President Nelson recently stressed how imortant it is to use the right words when referring to Church language. For example saying "Latter-Day Saints" instead of "Mormons," or "Church of Jesus-Christ ..." instead of "LDS Church," etc. So why borrow the word "Gay" from the LGBT community, when it often means engaging into a sexual relation with someone of the same sex? It would have been more appropriate for a Church-sponsored Educational Institution to refer to what General Authorities call "Same-Sex Attraction."
ChuckMay 7, 2019
I, too, question the time and place of his announcement. It appears to not have been about the substance of his announcement, but was about him. Read the Book of Mormon. Read how pride was the recurring downfall of individuals, families, and civilizations. False pride, of any type, is quite destructive. Examples of this, from the past, and from today, are before us.
wandaMay 5, 2019
I feel for anyone who has a struggle of any kind. My issue is how does a person become a Valedictorian of a school who doesn't know how to stay on the main topic, This was a graduation for a lot of students. It was not only about him.
ViolaMay 3, 2019
I appreciate the comment mentioning the single woman who had never married despite her efforts, but who remained chaste and true to her covenants. As one of these women, i can affirm that being single and true to covenants receives no positive affirmation from anyone but general conference talks.
Everyone does need love in their lives, but some of us have to wait, or show love to others in other ways. The church doesn’t justify living together for singles in the church, so why is it okay for gays to marry against church doctrine?
We need to accept and love all God’s children, no matter what, but this kind of thing gives me the idea that the doctrine has changed. I am really confused, especially with Deseret Book sponsoring a talk about being gay in the church.
If acting on gay impulses is a sin, then publicly proclaiming that we have that inclination seems to be contrary to the desire to do God’s will. Should people proclaim their pornography problems, or that they cheat on taxes? Would they get the same response? I’m not trying to judge, just trying to understand the point of such a public proclamation and why it is helpful.
TaylorMay 3, 2019
I can't imagine the same reaction in the crowd if someone had indicated they are defined by their sexuality such as infidelity, pedophilia, or other sexual sins. A sexual behavior is not an "identity". Love of course is important, but not to the point of putting sins on a billboard. Love is not encouraging sins, forcing others to publicly congratulate those immersed in them, or clapping when someone announced behavior that is opposed to God. The whole idea of "coming out" is an attempt to gain support for opposition to God. We need to love one another, but we do not love the sins. We should love others, but not at the exact moment they are announcing sins, that would be foolish, unless they are announcing they are turning from those sins.
John GardinerMay 2, 2019
I used to get tired of people, mostly men who feel they need to "come out of the closet." Most of us could care less. Keep it to yourself and your close friends and family. I wonder if he was encouraged by some activist(s) to stir things up?? I hope we don't get periodic updates about him in the future. We've got enough celebrity wannabes in our Society...
CoreyMay 2, 2019
I, too, am very uncomfortable about this. So much of the discussion on this issue (even from the church) seems to start with the assumption that this is an innate characteristic, such as race. And there is no scientific proof for that. But once you assume that this is an innate characteristic, it clearly does become “discrimination” to not accept, normalize and, yes, marry those born this way. And I worry that this is the slippery slope people seem to be on.
L. Eileen BrinkerhoffMay 2, 2019
I would have thought that he might have added that "As a son of God I believe in being moral, chaste, and living the kind of life that will always allow me to be a member in good standing. That I can return to my God and be welcomed home.
EdMay 2, 2019
I am so proud of Brother Easton. To live in an enviroment for fours years where to many are UNCOMFORTABLE. It reminds me of someone else who may have been uncomfortable in His enviroment, Jesus Christ. There was a time in the Church when members were very uncomfortable with Catholics. Today, President Nelson and The Pope hug each other. Change is in the wind!
Sharolyn BlumeMay 2, 2019
Being gay is not a sin.
There is not just one "gay lifestyle."
There are many members of the church who are attracted to people of the same sex. Some stay on the covenant path. For some that proves too difficult. Could they be stronger? Should they have more faith? Shouldn't we all? A moment comes to mind when the Savior said, "Let he who is without sin first throw a stone..."
But if we hope to encourage our LGBTQ members to find a way to remain true to their covenants, we need to love and support them. I recommend the books "That We May Be One" and "In Quiet Desperation" to those who want to better understand our brothers and sisters who are gay.
Matt, I hope you will continue to encounter members and leaders who will cheer you on just as your fellow students did. God bless you!
DCMay 1, 2019
This makes me so uncomfortable. I don't think it was appropriate for him to do that there. It goes against The Proclamation on the Family, which I believe is a truly inspired document and should be made scripture. I have gay relatives and friends who I dearly love and have great relationships with, but the gay lifestyle is not God's way, even if people are born that way. This is doctrinal. In this context, proclaiming that you're gay and proud of it really isn't something to be cheered and applauded. Pride has always been and continues to be a killer of civilizations. Gay pride is definitely part of this.
