Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the News

[myboynoah]

Dehlin is a real dick.

[Moliere]

Dehlin is a real dick.

he's got to keep those donations coming in so he can afford his salary.

Bad decisions on both sides in this one but I think the biggest bad decision is on Elder Gong for asking him to not post the picture. He made a mistake and I'm sure he's not happy about his mistake. Knowing his character, I'm sure he'll learn from it and be better.

[myboynoah]

he's got to keep those donations coming in so he can afford his salary.

Bad decisions on both sides in this one but I think the biggest bad decision is on Elder Gong for asking him to not post the picture. He made a mistake and I'm sure he's not happy about his mistake. Knowing his character, I'm sure he'll learn from it and be better.

Given that we are getting this through Asswipe Dehlin eyes, I don't know how anyone can make an assessment on the biggest bad decision.

[Northwestcoug]

Given that we are getting this through Asswipe Dehlin eyes, I don't know how anyone can make an assessment on the biggest bad decision.

To be fair, Matt Gong posted this on his Medium website. It sounds like it (rightfully) ticked him off, and then it was his decision to make it public. I wouldn't be surprised if a Dehlinite saw the article and alerted him, then Dehlin posted it on Facebook.

At least that's the way I'm reading it.

[myboynoah]

To be fair, Matt Gong posted this on his Medium website. It sounds like it (rightfully) ticked him off, and then it was his decision to make it public. I wouldn't be surprised if a Dehlinite saw the article and alerted him, then Dehlin posted it on Facebook.

At least that's the way I'm reading it.

Right, and it has the Delhin filter.

We have no idea of what actually happened, the motivations, the relationship. Only assumptions.

And still, Dehlin is a real dick. We know that.

[smokymountainrain]

matt gong is a pos for doing that to his dad. elder gong should be more compassionate willing to show that he's giving a little to his gay son and his partner - things like that would go a long way to helping gays in the church feel a tad more loved and accepted. it's a shame elder gong chose that route.

iow, yeah, matt gong is trash for doing that (and imo, his was the worst sin), but i have higher hopes and expectations from a guy in elder gong's position.

[Moliere]

Given that we are getting this through Asswipe Dehlin eyes, I don't know how anyone can make an assessment on the biggest bad decision.

That's fair.

I read some of the comments to Dehlin's post and in doing so I found out that Matt Gong is doing a workshop at a Thrive Unite event in Seattle. For those that don't know, these events are king of the spin off of the Mormon Stories conferences and Dehlin is a board member of the group. So I'll say that I'm now a bit more skeptical of Matt's intentions in making the post or allowing Dehlin to post this.

[Northwestcoug]

That's fair.

I read some of the comments to Dehlin's post and in doing so I found out that Matt Gong is doing a workshop at a Thrive Unite event in Seattle. For those that don't know, these events are king of the spin off of the Mormon Stories conferences and Dehlin is a board member of the group. So I'll say that I'm now a bit more skeptical of Matt's intentions in making the post or allowing Dehlin to post this.

I don't think there's any question about Matt Gong's motives. He's upset and disappointed, and he wants to publicly air his grievances. There is a baseline assholery to that, no doubt. But his feelings are completely understandable. It is sad that pere Gong thought that his reaction was an appropriate thing for a father to do.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I don't think there's any question about Matt Gong's motives. He's upset and disappointed, and he wants to publicly air his grievances. There is a baseline assholery to that, no doubt. But his feelings are completely understandable. It is sad that pere Gong thought that his reaction was an appropriate thing for a father to do.

Can we at least leave open the possibility that events may have happened a little differently that described?

[Omaha 680]

Very sad. I have my doubts that the conversation about the photo went exactly as Matt Gong described. We have a tendency to remember uncomfortable conversations like this through the filter of the emotions we were feeling at the time, which can cause some pretty significant shifts in what was actually said when the story is re-told. Not saying he is being intentionally deceitful or that he wasn't justified in his reaction, but he said himself that anger was flaring in his chest.

It is disappointing that Elder Gong felt he needed to ask his son not to post. I hope we are slowly progressing to a point where LDS fathers won't make decisions like that.

[All-American]

Without approving or disapproving, I 100% understand why Elder Gong asked not to post the picture on social media. I also understand why the son felt hurt by that request. I sure don't think much of the fact that he is airing out the dispute in public.

[Northwestcoug]

Can we at least leave open the possibility that events may have happened a little differently that described?

Sure, but I have a hard time believing that what happened markedly differed in substance than his recollection. Maybe Elder Gong used different words that didn't sound so abrupt, like we enjoyed lunch with you too, but given my position could you please not publicly share that photo? I mean it's still bad but less jarring sounding than what he shared.

And yeah I suppose he could be lying or at least misrepresenting the account, but given what we know church leaders have said about LGBT family members it really doesn't sound too far-fetched. And contra Moliere I really doubt his Thrive gig is motivation enough to share a story that is untruthful.

[Northwestcoug]

Without approving or disapproving, I 100% understand why Elder Gong asked not to post the picture on social media. I also understand why the son felt hurt by that request. I sure don't think much of the fact that he is airing out the dispute in public.

I want to be completely honest here. We would have absolutely seen similar scenarios in my generation (and before) happen outside of the church, and it wouldn't have raised many eyebrows. That is the societal background Elder Gong comes from. The acceptance of LGBT people has happened very quickly in our current society, and it isn't only the church leadership that has been caught flat-footed. So I cut a little slack given his age, because I know it would be difficult for my parents to have been completely accepting were this to happen to them. But the church has had plenty of misssteps the last decades that it should have learned from. It's still disappointing to see.

[jay santos]

Without approving or disapproving, I 100% understand why Elder Gong asked not to post the picture on social media. I also understand why the son felt hurt by that request. I sure don't think much of the fact that he is airing out the dispute in public.

I understand some possible reasons why Elder Gong would ask not to post the picture. I'm trying to be charitable, but I can't think of any reasons that aren't pretty condemning of him. Can you?

[All-American]

I understand some possible reasons why Elder Gong would ask not to post the picture. I'm trying to be charitable, but I can't think of any reasons that aren't pretty condemning of him. Can you?

None that I will share in a public post, if you catch my drift. I may comment in a private thread.