Stories like these, and talks like the one given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland in General Conference, will help us on this journey. Things are changing.
Without further ado....
16 October 2013
Just Be There
A couple of months ago I went to BYU in Provo, to help with a video that USGA (Understanding Same Gender Attraction) was shooting about suicide awareness among LGBT Mormons, especially those at BYU. Although I am not a BYU student, I went and participated, because this is something that I have dealt with in the past, and it's something that is important to me. Suicide rates are high among LGBT teens and young adults, and even more so when they come from conservative religious backgrounds. It needs to stop.
Stories like these, and talks like the one given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland in General Conference, will help us on this journey. Things are changing.
Without further ado....
Stories like these, and talks like the one given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland in General Conference, will help us on this journey. Things are changing.
Without further ado....
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I wholly support the General Authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that as a people we are to be more compassionate, understanding and slow to judgement. We are all God's children and have a place in His bosom. Erecting pride and judgement add more to our unworthiness than does our gender preference in attraction. As long as we stand firm with the brethren and the Proclamation to the World as to the design of the family and marriage all other things can be accomplished through faith and love. It's not as much about right and wrong as it is about finally heeding to the Lord's admonition to look upon each other through His eyes. I try to always remember that when I point my finger there are always three pointing back at me. Whomever holds contention and pride in the heart on either side of the issue is automatically at fault in my book.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Ellen!
ReplyDeleteAmen and amen, Aaron!
My son and I have had some conversations related to the issues of LGBT. In a college class he had to deal with the difficult issue of LGBT's and whether or not they could change. Some research said yes and most said no. We discussed how genetics plays a part in our behavior. How someone could be born with an extra chromosome. My quiet feeling when the church first began to address the issue was that for some it could be a learned behavior for others I thought of genetic aberrations,
ReplyDeleteEventually, my son became well versed in the genetics of schizophrenia. He could tell you everything genetically that could occur to cause this malady. I was impressed to say the least because he was a senior in high school. It confirmed the fact that the behavior of all of us to a certain extent is affected by genetic makeup.
I also wondered why the Lord has said "I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,..." Why would the Lord do that to the descendants. Genetics? Learned behaviors? Other?
My son is a missionary in Virginia now. He was lucky enough to go to a high school with high rankings that was located on a community college campus. He graduated with honors from both and has an AA degree in Psychology which simply means he is off to a good start.
As a missionary, he is teaching and talking to some who are mentally ill. There is a woman there who defended the elders when they were accused of soliciting. He knows there are cameras watching him. He also knows that the people he is working with in this apartment like facility are capable individuals. He heard Elder Holland's talk and I sent him a copy. He knows he is teaching people and not lessons. I hope that he and his companion can continue to make visits there without interference either from the facility or the mission.
I am also glad that the church is reaching out within its constraints to the LGBT as we would reach out to anyone. I am glad that they realize that suicide among LGBT Mormons is devastating to us all. I am glad to hear that there is a recognition that forcing someone who is gay to marry has had some terrible consequences. Equally, I hope the LGBT can see the bigger picture as presented by Elder Holland and other general authorities.
As a member of a school board and as an educator I wish we could drop the labels and refer to each other as human beings. And that contributions to society were made by human beings. There are gays and lesbians that I watch on T.V. I don't watch their shows for that reason. I watch them because they're talented in what they do. Their talent doesn't come from their gender orientation or preference. Their talent comes because they are God's children and they were given a gift.
Thank you for sharing the video.