This makes me even more wary of BYU, which in some ways seems to be becoming increasingly like the world and society and our increasingly permissive culture at large, as are many Church members. The ways of the world are not the ways of God. This whole thing is more evidence to me that the great sifting is happening at an ever-increasing rate.
Danna SkoyApril 30, 2019
What a beautiful and powerful moment for thousands of members. I'm so enormously proud of that young man. He truly is testifying of the love of God for all of us. Great example and inspiration for generations to come...he's making the world a better place for EVERYONE. God speed!
EdApril 30, 2019
"There are no homosexual members of the Church. We are not defined by sexual attraction. We are not defined by sexual behavior. We are sons and daughters of God and all of us have different challenges in the flesh." - Elder David A. Bednar
How quick we forget what the brethren teach.
JBApril 30, 2019
I question the appropriateness of making that type of announcement at graduation. Families with kids would be present. To me, that topic is is a deeply personal matter. Using graduation as a platform to politicize the event (and lecture the audience) seems like bad judgment. .
But maybe I'm missing something. Can someone can explain how the tell all fits in with the Thirteenth Article of Faith? Is it something virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praise worthy that we should seek after? Does labeling oneself as LBGTQ provide an advantage in the eternities?.
In his General Conference talk, “Where will this lead?” Elder Oaks said it "is also important in choosing how we label or think of ourselves. Most important, each of us is a child of God with a potential destiny of eternal life. Every other label, even including occupation, race, physical characteristics, or honors, is temporary or trivial in eternal terms. Don’t choose to label yourselves or think of yourselves in terms that put a limit on a goal for which you might strive."
Boanerges RubalcavaApril 30, 2019
I am a proud son off God, and am trying to follow the commandments given for us through His son our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore I will try with all my heart to follow Him complying with them. For instance I will try to keep the sabbath day holy, I will try to not have any other god before Him, I will not make an graven image and not bow down to them, I will not take His name in vain, I will honor my father and y mother, I will not kill any person, I will not commit adultery, I will not steal I will not bear false testimony, I will not covet. Hopefully this young man will do the same. I will also will follow His admonition of after being blessed by Him, to multiply and replenish the earth. I will also follow His prophet on earth in all the counsel he would give me. In few words I will Love my God with all my hearth and with all my soul and with all my strength and I will love my neighbor as I love myself, and for this I will try to be the best man I can be, attending the Temple and being married there for time and eternity to have an eternal family in Their presence as King and Queen with my wife. I feel love for this young man and hope that he and I will reach the greatest blessing on earth by follow His Son in every thing during our lives.
D HansenApril 30, 2019
I was at the graduation and frankly quite shocked at the response of those in attendance when this guy announced his sexual preference it was whooping and hollering and thunderous applause. I am with most of the those here that have made comments in questioning the time and place of his announcement. I don't think the response would have been the same if a unmarried woman stood and said she had been single for 20 years through no choice of her own but had chosen to remain true to her moral values. My point is was his talk about encouraging others to go out and be an example to the world or was it more about him seeking affirmation and pats on the back for his bravery at the expense of others in attendance? After his talk they awarded a post humorous degree to the widow of a student that had fought cancer courageously and with dignity but had succombed before he could the receive his degree. The response was polite but nothing like what the other fellow received. What a contrast! Do we have our priorities mixed up? I think we do...
vickieApril 30, 2019
I can only imagine how hard this must be to anyone discovering that they are indeed gay. I have a son who is gay. he was different when he was a little guy. as he got older it showed more. he didn't know it. he told me later that he realized something was different when he was 11yrs old. he was always good. he went on a mission as he wanted to. he had never done anything wrong. then at 33yrs old he comes out and tells us he is getting married to another man. I thought I would take it hard and his father would as well. I realized that he couldn't live without love in his life. I thought my husband would be so upset but instead he looked at me and said ...he is my son .and I love him very much. I realized at that moment so did I. I love him beyond anything else. I know that all we can do is pray and ask God for understanding. I cannot judge another because I am not in his shoes. also, I began to think how my son showed signs when he was little so there must be something biological about this. until we know any more than we do, what we do need to do is LOVE ONE ANOTHER. so to me LOVE transcends all things in God. I love my son and now his partner.
Kate ChaneyApril 30, 2019
I am thankful that tough conversations are being had. For too long, this under represented portion of our congregations have had to hide.
BEV TAYLORApril 30, 2019
Seriously it was approved by BYU ahead of time WITH THE GAY COMMENT? or did he just add that to his approved speech? Did anyone check with BYU on it or just take his word? I'm asking because there wasn't ANYTHING in DESERET NEWS on it ?
