Thank you so much for affirming the words of our Prophets and Apostles concerning the fact that marriage is ONLY authorized by God for a man and a woman. Thank you for emphasizing that this truth is not going to change. False hope helps no one.
Julia BernardsApril 6, 2024
I agree that regardless of sexual orientation, all of us "will have a greater capacity for love, connection, and intimacy with others," the closer we are to God. I agree that love is the highest law, the greatest commandment, and the key to becoming like God. Having a society capable of fully extending Christ-like love to all regardless of sexual orientation or the factors that create sexual orientation would be amazing. Those are beautiful but broad strokes. What is harder for me to discern, even given the length of your letter, is what you are suggesting about how those who identify as sexual minorities live now. You caution against "the false dichotomies of [sexual] suppression or indulgence," which is fitting (for anyone). For heterosexual people in the LDS Church, the path for avoiding those false dichotomies is clear: monogamy and fidelity. Are you also suggesting monogamy and fidelity for homosexual folks? In the LDS Church marriage is the most touted God-ordained opportunity for us to practice the great commandment in this life. I think your focus on love is laudable, and also that you missed or skirted the painful points for LGB folks: 1) How, in this life, and while remaining in the Church, is it possible to avoid sexual repression or indulgence? 2) Why is a desire to practice the great commandment through a marital relationship unacceptable?
Rob ChappellApril 5, 2024
So full of quotable nuggets of truth! Thank you for dispelling so many common myths in such a clear and compassionate and empathetic way. This is a masterpiece on a very important topic for our time!
Mike MansfieldApril 4, 2024
Well said, Ty. You have eloquently set forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your variance in understanding the Plan of Salvation that our Eternally Loving Father has provide for our blessing and benefit. May we all find the joy that Heavenly Father desires for us to have - in this life and in the next. Thank you!
Debbie LondonApril 4, 2024
It is never our place to judge; that is the Lord's. Nevertheless, we often confuse discernment with judgment. We want to discern safe spaces and safe people to be around. That said, I am a mother of a child who has strayed from gospel teachings. It is heartbreaking, and I wish he could understand how much our still loves him. Nevertheless, he was the Lord's before he was mine, and I hope someday to have an intact and eternal family. I was reminded of a 2023 Conference talk by Sister Tamara Runia. She recounted a time when her own actions were of concern to her parents. Her father said, "you don’t chase after your loved ones who feel lost. “You stay where you are and call them. You go to the tree, stay at the tree, keep eating the fruit and, with a smile on your face, continue to beckon to those you love and show by example that eating the fruit is a happy thing!”
ShaunaApril 4, 2024
Wow-- Br./Professor Mansfield, this was SO helpful and eye opening, and I absolutely respect your commitment to your faith and your willingness to set aside questions, concerns etc., and keep loving God, while navigating your life experiences. As you rightly point out, we all have to learn to trust Jesus Christ, whatever our circumstances...and we have to trust him one day at a time, as well as with eternity.
I appreciate all of your discussion of gender, sexual-orientation, identity etc. and particularly the idea that one is not "born gay," an idea that I had accepted to a certain extent, and the context you place them in of the restored gospel. Thank you so much for your incredibly insightful, heartfelt and faithful comments here. You have raised my sights here as you've sought to contemplate eternity and the nature of God
AnnetteApril 4, 2024
Whoa, that was a long letter. But then you didn't call it a note, did you, Ty? Beautiful. There is so much goodness there to digest. How will I ever get through all those links to studies, talks, etc.? Haha. Thanks for your faith and hope and the truths you shared about the nature of Godly love. May we all come to know God's way of loving better.
KarenApril 4, 2024
Thank-you so very, very much Ty, from the bottom of my 'heart that I knew needed to repent.' In all my years in Christ's church I have not been able to feel Christlike love and charity in the way I should, for ALL His children, to include sexual and gender minorities. Your words have turned me inward in my heart to a place Christ needs me to search and change as I enter His Temple and truely renew my covenants with Him.
Jessica WhitakerApril 4, 2024
Magnificent
LindsayApril 4, 2024
What a beautiful, compassionate, and masterfully composed perspective, backed by the moral authority of a life lived with integrity! Thank you for taking the time to articulate all of this for us!
AmberApril 4, 2024
Thank you for writing this. You put into words something I could not. I felt this and knew this but could never put it as eloquently as you did. Most of this info can be applied to members that find themselves divorced and single. It’s kind of crazy to me to think I could be similar to gay people. But that’s how it seems to go, we are all more connected and similar than we know. I truly believe that with all of my heart. We truly are just learning how to show the most love and respect possible. If we did that, I believe it would solve all the suffering in the world. Think about it, it’s truly an amazing concept! God is trying to teach us this type of love.
Douglas NadybalApril 4, 2024
This was far more than just an open letter to some guy named "David". For those of use who live out on the outer banks of suburbia where we are not on the front-lines of the constant social experimentation this was a real primer on how to act and behave when it comes our way. This was the next step, to love more, not less, to re-direct all of our conversations to a higher sphere. It's such a simple idea, really, I wonder why it never occurred to me? I've probably not been doing a good enough job and "Hearing Him", who created us all. If your goal in life is to really and truly get along well with everybody you can, then you will find this article useful, and that is the highest compliment I can give any writing.
