditions and their policies was a glaring hallmark of His ministry.

Suppose Jesus lived among us today. If he were to openly criticize the church leaders in the same manner, He’d be excommunicated from His own restored church. Much like He was 2,000 years ago. Excommunicated by crucifixion, at the instigation of the highest leaders of the very church that He had founded through Moses.

Satan?

Christ did not author the sentiment, “Protect the Good Name of the Church.” He exemplified the exact opposite. So, who is the author? Where is it found in scripture? Where is it found in doctrine? If our doctrine does endorse it, then our doctrine condemns the very Babe from Bethlehem whom we claim to follow. I’m pretty sure Satan condemns the Babe from Bethlehem, too.

I have been told not speak out about the wrongs in our church. I have been told to shut up and sustain the leaders. I have been told not to criticize church policies. Finally, many have said that if I continue on my current path, I’ll be excommunicated.

The next time any of these sentiments are expressed, this will be my response:

“I love you, my friend. Apparently you and I worship a different Jesus Christ.”

Get Our Bishops Out of the Sex Interview Business–They Need Our Support

West Virginia Supreme Court says Mormon Multi-State Sex Abuse Lawsuit Can Move Forward

For the story and a link to the supreme court ruling click HERE.

Up to today, my major concern with masturbation interviews has been the harm done to our children.

However, the bishops are also in the cross hairs of possible sexual abuse lawsuits. I have several friends who serve selflessly in this calling. It’s time consuming, often thankless, and sometimes downright depressing.

Then add to their burden the liability of posing sexual questions to a child. Forty years ago, the risk of being hauled into court may have been low. Today, being alone with a child behind closed doors is frowned on by society. To ask the child about sex is unacceptable. The risk of lawsuits is no longer minimal.

Take Action

Protect your children from private masturbation interviews.
Protect your bishops from the frightening legal risks of inappropriate interview practices. Don’t allow them to perform private interviews on your children. Never allow them to probe into sex.

Sam’s Promise

I am going to write a letter to my stake president requesting that changes be made to the youth interview process. At present, there are 23 members of the stake willing to sign the letter, 14 anonymously and 9 openly.
Compose a petition where anyone around the world can register their request for changes.

P.S.

Until the Register for Interview Changes is available, you may want to add your name to the Common Consent Register. 435 members have chosen to actively participate in the Law of Common Consent. I urge you to consider it, too. For details, click HERE

I am Heterosexual–And I’m Normal

temple-visit Let me say that again, I am heterosexual….and I’m normal.

You may be gay. Nevertheless, I’m just as normal as you are.

You may be lesbian. Well guess what. I’m every bit as normal as you.

You may be transgender. You are not one whit more normal than me.

After 64 years on this planet, I can finally say that I am a normal human being. I confidently claim that rank, among my fellow gay, lesbian and transgender human beings.

God

I trust in God more than I ever have. He knew what he was doing when he created my species. On purpose, he gave me my straightness. On purpose, he gave to gay people their gayness. I love the variety of our skin color, hair color and eye color. Now, I marvel at the diversity of gender and orientation. It causes me to marvel at God and his creations.

Book of Mormon

My view of the Book of Mormon has changed over the past couple of years. Of late, I have again come to regard it as a marvelous volume of scripture. Here’s why. We have been taught that it is the “most correct on any book on earth.” The fullness of the gospel is contained in its pages. It was written specifically to address the major issues of our day.

And…it contains…not…one…word…condemning the creations of God. Gay, lesbian, transgender and even straight people were never turned against each another by teachings against our sexuality. All God’s creations are honored in the keystone of my religion, the Book of Mormon.

Glaring Difference Between Baptists and Mormons

I just returned a call from one of the Reverends at St John Missionary Baptist church. Four years ago, my local LDS leaders asked to me start going there, become friends and look for ways to serve. Today, they are great friends with me, with others in my ward and with the Mormon Church in general. We have offered service to them in many, many ways over the years. It has been a beautiful assignment.

Over the past couple of years, I have shared with this particular Reverend some of my questions and doubts. On today’s phone call, he asked how my faith journey was going. Here are parts of my response:

1) Most of my questions and doubts have been answered. My faith is now settled…firmly in the teachings and example of Jesus Christ.

2) I’m still a member of the Mormon church. However, I now recognize that it has some huge problems.

3) I’ve chosen to not remain silent about these problems. Rather, to openly speak out about them. Some have said that I’ll be excommunicated as a result.

4) Then this interchange:

SAM: Suppose you had a 12 year old daughter. You take her to church. Then, without your permission, the pastor does something with your child, unbeknownst to you. He takes her into a room. He closes the door.. Your young daughter ALL ALONE with this older man. He then asks, “Do you masturbate?”

REVEREND: Immediately he blurted out, NO!! That’s wrong. The pastor should never be along with a child. He should never ask a quesiont like that. NO! It’s none of his business.

SAM: This is a common practice in my church and I’ve been very outspoken against it.

REVEREND: I‘m right there with you. That is wrong.

Our Mormon church has an idiotic, dangerous, and harmful custom imbedded in our “youth” interviews. It’s inexcusable that this is still happening. It’s inexcusable that any parent is allowing this to go on. Our interview practice is disgusting. I now think that it’s even more offensive that parents in the Mormon church allow this to go on.

Come on, Mormon parents, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. They are your children. You are supposed to protect them.

Otherwise, delete the “protection” part of the Family Proclamation and add this:

“We Proclaim to the world that, starting at age 12, children are to be grilled about masturbation, behind closed doors, alone with an older untrained man.”

I’m a Mormon parent and grandparent and proud to own my opposition to this apalling practice.

Are you a parent/grandparent who supports the church’s masturbation interviews with your innocent kids? If you remain silent…you own it, my friend. Otherwise, stand up, speak out and stop this crap that continues to defile our church and especially our kids.

P.S.

Do you disapprove of private, closed door, masturbation interviews with your children? If so, feel free to express disapproval on the Common Consent Register found HERE.

Masturbation…Once a Week? Or is Daily Better?

Horror_

I’ve now written 6 blog posts about the Mormon church’s masturbation interviews with children. Three were posted in the last 12 days. This will be #4 in the past 2 weeks. So why do I continue writing?

Well…I’m now receiving feedback from parents who have resolved to protect their children from inappropriate probing questions behind closed doors. Here’s what I’m thinking. Each blog post is worth it…

If…it alerts one parent to the dangers of bishopric masturbation interviews.
If…it helps one parent resolve to protect their children at church.
If…it saves one child from being subjected to a harmful masturbation interview.
If…it saves one child from inappropriate and damaging shame and guilt.
If…it saves one child from decades of sexual dysfunction.
If…it prevents sexual repression from a future marriage that is not scarred by years of childhood probings by untrained men, behind closed doors, all alone, without parental knowledge or consent.

So there it is. Masturbation interviews….should I write warnings once a week? Or is daily better?

Parents Protecting Their Children

Here’s a sampling of recent messages sent to me. Good for these active, believing church members.

Message #1: Prompted by the topic of Sam Young’s recent posts (bishops asking probing, detailed, sexual questions in closed-door interviews with underage girls), I have talked with my spouse as it concerns our daughter and potential future interviews with priesthood leaders. I related to her some of the disgusting things that can happen behind the closed doors of priesthood leaders’ offices. My wife agreed that our daughter will NEVER undergo an interview with anyone in a church setting alone/by herself. If my daughter ever goes to an interview, we are in agreement that at least one of us as her parent will be present in the room at all times. And if some bishop insists that she can’t progress with baptism/whatever unless he interviews her alone… well, then so be it!

Message #2: I broached this subject with my husband and he agreed as well. Because I don’t have trust that the request will always be adhered to by the bishop/local leaders, I went to my daughter and discussed with her the decision her dad and I had made. I let her know this is a boundary that we have made as a family and that she has the authority and power to uphold that boundary should she ever be asked for an interview by herself.

