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I love this essay. I love even more the man who wrote it. I have had a lifelong struggle with “The Church” marginalizing people. Whether it’s a group or an individual. The Gods of my heart don’t do that. As a teen it hurt when selected ward members or groups were dismissed, ridiculed, driven from the fold. Even worse were the race issues of the day.
The story hasn’t changed much. There is always an out group or two. From my chair today it’s LGBTQ members and women.
This long essay sheds inspiring light on inclusion. If LGBT isn’t your issue, but another group is – substitute their name and read this. I am copying all the GA quotes for personal use during classes and talks.
Read. Discuss.
Thanks for sharing, Mom. Strongly considering sharing with my bishop and SP. Wow! powerful! I particularly liked a number of parts:
1) Tom theorizes that orientation may be part of our eternal intelligences. This then indicates that orientation is eternal. This turns on its head any promise that homosexual orientation will change in the next life.
2) He agreed with the current church position that homosexual orientation may be innate but that how we act on that orientation is a matter of agency with consequences. Then he elaborates and says that whatever choices are made in regard to dating and family life there will be sacrifices and tradeoffs.
3) He mentions some that may choose to remain celibate that will have the time and resources to bless multiple families. I wonder if he might see himself in this role. That he sacrificed his own relationship in order to become a more credible voice of love and compassion on this issue within the church.
He is tying to walk a path that many will not understand, and I absolutely love that he say she each person has to reach a decision for her/himself, while our only correct choice is to love them no matter what. I also love that he rejects that “all in” or “all out” mindset. Saying explicitly that chastity before gay marriage and fidelity after gay marriage is better than promiscuity. He says that to live the gospel in whatever degree as your situation and circumstances will permit is a noble and worthy goal. Roy wrote:
I also love that he rejects that “all in” or “all out” mindset. Saying explicitly that chastity before gay marriage and fidelity after gay marriage is better than promiscuity. He says that to live the gospel in whatever degree as your situation and circumstances will permit is a noble and worthy goal.
I love this too, and partly because it addresses so many other issues like WoW.
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