Tag: Change

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…

Rejection and the Family

Five years ago, my son was a 13-year-old deacon in our church.  He came out on Super Bowl Sunday, 2012.  For the year previous to that, my wife and I were very concerned as he was notably going downhill and…

A Tale of Two Weddings

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…

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…

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,…

What Words Can’t Define

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…

A Difference of Opinion

Over the past few years, I have had dozens of conversations with friends and family members who are active members of the LDS Church on the subject of homosexuality.  Most active members feel misunderstood and maligned by the ‘world’ and…