Message #3: This is exactly what I have approved with my wife. What a gift to your children. I wonder if enough people start demanding this if the church will make a statement or adjust a policy, either to open it up, or shut it down. A friend recently told me that his bishop told him in detail HOW to masturbate BEFORE he had a chance to figure it out on his own, yikes. His parents would have been furious. I’m glad my kids won’t have these discussions.

Message #4: I saw your posts about inappropriate questions bishops ask and was totally shocked! So, I asked a large Mormon mom group about their experiences with bishops asking their children, or even themselves, inappropriate questions. I personally have only been asked if I was following the law of chastity. So, it never occurred to me that anyone would be asked anything else. I’m getting notifications left and right of new stories. Lots of totally inappropriate ones.

Someone’s 12 year old daughter was asked if she had engaged in sexual intercourse and he explained what that meant. Others said that a bishop explained ways you could masturbate. One woman who was baptized a few years ago was angry and upset no one told her masturbation was breaking the law of chastity.

There was story after story. It was so shocking. As a newer member, I appreciate you posting this. I will not be letting a bishop ask my children anything without myself there. Lots of women in my group came to that same conclusion. So, thank you so much for talking about difficult things.

Message #5: Called my ex to talk about my son’s upcoming baptism interview, ready to fight about closed doors and demand a parent in the room. Surprisingly, he cut me off at the top of my inquiry and said, “I will be in the room during all of our boys’ (we have two) interviews from here until their mission interview at 18. The bishop has been warned to never ask about masturbation. Ever.

Message #6: A 13 year old female friend in the 70s was asked by a pillar of the community bishop to describe HOW she masturbated. Under no circumstances should any parent allow a child alone with a bishop. Especially considering they have apparently been instructed to discuss “chastity” issues with 7 year olds in baptismal interviews.

Insightful Comment from a Former Bishop

“I can’t believe they still think masturbation is a sin. That’s another thing I realized as bishop. I masturbated my whole life, during my mission and all. I figured if I could be called as a bishop and masturbated, God didn’t care. I never asked anyone about it. To the few people who tried to confess it, I told them not to worry about it, and said it wasn’t a big deal at all. When I heard members of the stake presidency preach about it, I thought to myself, these men are such hypocrites. They masturbate all the time, and they preach against it.”

P.S.

Do you disapprove of private, closed door, masturbation interviews with your children? If so, feel free to express disapproval on the Common Consent Register found HERE.

Preach My Gospel–Masturbation

In 2016, there were 240,131 convert baptisms in the Mormon Church. At year end, an army of 70,946 full-time missionaries fanned the globe. Pretty impressive statics for my church. The Lord’s work continues to roll forth.

Of particular note, a new discussion has been added to the lessons which are taught investigators before baptism. Below are the bullet points guiding our 18 year old missionaries. They are more than qaulified to teach them, having been schooled for 6 years in very private meetings with their bishops. As children, they often were the targets of personal questioning by older male church leaders. Now, their mission presidents will reinforce these intimate probings at every private chance he gets.

So, our missionary kids are totally ready to present these important points of the Mormon religion.

Inform the investigator that mastubation is a sin next to adultery in gravity.
If they masturbate, they can continue to do so until, and even after baptism.
Mastubation will not be covered in their baptismal interview.
After baptism, their 12 year old children will be asked about masturbation. This will occur behind closed doors, alone, with an older man. The parents will not be notified when the interviews take place. As a courtesy, you are letting them know before they get baptized that this will happen to their children. These interviews may only occur once or twice a year. However, if their child admits to masturbation, then these interviews could take place as frequently as 52 times a year.
For adult men, questions about masturbation won’t be posed until it’s time to receive the priesthood.
For adult women, questions about masturbation won’t be posed until it’s time to go to the temple.

I am super excited that the church has decided to be so forthright. No longer will our converts be in the dark. They will know full well what is in store for their children behind closed doors. And just think…it will be our young missionaries who deliver this supernal message!

Here’s to hoping for way more than 240,131 converts for 2017!!!

