In 2012, there was unprecedented Mormon participation in LGBT Pride celebrations in the United States and Latin America. Mormons Building Bridges brought together over 300 active Latter-day Saints to march in Salt Lake City Pride in a show of love…
Author: John Gustav-Wrathall
Honor Thy Father
There are two conflicting scriptural messages about honoring parents. Of course, there is the fifth commandment: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:…
It Was Not You that Sent Me Hither, But God
Since I was a kid, the story of Joseph in Egypt has always been one of my favorite in all of scripture. Even now as an adult, I find it intriguing, powerful and multi-layered. One layer that I became aware…
Everything Made Right
(also posted at youngstranger.blogspot.ca) I’m so proud of my state right now. About two years ago, after a Republican dominated Minnesota legislature put an anti-gay-marriage amendment on the ballot, Grant Stevensen, the pastor of Spirit of Truth Faith Community, said to…
Living with Doubt
Doubt, I’ve learned, is a facet of life and of learning. When I was an active member of the Church, I wrestled with doubt in relation to my testimony. As a teenager (like many Christians throughout the ages) I wrestled…
On the Road to Emmaus
(Admin note) No More Strangers is a new forum seeking to advance the dialogue regarding LGBT people and Mormonism. As such, it has the good fortune of having bloggers who have made significant contributions to Latter-day Saint LGBT people, their…
Why We Must Not Give Up On The Church (And Reflections On An Inspiring Event In The Chicago Stake)
Last year, after my class on Mormon history, in which I had discussed with my students the Mormon belief in modern day revelation and modern-day prophets, I overheard the following comment in a conversation between two of my students: “The…
A Gay Mormon Reads the Scriptures: The Book of Mormon
I first came to the Book of Mormon with the uncritical eyes and mind of a child. Some of my earliest encounters with the Book of Mormon include my dad reading me bedtime stories from Emma Marr Petersen’s Book of…
Our Families: Trey and Guy
This is the latest installment in our series on LGBT Mormon families. For more information, check out Affirmation.org. ____________________ It was a Phase Trey: After our missions (to Korea and Sweden) in the early 80’s, we both attended BYU. I…
Why My Marriage to my Husband Matters: For Time and for Eternity
Our house is full of little markers, reminders of the milestones along our journey as a family. One of my most treasured is this photo of us, taken right after Göran and I held our commitment ceremony in 1995: