I, too, had to learn that Fast and Testimony meeting is not "group therapy" or "open mike".
Susan CarrollJune 29, 2017
In early puberty, wanting to spend time with, and being attracted to friends and adults of the same sex, is a normal state of development that all children go through. Why this is not taught in health class is a mystery to me. Usually, this is expressed in same sex friend groups, teams, and looking up to coaches, teachers, actors and singers of the same sex. Now, with so much same sex attraction shown on TV shows, news and movies, our children may think they are gay when they have these feelings. But if they are allowed to finish growing up without interference, 80-95% will feel attractions change to the opposite sex by the time they are fully mature. Just let Savannah grow up without pressure.
Burger BobJune 24, 2017
I have great empathy for this young lady and her family. I too struggled with things when I was her age and it lasted several years. I believe the church leader who got up and spoke afterwards did what he was supposed to do. Those who preside in meetings sit either on the stand or in front of the room for a reason and that is to protect the pulpit and what is said as well as being able to correct something that is taught in a lesson if necessary. It is a difficult awkward moment, but when done in the right spirit and with the right intent, it can be a very special and spiritual moment, a teaching moment. Too few leaders take that responsibility seriously. We attend our church meetings to meet with our fellow saints so we can obey the commandment to meet together; to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants; and to strengthen not only our relationship with our Savior, but to help others do the same and be able to feel the love we have for them. A loving leader who understands this responsibility will have the Spirit to guide him or her when they correct something that was either said or taught. With the guidance of the Spirit, those in attendance will realize the love the leader has for those in attendance and will know there was no desire to belittle or to embarrass the individual.
vickieJune 23, 2017
I wrote something on another article in here about what this young lady did. I cant even say she is a lesbian. she wanted attention and she got it. to actually have people there to record it ...means to me ..she was exploiting the audience...also to get a reaction from the church in particular. I say someone set her up to do this thing....if its her parents or friends....and her parents if they weren't the ones who set her up to do this...they need to find out who did...I don't blame the bishopric for making her sit down. this is not the forum to do that.
ViolaJune 23, 2017
Thanks for a thoughtful, kind, response to a sad incident. Like so many other children who are being trained, prodded, and used to push for social change, Savannah will probably be terribly embarrassed by her actions some day. Parents who encourage young children to take a stand on sexual matters they are not yet equipped to deal with are committing a type of abuse that will haunt the child for life. Long after the child has realized they no longer feel that way, long after the parents have quietly slipped into obscurity, the child will still be dealing with the results of their unconsidered actions. How sad.
CubbyJune 23, 2017
So sad to me, a counselor, that this very young girl who is at the age of exploration, has been coerced into declaring her sexuality before she is even sexually mature. It is normal as children sort things out to feel an attraction to people of the same as well as the opposite sex. I think that it is wise that the church encourages and counsels youth to wait until they are 16 to date and make it group,dates until out of high school. There is tremendous wisdom in this counsel.
She is so young she may not even be aware of this wise counsel, having just reached the age of Young Woman's meetings.
I hope those who are using this for their own means will begin to understand that this girl needs to be left alone to continue to explore her sexuality in normal ways and be allowed to explore "normal" relationships as she goes through her sexually formative years.
WarbunnyJune 23, 2017
Yes, have love and empathy for the girl's struggles but have an emphatic awareness that bringing her own audience, videotaping, for a grandstanding, political, social posturing statement, and attention seeking....NOT reverent worship of God and almighty Creator. There is nothing worthy of merit about an "in your face" intrusion and vitriolic protest on people who were NOT there to hear her naïve, propaganda but were there for sincere devotions to worship GOD and receive a spiritual experience and edification toward their spiritual progression.
Tom JohnsonJune 23, 2017
Thank you for this information, Scott. I have never seen a twelve-year old so prepped and scripted to advocate a position. I do not believe she could have come up with this by herself. It is just another orchestrated attack by opponents of the Church inappropriately brought to and injected into our sacred meetings.
HalJune 23, 2017
Thank you for this article. I first became aware of this video when a less-active member of our ward posted it on her FaceBook page and hoped that the young girl would "leave the mormon church far behind" (sic). I did not know how to respond, so I simply blocked the video from my page. As someone with a psychology degree and having worked with youth most of my adult life, I agree that young people are being pushed to discover and declare their sexuality at an age where they are barely beginning to mature. Many youth are confused because they feel the stirrings of the hormonal changes their young bodies and assume that anything that causes these new, exciting feelings to emerge are the final word on their sexuality. I remember as a youth being attracted to a rock singer who was my same gender. Fortunately for me, homosexuality was almost unheard of and I kept my feelings to myself. Within a very short time, I sorted out my feelings and realized the divine nature of my premortal, mortal, and eternal gender. I married, had children, an enjoyed a life of happiness as intended within Heavenly Father's wise plan for us.
RobinJune 23, 2017
Lawrence Mayer and Paul McHugh analyzed over 1000 studies on homosexuality and transgenderism conducted over the last 50 years. Their findings were published in The New Atlantis in the fall of 2016. https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/number-50-fall-2016
The findings rejected the theories of "I was born that way," "something went wrong in the mother's womb," "differences in brain structure," and "there is a man's spirit in a woman's body." The ONLY influencing factor they found that had statistical significance was having been sexually abused as a child or teenager. It's over 120 pages long, so if you don't want to read the whole thing, read the Editor's Note, Preface, and first chapter.