P.S. I suck at satire. So, I better just say….this IS parody.

Get Your Thoughts and Probing Questions Out of Our Daughters’ PANTIES!!

Disgusted Girl

Warning

If you are OK with an older untrained man taking a 12 year old girl, alone, behind closed doors, without parental knowledge or consent, to ask personal sexual questions….DO NOT READ ON!!!! You’re good to go.

Calling It Like It Is

No more pussy footing around. A crappy spade is a crappy spade. More & more continues to come out. The church leadership has affected my own children more than I knew. Just today, I found out additional things that were done to my young children. So, here goes.

Bishops….get your thoughts and probing questions out of our daughter’s panties.

Bishops…get your thoughts and probing questions out of our sons’ underpants.

Bishops…masturbation and sex are totally inappropriate topics to be discussed with our minor children.

Bishops…shaming and guilting our children is NOT acceptable.

Bishops…interrogating our children about orgasm, penetration or sexual positions is sexual abuse of minors. It’s a serious and nasty business. STOP IT!!!

Blatant Disregard for Parental Protection

Listen to this story from a mother trying to protect her son. Here are her words.

Below is an email I sent to my children’s bishop in November 2016 just after my son (Tyler) turned 16 and was being interviewed for the position of priest in the church (he was denied and still has not received it). I told my spouse (Bryan) before this interview that he had to be present with our Tyler and not allow him to be questioned about sexual matters. He missed my understanding on that and Tyler was questioned about masturbation anyway.

Dear Bishop, Bryan informed me a little while ago that Tyler was asked questions of a sexual nature during his last interview. I had specifically requested that my son not be asked those questions. I find it highly inappropriate for a full-grown adult to ask questions of a sexual nature to an adolescent. I don’t want him to feel shame and guilt for his actions. The shame and guilt has caused Bryan so much pain and self-loathing over the years. I don’t want Tyler to feel that way. Please respect my wishes when it comes to Tyler, and all the other children in my family. I know that it’s the request of the brethren to address these with the youth, but I am not comfortable with it. Please refrain from this questioning to my children.

Respectfully, Shellie Smith

Two weeks following, he re-interviewed Tyler without my husband or I being present, and again asked about his masturbation habit. I told my children and my husband that the kids were not allowed to be interviewed at all anymore.

Soon thereafter, my spouse and I, along with our 3 children, stopped attending.

Here’s a bishop whose thoughts and probing questions were directed into the underpants of a minor. The mother had forbidden it. The bishop had committed to respect the parental direction. He violated the trust of the parents. He violated the privacy of a 16 year old. He drove a family out of the church.

Youth Interviews? Nope! They’re Masturbation Interviews

It turns out that this practice is super common in the church, at least in the United States. In fact, it may now be a universal practice for all bishops to go verbally probing into the panties of our 12 to 17 year old children. Disgusting!!!

Orgasm Interviews

Today, I spoke with a past member of a stake presidency. He said that his stake president instructed the bishops to ask explicit questions when someone confessed a sexual indiscretion. How common is this? I’ve now heard too many stories to think it’s isolated. Do you really want your 16 year old to be asked about her orgasms, her boyfriends orgasms, amount of penetration, and sexual positions? Again despicable instructions from a stake president. All without the knowledge of the parents and behind those damn closed doors, all alone.

Raising Up a Lying Generation

So, what’s a kid to do when she/he is asked a shocking question whose answer could be laden with guilt and shame. Would lying be a strong possibility? This weekend, I asked 43 people if they lied to their bishop during youth interviews. 31 said yes. 75% learned to lie during their masturbation interviews.

Daddy Adult Daughter Talk

A few hours ago, I had this conversation with one of my daughters.

Dad: Were you ever asked inappropriate and uncomfortable questions during your bishop youth interviews?

Daughter: Of course.

Dad: Did you ever lie during those interviews?

Daughter: Yes, but not always.

Daughter: At BYU, the bishop asked very uncomfortable questions the first week of school. I quit going to church. (She only attended BYU for 6 months.)

