ARIZONA LDS LGBT & FAMILY/FRIENDS

Of One Heart

Of One Heart

As I begin my remarks today, I’d like to repeat the words of introduction that I used in speaking to this group four years ago: “I would make two quick points as we begin: first, as you surely understand I speak for myself only; and second, my journey is a work in progress, and thus I share my experiences as a means of relating some lessons I have learned along the way, rather than as a prescription that anyone else should follow the same path. To my mind, one of the most wo

Sermon on the Amount

Sermon on the Amount

Over thousands of years of rulers, kingdoms, religions, cultural clashes, societies, and customs have defined, refined, and redefined our roles, responsibilities, behaviors, fashions, perceptions, potentials, restrictions, and destinies... all based solely on one thing: our reproductive organs. They've been used to decide who can and cannot rule a kingdom. Who can and cannot be a healer. Who can and cannot run a business. Who can and cannot have sex. Who can and cannot reprod

To Love Without Conditions

To Love Without Conditions

Thank you all for being here today. I can tell you that it means the world to your LGBTQ friends and family that you were willing to come. We realize for some, this might be WAY outside your comfort zone for you to be here, which makes us love you all the more for making the choice to be uncomfortable. It speaks volumes as to your love and support. Thank you again. You’ll hear from many incredible people from the Mormon LGBTQ community today. I am not one of them. My so

Identifying Supportive Communities as an LGBTQ Mormon

Identifying Supportive Communities as an LGBTQ Mormon

I am grateful to be speaking this morning at the 6th annual ALL Conference. I feel like I have come full circle. I participated in the first ALL conference in 2013. Not in person, but by Google search. At that time I was in desperate need of a safe and supportive community; so this “not out,” very Mormon, 45 year old divorced father of five; dared Google one night to find him one. And Google did. ALL Arizona. I devoured the website content in minutes. As I read Bryan Hendr

Your One Wild and Precious Life

Your One Wild and Precious Life

I am very happy to be with you today. I love to meet with the Saints in new contexts. We share so many assumptions, so much history, so many beliefs. I think that everything that we do benefits from singing and dancing, so we are going to sing a song. Four lines here to be learned: Dear LGBT friends Meeting here in harmony We share our stories and Feel God’s Love Not a great song. Has problems. But all mix together and sound pretty good. All are alike unto God. But by th

Opening Remarks

Opening Remarks

I have the pleasure today to officially welcome you to the 5th annual ALL conference. We’re glad that each of you has chosen to be here today. Many of you have joined us for past conferences and many of you are joining us for the first time. No matter if this is your first time with us or if you’re an old friend, you will notice that there are others in the room just like you. You’ll realize that even though each of us comes here today with our own experiences and perspec

Connecting Through Authenticity

Connecting Through Authenticity

I’m not sure what’s more awkward, me wearing dangly earings and lipstick, or me standing up here in front of all of you. Growing up I was a pretty athletic girl. You know, the neighborhood quarterback and such. I was Steve Young. I’ve always thought it would be cool not only to meet Steve, but also to speak with him. Well, I have a little secret to tell you, being the gay woman that I am, it’s been much more exciting for me to speak with Barb and talk with her than you Steve.

A Members Journey of Understanding and Love

A Members Journey of Understanding and Love

When my wife’s little sister Tanya, the baby in a family of mostly boys, was 8, I started dating her sister. I was 17, and a Sr. in high school. On Sundays I would wander over to the Petersons. Her mom would usually feed me. Then the whole neighborhood would gather in their enormous back yard to play football. It was a rag tag group of kids from 8 on up. Tanya was always on my team, not as a charity thing. She was good. She could catch, run, and pass better than the boys. I w

Life is Beautiful

Life is Beautiful

Good Afternoon, we are Reed and Linda Peterson. Thirty nine years ago we were married in the Salt Lake Temple and are the parents of 4 wonderful children. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Reed has held many leadership positions including serving as Bishop twice. I also have had the opportunity to serve through the years as President of the Primary and Young Woman’s organizations as well as in the Relief Society. Currently we are assisting w

On Being A Gay Mormon Missionary

On Being A Gay Mormon Missionary

I became aware of my attraction to other boys my age at about the age of 10. When I was fourteen, after looking up the word “homosexual” in the dictionary, I finally had a word to describe what I felt. I occasionally wonder how my life would have been different if I had felt able to trust my parents and Church leaders enough to share my internal struggles with them. Stuart Matis, the gay grandson of Henry Matis, whom my grandfather helped convert to the LDS Church, confided i

All Are Alike Unto God (Opening Remarks)

Good morning, and welcome to our 3rd Annual ALL Conference – “All Are Alike Unto God”! We’re so glad that each of you chose to be here. We have a very diverse group of people in attendance here today. That excites me and makes me grateful for who we are and for all of our different life experiences. We have a lot in common with one another; surely more than our differences. And we have a lot we can learn from one another. I hope that this setting provides and environment

There is Room for You

There is Room for You

“There is room for you in this church.” For some of you this statement will resound with truth and you will agree with me, Yes! Of Course! As I am fond of saying, everything I ever needed to know I learned in a primary song, in one of my favorites we sing, “I belong to the church of Jesus Christ, of latter day saints, I know who I am.” I rejoice with my friends who know there is Room for them in this Church! For some of you, precious friends of mine, you know who you are too!