Comments | Return to Story
MaryannJune 10, 2024
Thank you so much for affirming the words of our Prophets and Apostles concerning the fact that marriage is ONLY authorized by God for a man and a woman. Thank you for emphasizing that this truth is not going to change. False hope helps no one.
Julia BernardsApril 6, 2024
I agree that regardless of sexual orientation, all of us "will have a greater capacity for love, connection, and intimacy with others," the closer we are to God. I agree that love is the highest law, the greatest commandment, and the key to becoming like God. Having a society capable of fully extending Christ-like love to all regardless of sexual orientation or the factors that create sexual orientation would be amazing. Those are beautiful but broad strokes. What is harder for me to discern, even given the length of your letter, is what you are suggesting about how those who identify as sexual minorities live now. You caution against "the false dichotomies of [sexual] suppression or indulgence," which is fitting (for anyone). For heterosexual people in the LDS Church, the path for avoiding those false dichotomies is clear: monogamy and fidelity. Are you also suggesting monogamy and fidelity for homosexual folks? In the LDS Church marriage is the most touted God-ordained opportunity for us to practice the great commandment in this life. I think your focus on love is laudable, and also that you missed or skirted the painful points for LGB folks: 1) How, in this life, and while remaining in the Church, is it possible to avoid sexual repression or indulgence? 2) Why is a desire to practice the great commandment through a marital relationship unacceptable?
Rob ChappellApril 5, 2024
So full of quotable nuggets of truth! Thank you for dispelling so many common myths in such a clear and compassionate and empathetic way. This is a masterpiece on a very important topic for our time!
Mike MansfieldApril 4, 2024
Well said, Ty. You have eloquently set forth the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you for your variance in understanding the Plan of Salvation that our Eternally Loving Father has provide for our blessing and benefit. May we all find the joy that Heavenly Father desires for us to have - in this life and in the next. Thank you!
Debbie LondonApril 4, 2024
It is never our place to judge; that is the Lord's. Nevertheless, we often confuse discernment with judgment. We want to discern safe spaces and safe people to be around. That said, I am a mother of a child who has strayed from gospel teachings. It is heartbreaking, and I wish he could understand how much our still loves him. Nevertheless, he was the Lord's before he was mine, and I hope someday to have an intact and eternal family. I was reminded of a 2023 Conference talk by Sister Tamara Runia. She recounted a time when her own actions were of concern to her parents. Her father said, "you don’t chase after your loved ones who feel lost. “You stay where you are and call them. You go to the tree, stay at the tree, keep eating the fruit and, with a smile on your face, continue to beckon to those you love and show by example that eating the fruit is a happy thing!”
ShaunaApril 4, 2024
Wow-- Br./Professor Mansfield, this was SO helpful and eye opening, and I absolutely respect your commitment to your faith and your willingness to set aside questions, concerns etc., and keep loving God, while navigating your life experiences. As you rightly point out, we all have to learn to trust Jesus Christ, whatever our circumstances...and we have to trust him one day at a time, as well as with eternity. I appreciate all of your discussion of gender, sexual-orientation, identity etc. and particularly the idea that one is not "born gay," an idea that I had accepted to a certain extent, and the context you place them in of the restored gospel. Thank you so much for your incredibly insightful, heartfelt and faithful comments here. You have raised my sights here as you've sought to contemplate eternity and the nature of God
AnnetteApril 4, 2024
Whoa, that was a long letter. But then you didn't call it a note, did you, Ty? Beautiful. There is so much goodness there to digest. How will I ever get through all those links to studies, talks, etc.? Haha. Thanks for your faith and hope and the truths you shared about the nature of Godly love. May we all come to know God's way of loving better.
KarenApril 4, 2024
Thank-you so very, very much Ty, from the bottom of my 'heart that I knew needed to repent.' In all my years in Christ's church I have not been able to feel Christlike love and charity in the way I should, for ALL His children, to include sexual and gender minorities. Your words have turned me inward in my heart to a place Christ needs me to search and change as I enter His Temple and truely renew my covenants with Him.
Jessica WhitakerApril 4, 2024
Magnificent
LindsayApril 4, 2024
What a beautiful, compassionate, and masterfully composed perspective, backed by the moral authority of a life lived with integrity! Thank you for taking the time to articulate all of this for us!
AmberApril 4, 2024
Thank you for writing this. You put into words something I could not. I felt this and knew this but could never put it as eloquently as you did. Most of this info can be applied to members that find themselves divorced and single. It’s kind of crazy to me to think I could be similar to gay people. But that’s how it seems to go, we are all more connected and similar than we know. I truly believe that with all of my heart. We truly are just learning how to show the most love and respect possible. If we did that, I believe it would solve all the suffering in the world. Think about it, it’s truly an amazing concept! God is trying to teach us this type of love.
Douglas NadybalApril 4, 2024
This was far more than just an open letter to some guy named "David". For those of use who live out on the outer banks of suburbia where we are not on the front-lines of the constant social experimentation this was a real primer on how to act and behave when it comes our way. This was the next step, to love more, not less, to re-direct all of our conversations to a higher sphere. It's such a simple idea, really, I wonder why it never occurred to me? I've probably not been doing a good enough job and "Hearing Him", who created us all. If your goal in life is to really and truly get along well with everybody you can, then you will find this article useful, and that is the highest compliment I can give any writing.
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