NOM

Hello everyone,

My name is stealthbishop or stealth. I was a regular around here years ago. It's good to be back! I didn't realize or forgot that NOM was back up so I am really happy about that. I see some familiar faces which also makes me really happy. I took the name stealthbishop back even though I was released as a bishop in honor of Sam Young and his efforts. In the church, the ordination to the office of bishop continues even after you are released as Sam said. So I am reclaiming it. I signed my real name to this apology along with 39 other bishops:

“As Bishops having been ordained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with humility and boldness, we apologize to you, the thousands of children, now adults, who were harmed by bishop interviews.

We didn’t understand how our words and actions could be dangerous and damaging. We know now. Some of you were groomed for tragic sexual abuse. We apologize. Some were sexually assaulted by their own bishops. How can we apologize for something so unconscionable? We.are.sorry.

We recognize that thousands were mercilessly and most often inadvertently shamed. Shamed into self-loathing as youth. Oh, how we apologize for that. Many were shamed into making very poor life choices. Some were shamed into taking their own lives. To the parents of those whose children died by suicide, we sincerely apologize from the deepest depths of our hearts.

Many of you have suffered for decades with open wounds from what happened to you behind closed doors. We are sorry and offer our sincere apology.

You are worthy. You were always worthy. We see you. We hear you. We give you voice. What happened to you was wrong. So wrong. Hand in hand with you, victims of our dreadful policy, we now march forward to protect the children and youth of today. Our sorrow is not expressed in words alone. Hopefully, you will recognize our contrition by our strong and continued actions.

We love you.”

I'm not sure if they will come after me too (because my name is public) but if they do then I will use the awareness to bring light, as Sam did, to these sexually inappropriate and explicit one-on-one interviews that have damaged so many children and adults of our people.

It's good to be back in NOMland!!!!!

Welcome! I wasn’t a member of the previous board, but I like it around here.

Can you clarify: were you an actively serving bishop released because of your support of Sam, or were you released previously?

Thank you for supporting him, thank you for helping people to heal.

Thanks for being on this forum. It's great to have the participation of someone who understands the faith transition process..

IT_Veteran wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:46 am

Welcome! I wasn’t a member of the previous board, but I like it around here.

Can you clarify: were you an actively serving bishop released because of your support of Sam, or were you released previously?

Thank you for supporting him, thank you for helping people to heal.

No, I was a bishop from 2007-2012. I took public action as a current bishop at that time (2007-2012) to draw attention to LGBTQ issues and to promote greater inclusion. But I had nowhere near the consequences that Sam has suffered. He has significantly more courage than I. Same with Kate Kelly. She has a spine of steel. The consequences to my wife and children made me sort of fall into the background.

Corsair wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:58 am

Thanks for being on this forum. It's great to have the participation of someone who understands the faith transition process..

Thanks for having me back Corsair!!!

Welcome back Stealth!

For the newbies, Stealth was one of the great posters on NOM back in the day.

Glad to see you back and hope your family is doing well!

Are you still actively attending?

Woohoo! Stealth has returned. So good to hear from you.

I love the apology. Where was it published? Was it put before the church leadership in any way that we can have reason to believe that they saw it?

Welcome back..

I'm relatively new here, but love seeing those who have been around a while posting and doing OK.

The apology is great as well!

Red Ryder wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:24 am

Welcome back Stealth!

For the newbies, Stealth was one of the great posters on NOM back in the day.

Glad to see you back and hope your family is doing well!

Are you still actively attending?

RED RYDER!!!! So good to see you!

Yes, still attending. I teach GD and I like it because I can control the conversation for the most part! Still love my tribe even with all the dysfunction. I don't attend third hour. My ministering efforts are towards individuals who are suffering within the church as a whole and not with the mostly 99. So my ministering is below the radar which is just where stealth likes it!

Hagoth wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:32 am

Woohoo! Stealth has returned. So good to hear from you.

I love the apology. Where was it published? Was it put before the church leadership in any way that we can have reason to believe that they saw it?

Hagoth!!! So great to see you!

It was published on Sam's webpage and also it was announced on the last day of Sam's hunger strike.

jfro18 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 9:41 am

Welcome back..

I'm relatively new here, but love seeing those who have been around a while posting and doing OK.

The apology is great as well!

Thanks jfro18!!! Glad you are part of NOM!!!

Welcome back Stealth!

wtfluff wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:54 am

Welcome back Stealth!

wtfluff!!! How the hell are ya!!!! So good to see you!

Wow - the actual Stealth makes a triumphant return!

Back to my lurking now.

stealthbishop wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:28 am

wtfluff!!! How the hell are ya!!!! So good to see you!

Well.. Pretty much the same-old-same-old for me, which basically is: doing everything wrong when it comes to this faith awakening stuff.

I guess after a lifetime of stupid decisions based on completely unreliable emotions (or lack thereof) it might take a while to "untangle my brain" (to quote another old NOM-ie...)

stealthbishop wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:31 am

I'm not sure if they will come after me too (because my name is public) but if they do then I will use the awareness to bring light, as Sam did, to these sexually inappropriate and explicit one-on-one interviews that have damaged so many children and adults of our people.

It's good to be back in NOMland!!!!!

Hey man, good to have you back. Miss the old avatar though.

I doubt they'll come after you for just signing the letter, but I'm sure you have a file started somewhere.

Thank you for signing that apology!

oliver_denom wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 19, 2018 7:20 am

stealthbishop wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:31 am

I'm not sure if they will come after me too (because my name is public) but if they do then I will use the awareness to bring light, as Sam did, to these sexually inappropriate and explicit one-on-one interviews that have damaged so many children and adults of our people.

It's good to be back in NOMland!!!!!

Hey man, good to have you back. Miss the old avatar though.

Is this the one? I googled "Brokeback Bishop"

Red Ryder wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:22 am

oliver_denom wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 19, 2018 7:20 am

stealthbishop wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:31 am

I'm not sure if they will come after me too (because my name is public) but if they do then I will use the awareness to bring light, as Sam did, to these sexually inappropriate and explicit one-on-one interviews that have damaged so many children and adults of our people.

It's good to be back in NOMland!!!!!

Hey man, good to have you back. Miss the old avatar though.

Is this the one? I googled "Brokeback Bishop"

Yep. That's it.

oliver_denom wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 19, 2018 7:20 am

stealthbishop wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 17, 2018 8:31 am

I'm not sure if they will come after me too (because my name is public) but if they do then I will use the awareness to bring light, as Sam did, to these sexually inappropriate and explicit one-on-one interviews that have damaged so many children and adults of our people.

It's good to be back in NOMland!!!!!

Hey man, good to have you back. Miss the old avatar though.

I doubt they'll come after you for just signing the letter, but I'm sure you have a file started somewhere.

Oliver!! How the hell are ya!! So great to see you!!!

Yeah, the small pixel size limited my ability to get the same avatar. Believe me I tried!!

It is awesome to see you Oliver!!!