Love One Another

Love One Another

When I was asked to talk – my wife asked me if I would talk – and that she and I together would have ten minutes to talk, I just naturally assumed that she would go first and take about nine minutes and so that I wouldn’t need to have much to say! But, now I’m first so my challenge is to not take 9 minutes so that Vicki has a few minutes to talk! When I was a kid, when it was time to give a five minute talk in church, my mom would usually write it for me and I don’t have my

What Manner of Men and Women Ought We To Be?

What Manner of Men and Women Ought We To Be?

At this tender time for my family, I am grateful to my brothers for their willingness to plan our father’s funeral events around my commitment to join with you today. It seems particularly appropriate to be with you to pay tribute to both of my parents, for their great legacy is their sure witness of the Savior and the gift of loving as He loves. I have been asked to share some of the insights that I have gained from my experiences, especially in my relationship with the chur

Compassionate Ministering in Our Wards and Stakes

Compassionate Ministering in Our Wards and Stakes

As I start this morning, I want to thank all those who have organized and contributed to this conference in any way. I especially want to thank our friends for their bravery and faith in leading this cause here in Arizona. I also want to thank Rachel for her inspiring words. She has been so patient and understanding with me as I’ve walked this journey along side my brother, Jamison. Some of our most deep and meaningful moments together have happened as we’ve pondered and

I’ll Walk With You

I’ll Walk With You

I am so grateful to be here to speak this morning and for everyone who’s here today. I want to especially express my gratitude for those of you who are here this morning with a little trepidation, feeling a little nervous or anxious or maybe like a fish out of water. I think it should be recognized how admirable and selfless it is to step out of your comfort zone and learn more about a topic that might be a little uncomfortable for you. Maybe you are curious or maybe you are

Here for Our Youth (Closing Remarks)

Here for Our Youth (Closing Remarks)

My first crush was in the third grade. She sat across from me with a giant fro of beautiful, dark, curly hair that gave her some kind of power. She would stretch her legs across her desk with such attitude, like she owned it, like she owned the world. I was instantly thrown for her. Our teacher may have been bothered, but I was infatuated. Just recently, I found the children’s book she gave me that year before moving away. As I read the note she had penned in her third-g

Awakening Our Christian Imagination

Awakening Our Christian Imagination

Dr. Bob Rees was kind enough to travel to Arizona to share his remarks on the need for us to use our Christian imagination in finding more empathy and love for LGBT members of the LDS Church. He later shared his experience visiting with us on the No More Strangers blog (www.nomorestrangers.org) A Garden In the Desert At times when they have sought solace, clarity and inspiration, prophets have gone into the desert. Even Jesus, as he prepared for his mission, went into a deser

All Are Enlisted: The Mission of the LGBT Mormon

All Are Enlisted: The Mission of the LGBT Mormon

Like pretty much everyone in this room, I suspect, I learned early on how important missionary work was to our church. I remember being told time and time again, “Our greatest and most important duty is to preach the gospel.” I recall hearing scriptural references as a child that reinforced how critical this work was to us as Mormons: “If it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shal

A Parent’s Perspective

A Parent’s Perspective

I am here today to share my experiences as a parent of two gay sons. It has been 10 years since I’ve known my oldest son Trevor is gay. We did not find out until he was 18 and attending BYU. He sent us a letter explaining how he felt and what was going on. I didn’t have any idea he was gay up until this time. When Trevor was a sophomore in high school, I knew that he was dealing with something very difficult, something he wasn’t telling me. I would question him and ask w

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Featured Posts

Of One Heart

Of One Heart

To Love Without Conditions

To Love Without Conditions

Identifying Supportive Communities as an LGBTQ Mormon

Identifying Supportive Communities as an LGBTQ Mormon

Your One Wild and Precious Life

Your One Wild and Precious Life

What Manner of Men and Women Ought We To Be?

What Manner of Men and Women Ought We To Be?

I’ll Walk With You

I’ll Walk With You

All Are Enlisted: The Mission of the LGBT Mormon

All Are Enlisted: The Mission of the LGBT Mormon

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