Family

Principle…not policy…

February 7, 2016 |

God made us a promise. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” God hears and answers prayers and He is intimately aware of the trials and tribulations that we face. And he will never abandon those who seek Him out and ask in faith…believing that He will answer.

Your Children Are Listening

February 5, 2016 |

I put on a happy face during my teenage years. Not even my family knew how much I was hurting. So please understand that your/our children are listening. Negative comments about LGBTQ people or negative comments about gay marriage will hurt. The wounds can run deep and are long lasting.

A Sacred Journey

November 14, 2015 |

By Nick Einbender
People will always trump policy and the spirit of Christ is not found in a blanket policy that isolates people from the blessing that Christ’s Gospel offers freely to us all. His simple invitation to “Come Follow Me” was never accompanied by footnotes, disclaimers, addendums, policies, or attachments.

Strengthening and Preserving the Family

June 27, 2015 |

To many individuals, phrases like “strengthening and preserving the family” or “defending the family,” sound like a commonsense invocation of concern about the well-being of one of the fundamental building blocks of society. Of course we should strengthen, preserve and defend the family. However, to most gay, lesbian, bi and transgender people, and to their families and loved ones, such phrases often sound menacing and demoralizing. We are accustomed to hearing people describe the very existence of LGBT people as a threat to the family.

Preventing and Dealing with Hurtful Comments Made in Church Settings

June 27, 2015 |

There are a variety of ways that folks are responding to these situations. Some are skipping lessons that have a potential to open up hurtful class discussions. Some are attending Church and finding positive ways to participate in such discussions.

One mom of a gay son has responded by writing a letter to her Sunday School teacher, urging him to take into account the effect that negative comments about homosexuality would have on her son and her family.

A Mom Gets Involved

March 15, 2015 |

I’d never been involved in political causes and had never been to a political rally in Utah. That changed after 2011 when my son Grayson discovered that he was FtM transgender. I was horrified to discover that it was still legal to discriminate against my child because of his gender identity, or against others because of their sexual orientation.

Becoming a Woman of Faith

February 22, 2015 |

Love had begun to change her, to empower her. Suddenly she was fearlessly living her life. She was accomplishing amazing things, because someone loved her for who she truly was, and believed in her, she believed in herself and dared not only to dream, but to strive to make those dreams a reality.

Parents / Allies

January 18, 2015 |

It seems odd for us to apply the term “allies” to parents. In a normal world, every child simply assumes that their fiercest, most loving defenders are and will always be their parents. The term “parent” ought to be synonymous with “ally.” Unfortunately, we don’t necessarily live in a world where that can automatically be assumed. In the meantime, we are deeply grateful to parents who — sometimes quietly, sometimes boisterously — stand by our sides and let us know through action and through words that family matters, and that we are family.

Knowing Myself, Knowing God

November 2, 2014 |

I received spiritual insights, bit by bit, teaching me and giving me peace and understanding. Being gay would not keep me from becoming the man God wanted me to be. I now believe that it is only the gay me, not some imaginary straight me, that will be able to do and become what he is supposed to in this life.