Dad: Why did you stop going to church?

Daughter: It was too uncomfortable to look at this man after what he had asked me?

This all came as a shock to me. During my 4 years as a student at BYU, I was never asked about masturbation. Just a simple, “Do you keep the law of chastity?”

Lying For Your Mission

Apparently, being masturbation-free is a requirement to receive a mission calling. With all the peer pressure, parental pressure and cultural pressure, would a 17 year old lie in order to pass this requirement? The coercion factors are certainly there. But, I have no data. Only this. A recent mission president in my area is quoted as having said, “If I had to send missionaries home for masturbation, I’d have to send half of the kids home.”

Justification for Masturbation Interviews

Two people have now offered this reasoning, “The ordinances of the church must be protected.”

Really? I’m calling BS and hypocrisy on this one. Last year, there were over 200,000 converts to the church. They entered the sacred waters of baptism. How well did we do at protecting the ordinance of baptism from…..masturbators? We did super poorly. In fact, we did not protect this ordinance one wit. The missionaries DO NOT teach that masturbation is a sin. Why not? Don’t we want to protect the ordinance from people who masturbate? Nope. We want baptisms.

Do we teach people that after their family is baptized, an untrained older man will take their 12 year old daughters behind closed doors and put his thoughts, words and probing questions into her panties? All alone? Without the new converts’ knowledge or permission? Nope. Why not? We want baptisms.

Why the Masturbation Fixation?

When I was a kid, we had youth interviews. Never once did I have a masturbation interview. At BYU, they were bishop interviews. No probing questions into my underwear. When I was bishop, I conducted youth interviews. Never once did I put my thoughts, words or any probing questions into the panties of a young girl.

So, why is it happening today?

We have a scriptural record detailing over 3,000 years of God’s dealings with His children on earth. 3,000 years of prophetic pronouncements, encouragements and warnings. And…3,000 years of…silence…on…masturbation. Total crickets. Old Testament and New Testament—Nope & nope. Book of Mormon—Nope. It’s the most correct book, written for our day and contains the fullness of the gospel. Yet, not a word on masturbation. D&C? That’s a big nope, too. It contains the revelations of the Restoration of all things. Masturbation is so important that God didn’t issue one single word of concern. The Pearl of Great Price? If ever there was to be a pearl of wisdom regarding masturbation interviews it should be in this gem. Nope. A complete home-run of nopes.

But, I haven’t mentioned the most important source of divine counsel and commandment…the words of our Savior. By this point, I’m sure you are aware that even Jesus Christ didn’t associate any shame or guilt with this personal sexual practice.

So where did the church’s masturbation fixation originate?

Here’s a speculation. In the last few years, the church has disavowed and condemned our past racist doctrine, teachings, policies and practices. They were in place for most of the history of our church. Where did they come from? They were simply made up under the influence of the surrounding society. No revelation from God. Just made up by men. So, that’s all I speculate. Our masturbation concerns have been made up by men, heavily influenced by societal norms.

However, society stops way short of shaming a child, alone, behind closed doors. To those outside the church, this practice is revolting. Just as it is to me.

Following Christ’s Example

There are many who are highly critical of me for criticizing a practice found in the church. They say that if I don’t like what the church is doing I ought to leave.

That’s the exact attitude of the religious leaders of Christ’s time. A hallmark of the Savior’s ministry was criticism of His leaders. Often, in very harsh terms. They wanted him to shut up. Ultimately, they did shut him up with execution.

Are we not told to emulate Christ’s example? Of course. This is part of my attempt at discipleship.

P.S.

421 members have chosen to actively participate in the Law of Common Consent. I urge you to consider it, too. Click HERE for the link to the Common Consent Register.

Tocubit Is Invisible's Cubit

Author: Sam Young

Bippity Bop…A Sin It’s Not

From Whence Comes the Notion That Loads Bippity Bop with Such Emotion?

Bippity Boppity, Bippity Boppity, Bippity Boppity……

Boo!