Dear Queer Mormons,
We are So So Sorry.
We realize that it is not within our stewardship to apologize for or in behalf of the institution that is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, however institutions are cold things bogged down in bureaucracy.
Our Mormonism is not cold or distant, it is alive inside each of us, it dwells in our hearts, and informs our choices every day. We love the Gospel. We love our Mormon culture and people. Mormonism is our home, our family. And we know that our queer siblings do not feel the love and belonging that we owe them as a Mormon family.
This last week has felt like a family disaster, like our dear sweet grandpas, who we’re used to saying old-fashioned biased things at family gatherings, just took a microphone and told the world that the whole family feels the way they feel. We disagree.
We believe that our queer family deserves a sincere and heart-felt apology. .
On behalf of our Mormonism, we can apologize.
We are so sorry that you don’t feel safe and welcome at church.
We are so sorry that you have been taught that there is something sinful about who you are.
We are so sorry for the pain and rejection you have felt from your Mormon family.
We are so sorry for all the practices both cultural and institutional that othered you, marginalized you, and made you feel lesser.
Dear Queer Mormon family, we want you to know what we believe:
We believe you are worthy of love and belonging.
We believe that you are whole and perfect and exactly as our Heavenly Parents intended you to be.
We believe that our Heavenly Parents want you to experience love and intimacy and have families of your own.
We believe that Church should be a safe haven, where you feel loved and welcomed to come unto Christ.
And we know that these are not the messages that you have received at church.
And for that, we are so so sorry.
Miguel Barker-Valdez
Miguel is a Guatemalan-American Mormon living in the Northwest with his family. He is one of the proprietors of the Rational Faiths blog.
All posts by Miguel Barker-Valdez
Beautiful apology, one as an active Mormon and believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ I can fully stand behind. I’m a Mormon, and I too apologize.
I’m deeply touched by this. Thank you.
I don’t know how to apologize for my Church any more than I know how to apologize for you, but I too am sorry for my own complicity, my own ignorance, the hurt I caused and for the love I didn’t share. My neighbor’s love does not threaten my marriage or my children.
Thank you. This means a lot to me.
Excellent work in ignoring the doctrine and defying God’s prophets. This post will surely lead more people from the church.
-Gadianton
To what doctrine do you refer? The doctrine of bigotry? Before declaring what the doctrine is please go do.some actual studying. In the mean time please report back on what jesus said about the issue.
Yes, I add my voice to this. I’m sorry.
I am also so sorry. My marriage has actually been enriched by the partnership of my son and his companion.
Great apology… if only a tenth of this could come from the Church itself. I totally appreciated the old grandpa embarrassing us at a family get-together… perfect analogy.