Recently, I attended my fifth Affirmation Conference. Affirmation is a support group for LGBTQIA Mormons. It is a remarkably diverse space that includes not just inactive/ex-Mormons but active queer Mormons and active allies. It bridges a wide span of both…
Recently we held a fireside at our home. There was no specific topic, speaker or agenda. We simply sent out the invitation and 20-30 people came. Many were our LGBT+ friends who live in the area and a few visitors…
I have a visceral memory from last year. I remember stumbling out of Sacrament meeting with Wendy shaking and heaving with pain and despair. Half way to our car, we just turned to each other and held each other weeping.…
Sunlight diffused through the trees over the wedding. A light breeze cooled the summer day to a perfect temperature. The wedding arch was decorated in lace and beautiful white lilies. The groom stood to the left of the wedding officiant…
The day after the news of the new LDS Church policies on gay families hit social media, I prayed. Yes, the news was devastating to me and to so, so many in the LGBT Mormon community. In the weeks following,…
Today was my first day in a new ward. It is unavoidably true that one of the reasons for our move was to find a fresh start in a new ward. By way of synopsis, our son Jordan came out…
I live about two hours from the Los Angeles Temple. Recently, I made my first trek there since my son came out gay about almost three years ago. I have always instinctively kept my temple recommend active and remained worthy…
I am contacted fairly frequently by parents or other family members of gay or lesbian Latter-day Saints. They are anxious for their gay or lesbian loved ones to somehow find a way to stay active in the LDS church. Even…
When Mormons speak of the Law of Chastity, they often define it as remaining celibate until marriage. In actuality, it would be more properly defined as remaining abstinent until marriage. Today, the words abstinent and celibate are frequently used interchangeably,…
Mormons, like most Christian’s, in pursuit of greater spiritual understanding, pursue Christ’s words in scripture. Who’s words, on any given subject, are more authoritative than those of the Savior himself? Even more notable are subjects on which Christ never spoke…