Comments | Return to Story
LeahJune 30, 2017
I, too, had to learn that Fast and Testimony meeting is not "group therapy" or "open mike".
Susan CarrollJune 29, 2017
In early puberty, wanting to spend time with, and being attracted to friends and adults of the same sex, is a normal state of development that all children go through. Why this is not taught in health class is a mystery to me. Usually, this is expressed in same sex friend groups, teams, and looking up to coaches, teachers, actors and singers of the same sex. Now, with so much same sex attraction shown on TV shows, news and movies, our children may think they are gay when they have these feelings. But if they are allowed to finish growing up without interference, 80-95% will feel attractions change to the opposite sex by the time they are fully mature. Just let Savannah grow up without pressure.
Burger BobJune 24, 2017
I have great empathy for this young lady and her family. I too struggled with things when I was her age and it lasted several years. I believe the church leader who got up and spoke afterwards did what he was supposed to do. Those who preside in meetings sit either on the stand or in front of the room for a reason and that is to protect the pulpit and what is said as well as being able to correct something that is taught in a lesson if necessary. It is a difficult awkward moment, but when done in the right spirit and with the right intent, it can be a very special and spiritual moment, a teaching moment. Too few leaders take that responsibility seriously. We attend our church meetings to meet with our fellow saints so we can obey the commandment to meet together; to partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants; and to strengthen not only our relationship with our Savior, but to help others do the same and be able to feel the love we have for them. A loving leader who understands this responsibility will have the Spirit to guide him or her when they correct something that was either said or taught. With the guidance of the Spirit, those in attendance will realize the love the leader has for those in attendance and will know there was no desire to belittle or to embarrass the individual.
vickieJune 23, 2017
I wrote something on another article in here about what this young lady did. I cant even say she is a lesbian. she wanted attention and she got it. to actually have people there to record it ...means to me ..she was exploiting the audience...also to get a reaction from the church in particular. I say someone set her up to do this thing....if its her parents or friends....and her parents if they weren't the ones who set her up to do this...they need to find out who did...I don't blame the bishopric for making her sit down. this is not the forum to do that.
ViolaJune 23, 2017
Thanks for a thoughtful, kind, response to a sad incident. Like so many other children who are being trained, prodded, and used to push for social change, Savannah will probably be terribly embarrassed by her actions some day. Parents who encourage young children to take a stand on sexual matters they are not yet equipped to deal with are committing a type of abuse that will haunt the child for life. Long after the child has realized they no longer feel that way, long after the parents have quietly slipped into obscurity, the child will still be dealing with the results of their unconsidered actions. How sad.
CubbyJune 23, 2017
So sad to me, a counselor, that this very young girl who is at the age of exploration, has been coerced into declaring her sexuality before she is even sexually mature. It is normal as children sort things out to feel an attraction to people of the same as well as the opposite sex. I think that it is wise that the church encourages and counsels youth to wait until they are 16 to date and make it group,dates until out of high school. There is tremendous wisdom in this counsel. She is so young she may not even be aware of this wise counsel, having just reached the age of Young Woman's meetings. I hope those who are using this for their own means will begin to understand that this girl needs to be left alone to continue to explore her sexuality in normal ways and be allowed to explore "normal" relationships as she goes through her sexually formative years.
WarbunnyJune 23, 2017
Yes, have love and empathy for the girl's struggles but have an emphatic awareness that bringing her own audience, videotaping, for a grandstanding, political, social posturing statement, and attention seeking....NOT reverent worship of God and almighty Creator. There is nothing worthy of merit about an "in your face" intrusion and vitriolic protest on people who were NOT there to hear her naïve, propaganda but were there for sincere devotions to worship GOD and receive a spiritual experience and edification toward their spiritual progression.
Tom JohnsonJune 23, 2017
Thank you for this information, Scott. I have never seen a twelve-year old so prepped and scripted to advocate a position. I do not believe she could have come up with this by herself. It is just another orchestrated attack by opponents of the Church inappropriately brought to and injected into our sacred meetings.
HalJune 23, 2017
Thank you for this article. I first became aware of this video when a less-active member of our ward posted it on her FaceBook page and hoped that the young girl would "leave the mormon church far behind" (sic). I did not know how to respond, so I simply blocked the video from my page. As someone with a psychology degree and having worked with youth most of my adult life, I agree that young people are being pushed to discover and declare their sexuality at an age where they are barely beginning to mature. Many youth are confused because they feel the stirrings of the hormonal changes their young bodies and assume that anything that causes these new, exciting feelings to emerge are the final word on their sexuality. I remember as a youth being attracted to a rock singer who was my same gender. Fortunately for me, homosexuality was almost unheard of and I kept my feelings to myself. Within a very short time, I sorted out my feelings and realized the divine nature of my premortal, mortal, and eternal gender. I married, had children, an enjoyed a life of happiness as intended within Heavenly Father's wise plan for us.
RobinJune 23, 2017
Lawrence Mayer and Paul McHugh analyzed over 1000 studies on homosexuality and transgenderism conducted over the last 50 years. Their findings were published in The New Atlantis in the fall of 2016. https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/number-50-fall-2016 The findings rejected the theories of "I was born that way," "something went wrong in the mother's womb," "differences in brain structure," and "there is a man's spirit in a woman's body." The ONLY influencing factor they found that had statistical significance was having been sexually abused as a child or teenager. It's over 120 pages long, so if you don't want to read the whole thing, read the Editor's Note, Preface, and first chapter.
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