Tag: Latter -day Saint

What Can’t Be Said

Tonight, I went to a seminar called “Being a Good Latter-day Saint & Supporting God’s LGBTQ Children” a Listen, Learn, & Love production by Richard Ostler.  The seminar was a high school auditorium in Mesa Arizona full of Mormons who…

Grace

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…

Anger

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.…

Clarity

It has been over four years since Wendy and I found out that Jordan was gay.  Three wards, two states and a persistent search for a ward family to call home.  I have documented our experience in our first ward…

Emotional Distance

Recently, I was asked to give a lesson from a Conference address in October by the new apostle Elder Renlund.  The last few lessons I have taught have been a significant struggle for me to teach.  My heart was devastated…

The Scarlet Letter: Apostasy

“…if truth were everywhere to be shown, a scarlet letter would blaze forth on many a bosom…” The last few weeks have been agony.  On November 5th, the Church shifted its policy regarding LGBT members.  Now any LGBT person who…

Sadness

A couple years ago, a member of the Bishopric in a previous ward shared how happy he is in the Church.  He shared how happy the gospel makes him and his family.  He finished it off with, “I don’t even…

Seeing Through My Tears

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…

The Doctrine of Celibacy

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,…