Blog

Affirmation President to The Daily Beast: We can move forward personally regardless of what the church says

April 23, 2019 |

We move forward, I think, stronger and more resilient and more aware of ourselves because of what we lived under in the past three and a half years in the church.

Un individuo que es autosuficiente y motivador de los demás.

Call for Nominations for the 2019 Mortensen Award

April 22, 2019 |

This is the highest honor Affirmation can bestow upon an individual member whose leadership, commitment to service and inspiring example makes a real difference in the lives of others and in the mission of the organization. Please submit nominations right away, but no later than May 25, 2019.

Presidencias de Chile y Ecuador

April 19, 2019 |

Anunciamos las presidencias de Chile y Ecuador.

Natasha Helfer Parker Mormon Mental Health Podcast

Affirmation Leaders on Mormon Mental Health Podcast Discuss Policy Reversal

April 18, 2019 |

Affirmation President Nathan Kitchen and Senior Vice president Laurie Lee Hall discuss with Mormon Mental Health Podcast host Natasha Helfer Parker the impact of the reversal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Day Saint’s November 2015 policy on gay families in the church on the LGBTQ Mormon community.

Glasses on Scripture

Unanswered Questions and Shaken Faith

April 16, 2019 |

It is hard to reconcile a religion whose leader tells us the policy is a revelation from God and then just a short time later reverses the policy with no apologies or recognition of the pain it caused.

Sealed Envelope

A Letter to the Latter-day Saint Prophet: LGBT Policy Lacking in Love

April 16, 2019 |

Gay members needed to return to the closet and continue to live in dark places, unheard, unseen, or be banished to a life of celibacy. I cried and cried when I read this policy, and could not, nor do I still understand or accept such a policy.

Submitted to Affirmation following The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s reversal of their November 2015 policy changes that prohibited children of LGBTQ parents from being blessed and baptized and characterized members of the church entering into same-sex marriages as apostates. These changes became known within the LGBTQ Mormon community as the “exclusion policy,” “policy of exclusion,” or “PoX.” The day after the reversal of this policy was announced, Nathan Kitchen, President of Affirmation, invited anyone willing to and share their authentic feelings and all their stories of grief, anger, relief, sadness, happiness, confusion, whatever they may be that surround the rescinding this policy. “As President of Affirmation, I want to be sure Affirmation does not hide you or your stories as we move forward,” wrote Kitchen in his invitation. If you have reactions or a story to share about the reversal of the exclusion policy, please send to submissions@affirmation.org. You can also read other stories and reactions to the reversal of the exclusion policy.

Revelation as Individuals or as a Church Never Divests Us of Our Agency

April 15, 2019 |

The Lord may keep back-up plans ready so that his designs can’t be subverted by human stupidity or intransigence, but he also tends to let us learn the hard way—even as he’s there with us through the process.

19 Aff Spring Conf Arizona

Register for the Affirmation Spring Conference, May 3 – 5

April 15, 2019 |

Join other LGBTQ Mormons, their family members, and their friends in Phoenix/Mesa Arizona for the Affirmation Spring Conference! Affirmation’s conference is specifically being held this weekend so Affirmation can also connect you Saturday morning with the incredible ALL Conference hosted by ALL (Arizona LDS LGBT) Arizona.

Woman Holding Compass

I Have Confidence in My Own Moral Compass

April 15, 2019 |

The most prominent emotion I currently feel is confidence—confidence in my own moral compass, my own ability to recognize when something is wrong and to act accordingly. I can—as my mother has always encouraged me—be the change I want to see in the world and our church.