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Thank you so much for your replies. You know the 13th article of faith tells us if there is anything virtuous or of good report we seek after these things. And, I think it was JS that said ‘We accept truth whereever we find it.” Sometimes, I have found members thinking that we are the only ones that have any truth. I recall, a young sister in our ward working with me as a PR person for the stake and visiting another church with me on a project with ‘Churches United”. The pastor was saying some really great truths and this sister made a comment, “Well, these churches don’t have the truth only ours does.” It drove me nuts. I taught gospel doctrine class for 4 years and also the investigators class for 4 years. They ward members loved my classes because I related the lessons to their everyday lives and with humor. But, I used outside sources to make my point at times. Suddenly, I was told I could only use the 4 standard works and Ensign material. I said, Well,I have heard GA’ quote mother Teresa and Billy Graham at times and I quoted them the 13th article of faith. Well, they told me that only the GA’s can do that because they are superior to me. They said the stake president has decided this and that is it. I told them I was sorry, but I could not teach then and asked to be released. I also appreciate your comments on my book. There is a wonderful quote by Robert Bly: “It says that where a man’s wound is, that is where his genius will be. Wherever the wound appears in our psyches….that is precisely the place from which we will give our major gift to the community.” This journey with our son has been very difficult but if forced me to grow like nothing else and learn so much along the way. At times though the church has been a hinderance though because of FEAR (false evidence appearing real). When I was the ward Public Relations person for our stake, we were told to find note worthy things ward members were involved with in the community so they could advertize that for the church in local newspapers. Well, I shared with them how I had started a local chapter of PFOX (Parents and Friends of exgays and gays) in the Quad Cities and most were excited about helping me advertize that, but the Stake High priest leader told me no because he said he contacted Salt Lake and they do not want to deal with this issue. That made me so mad as I had the whole local evangelical community behind me. Over the years I have really had to separate the gospel from the people in the church or I would have gone crazy.
Thank goodness, I think for myself and try to get my own personal revelation. One time I was coming out of the Chicago temple feeling so empty inside (I have not had good experiences in the temple for some reason) and I walked into the local lds book store and there was this small book just standing out there for me called, ‘[For those who Wonder’. It was about people who have doubts and questions in the church yet want to stay in the church. So, those answers to prayers get me through alot.
btw. this June I will be in Denmark, Germany, and Austria for 3 weeks. I will finally meet the gay youth I wrote my book with and his partner and some other gays I have befriend in Europe. I will also get to see where I was born in Berlin and left at 3 years old and where I served my mission in Austria.
It is a rude awakening to learn that church leaders are just as falliable as anyone. But, even in Biblical times, Gods leaders had some serious problems. Jeremiah, Noah, Lot, were drunk, slept with their daughters, etc. I think Satan probably works harder on leaders as they can bring so many others down with them. When I was in the LTM (Language Training Mission), the LTM mission presidents wife shared with us sisters how falliable the General Authorities can be even though they have been called and can be very inspired. She had been on a mission when her LTM MISSION president’s wife died. After her mission she dated this LTM mission president widower and they got engaged. This would be his second marriage and wife and her first marriage. She was so excited about planning her wedding when one of the 12 apostles, who was related to this mission president told her, “Don’t make such a big deal over this wedding. You are just a secondary wife.” Well, you can imagine how this hurt her. I believe Heavenly Father is like a perfect parent that loves His children even though they are often imperfect and unworthy.
Bridget
I loved reading this too. This is the true spirit of the law, verse the letter of the law. Serving a mission in Europe was very difficult for me and there was so much pressure to baptize and get in the discussion numbers for reports. Once, when I was a greenie and did not know better, I remember shoving a discussion down someones throat just so I could mark it down for the report. I felt like crap afterwards and vowed to never do that again. I hated it when missionaries got together and compared who had taught the most discussions. District and Zone meetings often felt like Amway pep rallies. I began thinking about what is the Christlike thing to do. This is when my companion and I started doing chartible acts of service. I was a hairdresser and would do peoples hair for free or weed their yard. Then we would ask people about their lives and what brings happiness or what they thought the purpose of life was. One of our best baptizing missionaries in the field did something very unorthodox (not immoral or illegal) but brought people to the church that ended up being branch presidents in small Austrian areas. He and his companion lived next door to some hippies and so they grew their own beards, wore causal clothes, and helped the hippies with their gardens. They became their friends and then taught them the gospel. So kudo’s to your stake president. Bridget
Dear Scott, Thank you sooo much for sharing what you are going through here. My youngest son discovered he had a same sex attraction at 16 and it really devestated him. We found out by accident when he was 17 and learned how hellish of a trial this had been for him. So, please know that my heart goes out to you. Many things have happened since then (my son is 26 now) which have actually become a huge blessing to our whole family and others lives because of our son’s SSA! I want you to know that God loves you very much and will use this to bless so many lives. Ours is a very unusual story that became a book I wrote for family and friends and those with issue. Here is a link to my book:
http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=12053 It tells about me, our son, and our journey. Since writing this book I have changed much of my thinking but the most important thing I learned was that LOVE is the most important thing on this earth. God will use you for his glory and how others treat you and those who have this issue, will show God what is in their hearts. I like how others on this group have responded to you here. God bless you. Bridget
