Are you an active, believing Mormon romantically and affectionately attracted to members of the same sex?  Are you a gay Mormon?

If so, would you like more information to help you understand the Church position on these attractions?

Do you know or suspect, someone in your family or congregation is homosexual?

If so, are you at a loss to know what you should say or do to help the individual?

Are you confused by the sometimes inadequate and even contradictory information about homosexuality on the internet and in the Mormon community?

The purpose of this web site is to provide basic information about homosexuality within the LDS church and community based on the current doctrine and policies of the Church.  Although we do not speak for the Church, we offer decades of both ecclesiastical and professional experience working with gay and lesbian members of the Church.

This site is designed to help individuals and families dealing either personally or with family members and friends who are attracted to those of the same gender.  Using the most recent and most authoritative Church documents, our group has placed here on the home page the following official documents published by the Church, and several other   statements by Church leaders published elsewhere.  In addition, on other parts of the site we have placed articles, pamphlets, booklets and other materials authored by the organizers of this website. (Where possible, we have provided links to these materials to make it convenient for you to consult them)

To create this website, we have used six of the most recent and authoritative documents produced by the LDS Church

• An official website at www.MormonsAndGays.org. Here you can read the following, "Few topics are as emotionally charged or require more sensitivity than same-sex attraction. This complex matter touches on the things we care about most: our basic humanity, our relationship to family, our identity and potential as children of God, how we treat each other, and what it means to be disciples of Christ." The site also says the following, "The experience of same-sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is. Even though individuals do not choose to have such attractions, they do choose how to respond to them. With love and understanding, the Church reaches out to all God's children, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters." On this Church site you can find statements by three of the apostles-- Elder Oaks, Elder Cook and Elder Christofferson and other statements by members of the Church affected by this issue.

God Loveth His Children

• The official publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for individuals and families wanting to know what the Church teaches regarding these issues is  God Loveth His Children, published by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, 2007.

• Relevant sections from the  Official 2010 Church Handbook II:  “Policies on Moral Issues: Chastity & Fidelity” ( 21.4.5), “Homosexual Behavior & Same Gender Attraction” (21.4.6), and “Same-Gender Marriages” (21.4.10).

We have also found the following current articles to be essential in understanding the official Church policy regarding these issues. 

• Interview with Elders Dallin Oaks and Lance Wickman (August, 2006), posted on the LDS Church website. Provides answers to common questions for parents and leaders.

• “Helping Those Who Struggle with Same-Gender Attraction,” Elder Jeffrey Holland,  Ensign (October, 2007).” 

• “Church Responds to HRC Petition: Statement on Same-Sex Attraction,” LDS Newsroom, 12  October 2010.   Official statement read by Michael Otterson on behalf of the "leadership" of the Church.

Together these six links and documents constitute the most authoritative pronouncements on same-sex attraction by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. We provide a ten point summary of these documents below as a guide that may be used as a template when considering different organizations, books, articles, websites, etc.  We will provide some examples of applying this template to different groups to help show how this material may be used.  We take the attitude that no organization, website or book can substitute for the actual words of our Prophets and leaders.  Several websites, in fact, claim to be aligned with the Church but, as will be seen below,  some live up to this claim much better than others.

Here are the 10 issues we believe are most important in the Church documents on Same Gender Attraction (SGA) or gay Mormon / lesbian Mormon concerns. We have posted here quotes from the documents to clarify the position on each of these points.

1. How many are affected by this gay Mormon issue?
2. What terms are appropriate in discussing  gay feelings?
3. Is having feelings of same-sex  attraction a sin?
4. Are the causes of same-sex attraction known? Is there someone to blame?
5. Can same-sex attraction be changed? Are you expected to diminish these gay attractions or resolve them?
6. Is there a difference in Church attitude toward  gay attractions and gay behavior?
7. Marriage—
   1. What is the Church’s position on  same-sex marriage?
   2. Should homosexuals marry heterosexuals?
8. Is homosexuality a mortal, as opposed to an eternal condition?
9. What is the Church’s position on celibacy?
10. Are gay Mormons welcome in Latter-day Saint congregations?

How can I find LDS resources (books, articles, films, support groups) in line with official Church Guidance? See the answer to this question —.

Members of LDS Resources Group
Read more about the contributors to this website
	Ron Schow	Marybeth Raynes
Geneva & Marv Peterson		Gerald Argetsinger

What are the specific goals of the organizers of this website?

• To provide easy access to authoritative statements on homosexuality by Church leaders and summarize the major teachings on this subject.
  
  
• To provide resources on reliable research and clinical practice relating to homosexuality.
  
  
• To help create conditions that enable Latter-day Saint homosexuals  to feel welcome, safe and valued within families, congregations, and communities.

Further information

The following link provides additional  background on this site and suggestions for reading the material here.

We welcome dialogue with those who seek broader understanding of this subject. Those wishing more information are encouraged to address e-mail inquiries to  schorona@isu.edu. Anyone who desires to communicate with specific individuals affiliated with this website (see biographical profiles) may do so by directing their inquiries to such persons in care of the above e-mail address

Gay Mormon Resources for Latter-day Saint Families and Leaders