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Eternity has changed. It is no longer the infinite straight line for the chosen few. It is here and now in the ever-expanding universe of ways of believing and being: the diversity of cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, philosophies, personalities, abilities, moralities, genders, sexualities, interests, esthetics, values…and on and on.
Undoubtedly, this is the greatest and most valuable lesson learned on this Valentine’s Day: A reminder to bring love and light, through the message of Affirmation, to those who need it most.
Considering the expansiveness of the divine, why would God not be able to exalt a same-sex couple who love and care for each other and yearn to be together forever? At the end of the day, isn’t God truly concerned about the person we have become?
Affirmation President Nathan Kitchen presented at the Utah Valley University Humanities Symposium on February 17, 2022. The title of his presentation was “Unashamed Authenticity: Unapologetically Navigating the Queer/Latter-day Saint Intersection during an Ongoing Restoration.”
I have made life-long friends and I will always cherish being able to advocate for all of you. It’s time for me to pass the baton to the next leader to continue building the path that is going to result in more people finding the same joy that I have managed to find by simply being true to who I am.
The conference’s main objective was to help attendees recognize that we can all contribute something of value to the LGBTQIA+ community, our families, and society, despite our differences. We all have talents and abilities that make our contributions unique.
God doesn’t ask us to suffer and stay under the storm. As we move away from darkness and towards a lighted horizon, we can find our safe space. There may be rain, wind and flying debris in the journey away from oppression and conflict. But if we’re looking for the rainbow, we’ll recognize God’s colors when we see them.
Nathan Kitchen, president of Affirmation, will give an address at Utah Valley University on Thursday, February 17th at 11:30 am MST during the University’s Humanities Symposium. You can attend the address live at the Fulton Library Auditorium on the UVU campus in Orem, Utah, or watch it via live stream.
If Latter-day Saints can accept the idea that same-sex relationships can be just as beautiful and uplifting as heterosexual relationships, then the Church could fully affirm and even celebrate same-sex relationships without compromising what they claim to be eternal doctrines.