Comments | Return to Story
Charles DefranchiMay 9, 2019
President Nelson recently stressed how imortant it is to use the right words when referring to Church language. For example saying "Latter-Day Saints" instead of "Mormons," or "Church of Jesus-Christ ..." instead of "LDS Church," etc. So why borrow the word "Gay" from the LGBT community, when it often means engaging into a sexual relation with someone of the same sex? It would have been more appropriate for a Church-sponsored Educational Institution to refer to what General Authorities call "Same-Sex Attraction."
ChuckMay 7, 2019
I, too, question the time and place of his announcement. It appears to not have been about the substance of his announcement, but was about him. Read the Book of Mormon. Read how pride was the recurring downfall of individuals, families, and civilizations. False pride, of any type, is quite destructive. Examples of this, from the past, and from today, are before us.
wandaMay 5, 2019
I feel for anyone who has a struggle of any kind. My issue is how does a person become a Valedictorian of a school who doesn't know how to stay on the main topic, This was a graduation for a lot of students. It was not only about him.
ViolaMay 3, 2019
I appreciate the comment mentioning the single woman who had never married despite her efforts, but who remained chaste and true to her covenants. As one of these women, i can affirm that being single and true to covenants receives no positive affirmation from anyone but general conference talks. Everyone does need love in their lives, but some of us have to wait, or show love to others in other ways. The church doesn’t justify living together for singles in the church, so why is it okay for gays to marry against church doctrine? We need to accept and love all God’s children, no matter what, but this kind of thing gives me the idea that the doctrine has changed. I am really confused, especially with Deseret Book sponsoring a talk about being gay in the church. If acting on gay impulses is a sin, then publicly proclaiming that we have that inclination seems to be contrary to the desire to do God’s will. Should people proclaim their pornography problems, or that they cheat on taxes? Would they get the same response? I’m not trying to judge, just trying to understand the point of such a public proclamation and why it is helpful.
TaylorMay 3, 2019
I can't imagine the same reaction in the crowd if someone had indicated they are defined by their sexuality such as infidelity, pedophilia, or other sexual sins. A sexual behavior is not an "identity". Love of course is important, but not to the point of putting sins on a billboard. Love is not encouraging sins, forcing others to publicly congratulate those immersed in them, or clapping when someone announced behavior that is opposed to God. The whole idea of "coming out" is an attempt to gain support for opposition to God. We need to love one another, but we do not love the sins. We should love others, but not at the exact moment they are announcing sins, that would be foolish, unless they are announcing they are turning from those sins.
John GardinerMay 2, 2019
I used to get tired of people, mostly men who feel they need to "come out of the closet." Most of us could care less. Keep it to yourself and your close friends and family. I wonder if he was encouraged by some activist(s) to stir things up?? I hope we don't get periodic updates about him in the future. We've got enough celebrity wannabes in our Society...
CoreyMay 2, 2019
I, too, am very uncomfortable about this. So much of the discussion on this issue (even from the church) seems to start with the assumption that this is an innate characteristic, such as race. And there is no scientific proof for that. But once you assume that this is an innate characteristic, it clearly does become “discrimination” to not accept, normalize and, yes, marry those born this way. And I worry that this is the slippery slope people seem to be on.
L. Eileen BrinkerhoffMay 2, 2019
I would have thought that he might have added that "As a son of God I believe in being moral, chaste, and living the kind of life that will always allow me to be a member in good standing. That I can return to my God and be welcomed home.
EdMay 2, 2019
I am so proud of Brother Easton. To live in an enviroment for fours years where to many are UNCOMFORTABLE. It reminds me of someone else who may have been uncomfortable in His enviroment, Jesus Christ. There was a time in the Church when members were very uncomfortable with Catholics. Today, President Nelson and The Pope hug each other. Change is in the wind!
Sharolyn BlumeMay 2, 2019
Being gay is not a sin. There is not just one "gay lifestyle." There are many members of the church who are attracted to people of the same sex. Some stay on the covenant path. For some that proves too difficult. Could they be stronger? Should they have more faith? Shouldn't we all? A moment comes to mind when the Savior said, "Let he who is without sin first throw a stone..." But if we hope to encourage our LGBTQ members to find a way to remain true to their covenants, we need to love and support them. I recommend the books "That We May Be One" and "In Quiet Desperation" to those who want to better understand our brothers and sisters who are gay. Matt, I hope you will continue to encounter members and leaders who will cheer you on just as your fellow students did. God bless you!
