Gay and Mormon

[Anthesian]

I'm gay and Mormon. I don't support the position the church takes on this subject. I have been with my partner for 3 years and we have a gospel and Christ centered relationship.

The suicides of gay Mormons is unexcusable. I take something that a former bishop once said very seriously: "Any moral standard or principle that drives a child of God to do harm to another or to him/herself is no moral standard". This means that "To the One", and "For the Young Men Only" no longer stand up to the true teachings of Christ.

I believe this is one aspect of life that the General Authorities are getting wrong.

My partner and I love the Lord and do the best we can to serve him.

I appreciate the honesty and willingness of members of this board to express them selves so bluntly.

Dwayne

[Levin]

Was your partner also raised Mormon? If he was, that's a blessing you two found each other.

[Anthesian]

Yes, he was raised Mormon. I was inactive while he was on his mission. He reactivated me and we met up after he got home when we were both at ASU. Started out as friendship but turned into the loving relationship we have now.

Dwayne

[Levin]

Originally Posted by Anthesian

Yes, he was raised Mormon. I was inactive while he was on his mission. He reactivated me and we met up after he got home when we were both at ASU. Started out as friendship but turned into the loving relationship we have now.

Dwayne

Do you both attend Sunday meetings? If you do, how do the members treat you and how do you feel there? If you don't, did you once try but stop?

Sorry for the 20 questions; I have several gay mormon friends, but not two who remain believers in the Church and who are committed to each other.

[Anthesian]

Originally Posted by Levin

Do you both attend Sunday meetings? If you do, how do the members treat you and how do you feel there? If you don't, did you once try but stop?

Sorry for the 20 questions; I have several gay mormon friends, but not two who remain believers in the Church and who are committed to each other.

We do still attend. The members are very welcoming. The bishop has a gay son who is in a committed relationship. He is very understanding. We are comfortable. We do service work just like anyone else in the church and engage in as much as we can. We don't teach in church but are welcome to bear testimony and engage in discussion. The gospel blesses our lives as a couple. Christ is the center and so we are very blessed.

Dwayne

[Levin]

Originally Posted by Anthesian

We do still attend. The members are very welcoming. The bishop has a gay son who is in a committed relationship. He is very understanding. We are comfortable. We do service work just like anyone else in the church and engage in as much as we can. We don't teach in church but are welcome to bear testimony and engage in discussion. The gospel blesses our lives as a couple. Christ is the center and so we are very blessed.

Dwayne

If anything will change the church's teachings on homosexuality, it will be this precise situation.

I'm convinced that what is changing the nation's attitude is that gay people are our neighbors -- our good neighbors -- and the ignorance dissipates. Its the breaking up of gay centers and their dispersion into suburbia.

Can you imagine if every ward had a couple like you? I doubt that all would be as welcoming.

[Anthesian]

Originally Posted by Adam

I'm glad you found us here. I hope you stick around.

I greatly admire your ability to not throw out all the good the Church has to offer when it stabs you in the heart as it is in the California constitution fight now beginning.

Your bishop sounds great. Let's hope he one day becomes a GA.

The gospel is true no matter what. The physical institution and the people are the imperfections. We believe in the absolute love of Christ as Christ expressed. Not the pick and choose style many members of the church have.

Dwayne

[Levin]

Originally Posted by Levin

Can you imagine if every ward had a couple like you? I doubt that all would be as welcoming.

But my point is that it would change many peoples' attitudes.

[Anthesian]

Originally Posted by Levin

If anything will change the church's teachings on homosexuality, it will be this precise situation.

I'm convinced that what is changing the nation's attitude is that gay people are our neighbors -- our good neighbors -- and the ignorance dissipates. Its the breaking up of gay centers and their dispersion into suburbia.

Can you imagine if every ward had a couple like you? I doubt that all would be as welcoming.

I agree.

Not everyone is fully comfortable with us. The majority is though. We are planning to adopt 2 twin girls. My partner's dad will give one a baby blessing and my dad is going to give the other hers. Our families and our close friends and neighbors are our biggest supporters.

Dwayne

[Levin]

Originally Posted by Anthesian

I agree.

Not everyone is fully comfortable with us. The majority is though. We are planning to adopt 2 twin girls. My partner's dad will give one a baby blessing and my dad is going to give the other hers. Our families and our close friends and neighbors are our biggest supporters.

Dwayne

You are blessed with a very loving family, ward, and neighborhood. Congrats on the two little girls! Where are the girls from?

My wife is pregnant and we're hoping to high heaven that it's a little girl.