Peggy Fletcher Stack with a great article on the letter and the various reactions it has provoked. Some bad, some good.
One more:
I made that same joke with some ward members and it totally bombed. 
It was "a train wreck," filled with distrust and fear and 'us' verses 'them' comments," wrote a Lehi Latter-day Saint. "With the exception of one lovely woman, every comment and response was a reflection of perceived victimhood, how our religious freedoms are being attacked, and the persecution our church is under. There was almost nothing about Christlike love or compassion for those who are different than us. It was awful."
Nick Einbender, a gay member in Honolulu, said his bishop read the letter to all adults and youths, then opened it up to discussion.
The first comment came from Einbender's partner, Spencer Mickelson, who explained that "he has done everything his church leaders have suggested throughout his life to overcome and deal with being gay short of brainwashing himself, and that over a period of time, through prayer and personal revelation following the promptings of the Spirit, has realized that being gay is part of his mission here on Earth."
Mickelson went on to share his faith in the Mormon gospel, Einbender recounted in an email, and many in the room were quietly weeping and nodding in agreement.
Einbender then addressed the group.
"I bore my testimony of the motivating power of Christ's teachings and pleaded with the members to love, embrace, welcome and support a gay son, daughter, family member or friend, even without having the answers to reconcile their own beliefs with the situation," he wrote. "That love is enough. I reminded them that a seemingly insignificant act of kindness and love by them toward other members of the church may be an answer to a prayer, may be a miracle, may save a life."
After the session, members surrounded the couple as if they were "in a wedding lineup," Einbender said. "They ranged from 90-plus-year-olds to young teenagers all with smiles, with tears, and an outpouring of love that one would had to have been present to understand. It was truly humbling not only to receive such love, but also to be used as tools of understanding in God's hands."
The first comment came from Einbender's partner, Spencer Mickelson, who explained that "he has done everything his church leaders have suggested throughout his life to overcome and deal with being gay short of brainwashing himself, and that over a period of time, through prayer and personal revelation following the promptings of the Spirit, has realized that being gay is part of his mission here on Earth."
Mickelson went on to share his faith in the Mormon gospel, Einbender recounted in an email, and many in the room were quietly weeping and nodding in agreement.
Einbender then addressed the group.
"I bore my testimony of the motivating power of Christ's teachings and pleaded with the members to love, embrace, welcome and support a gay son, daughter, family member or friend, even without having the answers to reconcile their own beliefs with the situation," he wrote. "That love is enough. I reminded them that a seemingly insignificant act of kindness and love by them toward other members of the church may be an answer to a prayer, may be a miracle, may save a life."
After the session, members surrounded the couple as if they were "in a wedding lineup," Einbender said. "They ranged from 90-plus-year-olds to young teenagers all with smiles, with tears, and an outpouring of love that one would had to have been present to understand. It was truly humbling not only to receive such love, but also to be used as tools of understanding in God's hands."
Steve Rotterdam, who attends a Manhattan LDS ward, noted a vigorous discussion among the men in the ward's high priests' group, including a number of summer visitors.
"Pretty much everyone agreed that we are poorer as a ward family," Rotterdam wrote, "when we exclude and/or marginalize members of our community for any reason."
He then quipped: "Finally, no one was concerned about the possibility of same-sex couples wanting to have ceremonies or celebrations held on the grounds of the church, because, honestly, have you seen our gym?"
"Pretty much everyone agreed that we are poorer as a ward family," Rotterdam wrote, "when we exclude and/or marginalize members of our community for any reason."
He then quipped: "Finally, no one was concerned about the possibility of same-sex couples wanting to have ceremonies or celebrations held on the grounds of the church, because, honestly, have you seen our gym?"
Comment