DCMay 1, 2019
This makes me so uncomfortable. I don't think it was appropriate for him to do that there. It goes against The Proclamation on the Family, which I believe is a truly inspired document and should be made scripture. I have gay relatives and friends who I dearly love and have great relationships with, but the gay lifestyle is not God's way, even if people are born that way. This is doctrinal. In this context, proclaiming that you're gay and proud of it really isn't something to be cheered and applauded. Pride has always been and continues to be a killer of civilizations. Gay pride is definitely part of this. This makes me even more wary of BYU, which in some ways seems to be becoming increasingly like the world and society and our increasingly permissive culture at large, as are many Church members. The ways of the world are not the ways of God. This whole thing is more evidence to me that the great sifting is happening at an ever-increasing rate.
Danna SkoyApril 30, 2019
What a beautiful and powerful moment for thousands of members. I'm so enormously proud of that young man. He truly is testifying of the love of God for all of us. Great example and inspiration for generations to come...he's making the world a better place for EVERYONE. God speed!
EdApril 30, 2019
"There are no homosexual members of the Church. We are not defined by sexual attraction. We are not defined by sexual behavior. We are sons and daughters of God and all of us have different challenges in the flesh." - Elder David A. Bednar How quick we forget what the brethren teach.
JBApril 30, 2019
I question the appropriateness of making that type of announcement at graduation. Families with kids would be present. To me, that topic is is a deeply personal matter. Using graduation as a platform to politicize the event (and lecture the audience) seems like bad judgment. . But maybe I'm missing something. Can someone can explain how the tell all fits in with the Thirteenth Article of Faith? Is it something virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praise worthy that we should seek after? Does labeling oneself as LBGTQ provide an advantage in the eternities?. In his General Conference talk, “Where will this lead?” Elder Oaks said it "is also important in choosing how we label or think of ourselves. Most important, each of us is a child of God with a potential destiny of eternal life. Every other label, even including occupation, race, physical characteristics, or honors, is temporary or trivial in eternal terms. Don’t choose to label yourselves or think of yourselves in terms that put a limit on a goal for which you might strive."
Boanerges RubalcavaApril 30, 2019
I am a proud son off God, and am trying to follow the commandments given for us through His son our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore I will try with all my heart to follow Him complying with them. For instance I will try to keep the sabbath day holy, I will try to not have any other god before Him, I will not make an graven image and not bow down to them, I will not take His name in vain, I will honor my father and y mother, I will not kill any person, I will not commit adultery, I will not steal I will not bear false testimony, I will not covet. Hopefully this young man will do the same. I will also will follow His admonition of after being blessed by Him, to multiply and replenish the earth. I will also follow His prophet on earth in all the counsel he would give me. In few words I will Love my God with all my hearth and with all my soul and with all my strength and I will love my neighbor as I love myself, and for this I will try to be the best man I can be, attending the Temple and being married there for time and eternity to have an eternal family in Their presence as King and Queen with my wife. I feel love for this young man and hope that he and I will reach the greatest blessing on earth by follow His Son in every thing during our lives.
D HansenApril 30, 2019
I was at the graduation and frankly quite shocked at the response of those in attendance when this guy announced his sexual preference it was whooping and hollering and thunderous applause. I am with most of the those here that have made comments in questioning the time and place of his announcement. I don't think the response would have been the same if a unmarried woman stood and said she had been single for 20 years through no choice of her own but had chosen to remain true to her moral values. My point is was his talk about encouraging others to go out and be an example to the world or was it more about him seeking affirmation and pats on the back for his bravery at the expense of others in attendance? After his talk they awarded a post humorous degree to the widow of a student that had fought cancer courageously and with dignity but had succombed before he could the receive his degree. The response was polite but nothing like what the other fellow received. What a contrast! Do we have our priorities mixed up? I think we do...
vickieApril 30, 2019
I can only imagine how hard this must be to anyone discovering that they are indeed gay. I have a son who is gay. he was different when he was a little guy. as he got older it showed more. he didn't know it. he told me later that he realized something was different when he was 11yrs old. he was always good. he went on a mission as he wanted to. he had never done anything wrong. then at 33yrs old he comes out and tells us he is getting married to another man. I thought I would take it hard and his father would as well. I realized that he couldn't live without love in his life. I thought my husband would be so upset but instead he looked at me and said ...he is my son .and I love him very much. I realized at that moment so did I. I love him beyond anything else. I know that all we can do is pray and ask God for understanding. I cannot judge another because I am not in his shoes. also, I began to think how my son showed signs when he was little so there must be something biological about this. until we know any more than we do, what we do need to do is LOVE ONE ANOTHER. so to me LOVE transcends all things in God. I love my son and now his partner.
Kate ChaneyApril 30, 2019
I am thankful that tough conversations are being had. For too long, this under represented portion of our congregations have had to hide.
BEV TAYLORApril 30, 2019
Seriously it was approved by BYU ahead of time WITH THE GAY COMMENT? or did he just add that to his approved speech? Did anyone check with BYU on it or just take his word? I'm asking because there wasn't ANYTHING in DESERET NEWS on it ?
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