- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Hi friends! I need your help! I was asked to speak in stake conference on ministering to those on the fringes- lgbtq, inactive, any who don’t feel like they fit the traditional Mormon mold. What ideas do you think are especially important for me to include? If you have quotes (especially from general authorities) I can share I would love that! Thanks! 
My initial impression is that Jesus was the master at ministering to the marginalized. He has asked us to “feed his sheep”. Roy wrote:
My initial impression is that Jesus was the master at ministering to the marginalized. He has asked us to “feed his sheep”.
So true! Thanks, Roy!
dande48 wrote:
One of my favorite conference talks:https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng
Yes! Such a fabulous talk! I’m going to go read it again! Thanks, dande!
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2018-06-0020-a-friend-to-all?category=topics/unity&lang=eng ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2018-06-0020-a-friend-to-all?category=topics/unity&lang=eng We watched this in Relief Society the other day I really liked it. It’s not direct but it is inclusive. I am excited that you have that topic. Also this blog post from LDS.org that On Own Now posted might work.
https://www.lds.org/blog/who-do-i-choosegod-or-my-husband?cid=HP_TH-26-7-2018_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2 ” class=”bbcode_url”> https://www.lds.org/blog/who-do-i-choosegod-or-my-husband?cid=HP_TH-26-7-2018_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2 Let us know how it goes.
My contribution was Come Join With Us, already covered. That talk made all the difference for me and I reread it often, if only to remind myself that someone at the top thinks I’m OK. Chieko Okazaki had some fabulous quotes about this exact topic. I don’t have time to search our archives right now, but maybe try a Google search using “Chieko Okazaki LGBTQ quotes”. What a great topic and opportunity. Can I give you some thoughts instead of some quotes?
The entire idea of ‘ministering’ is to help people feel welcome.
The first step is to make sure, in our own hearts, that they really are welcome.
From the classic talk oft quoted here on this site, Elder Wirthlin’s “Concern for the one” from April 2008 GC: Quote:Some are lost because they are different. They feel as though they don’t belong. Perhaps because they are different, they find themselves slipping away from the flock. They may look, act, think, and speak differently than those around them and that sometimes causes them to assume they don’t fit in. They conclude that they are not needed.
Tied to this misconception is the erroneous belief that all members of the Church should look, talk, and be alike. The Lord did not people the earth with a vibrant orchestra of personalities only to value the piccolos of the world. Every instrument is precious and adds to the complex beauty of the symphony. All of Heavenly Father’s children are different in some degree, yet each has his own beautiful sound that adds depth and richness to the whole.
This variety of creation itself is a testament of how the Lord values all His children. He does not esteem one flesh above another, but He “inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; … all are alike unto God.”
I used this in a stake conference talk, with the emphasis that ALL ARE GOD’s CHILDREN. He created us as we are, so we are therefore OK as we are. Each individual should be treated with respect and dignity as one of God’s creation.
Part of my stake talk went like this:
Quote:Wouldn’t it be silly if they hung a sign on all hospital doors that read:
• The doctors and nurses in here are healthy. You can be like us if you try harder. When you get to be like us….then please enter the hospital and join us.No, it doesn’t work that way. President Uchtdorf of the First Presidency said in October 2014
Quote:The Church is a home for all to come together, regardless of the depth or the height of our testimony. I know of no sign on the doors of our meetinghouses that says, “Your testimony must be this tall to enter.”
The Church is not just for perfect people, but it is for all to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him.” The Church is for people like you and me. The Church is a place of welcoming and nurturing, not of separating or criticizing. It is a place where we reach out to encourage, uplift, and sustain one another as we pursue our individual search for divine truth.
I think this is good reminder to us that testimonies come in different sizes, in different time frames…some may seek for years to get the testimony they so desire.
But all are welcome
as they are. It is important for us to remember that…finding the one requires honest and true concern for individuals.
As we read in 3 Nephi 17: 21
21 … he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.
One more good reminder is to remember to avoid labeling others. They are not a “LGBTQ” person or an “inactive” person (which sounds weird to most people when you use terms like “an active member” or ” an inactive member”)…they are a person.
How we view others is a reflection of our hearts.
I have used the example of someone coming into our sacrament service – right in the middle of the administration of the sacrament – reeking of alcohol – or wearing a mini skirt and loose tank top – or muttering softly and incoherently – or holding hands with someone of the same sex – or anything else of which we might disapprove naturally. What is our first internal reaction / thought: Quote:“What are you doing here?”
or
Quote:“Thank God you found us!”
How we treat others almost always depends on what we actively think about them.
Thank you, everyone, for these awesome ideas! I want to say thank you again to each of you who shared thoughts and resources with me. I used ideas from every single one of you. Combining all of our wisdom and love, I think it turned out beautifully and many, many people thanked me for it. You all have so much pure goodness to offer. Thank you for sharing it. Thanks for reporting back. This made my day. Seriously, I have been “in the trenches” here for almost 10 years. This stuff is what keeps me going – and knowing there are lots more examples about which we never hear.
Wonderful. I am glad it went so well for you. Helping with lessons and talks is a favorite past time over here. Feel free to let us help anytime.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.