166: Evan Smith | From Stake Presidency to LGBTQ+ Ally and Beyond
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ย. 2024
- Evan Smith met the intersection of sexuality and religion while serving as an LDS Bishop and eventually in a Stake Presidency. It didn’t take long before Evan began to better understand the difficult and impossible restraints the Church’s policies and doctrines place on LGBTQ Mormons.
In the midst of these dichotomies, Evan, and his wife Cheryl, learned that their own son, Weston, was gay.
The Smiths learned that understanding and advocating for LGBTQ people takes a sharp turn when someone close to you is directly impacted by this topic. As a result, Evan and Cheryl became allies and advocates for queer Mormons, and Evan used his position in his Stake Presidency to directly discuss this topic with General Authorities and Latter-day Saint congregations.
In this episode, Evan candidly shares his discussions with Church leadership, what his family has learned having a gay son, his current membership status in the Mormon church, and what we can all do to better understand the LGBTQ experience.
Evan Smith is also the author of Gay Latter-day Saint Crossroads, a book he acknowledges was written to explain, and hopefully do something productive with the pain that comes from the church’s teachings about sexual orientation and gender identity. The book also explores whether the church’s current position on gay sexual behavior is more reflective of human prejudice than it is of divine truth. Evan also uses the book to try to make amends for any harm he caused in the past as a leader in the church.
Download the book for FREE by visiting www.GayLDSCrossroads.org
#GayMormon #LatterGayStories #QueerLatterDaySaint #MormonLeader #GayLDSCrossroads
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I've been watching Evan and Weston on Mormon Stories and the first two parts are WONDERFUL. Looking forward to part 3 tomorrow. I was raised in a pretty hprrific LDS home until I left at 18 (1965). As a gay man I am SO glad to see and hear these stories!!
One of the best interviews yet.
I really loved this conversation. Thank you for sharing and being a part of better inclusion for the future. It makes me feel a lot more hopeful. 💛
This interview made me cry! Thank you for your light and your love for all of us.
I absolutely loved this interview! It gave me a lot of hope for the future of queer Latter-day Saints both within and outside of the walls of church buildings.
Fantastic story Evan. Thanks for sharing. Good work Kyle.
What a lovely man. Why aren't there more of you on this planet?
Great interview. Kyle really does a great job as an interviewer. I admire Evan
Wonderful interview. Thank you Evan for being so frank. You’re children are fortunate to you both as parents! Thanks for fighting the good fight so truth will prevail!
My god. What an amazing man!!! Thank you for this important interview. 🙏🥰
Evan this speaks to and for so many Lds families that have been told this very thing. I’d love to hear more about your feelings and experiences
Having come out myself in the mid 1990s I never thought in my wildest dreams that one day same sex marriage would ever exist and to hear that some churches in even conservative areas even here in Texas now say that they provide services for all and all mean all. Even the fact that the church is having these discussions at the highest levels is encouraging. In my opinion Religion used to revolve around one word and that word was hate. Remove that word and the world becomes a much better place. Even the toughest and most staunch can deal with not having to hate something or someone. And maybe if the religious were educated on not hating others then when a religion makes such a change as say welcoming opening gay individuals, then maybe that would be okay. Just a thought and a great interview. Thank you.
Spellbinding. Wonderful dad.
Evan and Kyle, thank you. This has been the most impactful lesson I have heard on my 50year journey as a gay Mormon. I look forward to reading both of your books.
Five stars!
Great interview and so many resources offered. Thank you 🙏
Policy vs person hit me. I am not Mormon, but Christian and was raised that gay was a sin. When my daughter came out, it made the decision really easy for me. She was perfect and I couldn’t accept that she was less than.
Congratulations, such a wonderful interview with Evan having such great Christ-like love
Thank you ,great episode!
A wonderful interview. Thank you. I can see not believing Joseph Smith or Jesus, but looking through the Webb telescope, I would think Evan knows deep down that God started all of this.
I love Evan and his book is brilliant. I think his story (as an ally and parent of a gay son) would make for a great TV series or movie.
I appreciate you and this podcast.
Absolutely wonderful interview! ♥️
Another great discussion. Thank you.
I really wish my dad was as understanding and knowledgable as you three and I couldn't imagine how nice it would be to have a dad like Evan.
Oh, and I figured out what question I have for Evan. I believe you said something similar to: 'gay people are good for society'. How is it that gay people are good for society?
Thank so very much!
I so respect this brother
The "section 139" title for the book was a fantastic & savage joke. Can you imagine how some of the leaders of the Mormon church would react to a title like that. Lol!
Boyd K P. In 1976 To Young Men Only has truly been Damaging to my Entire Life and my l ife time of celibacy has Not Cured me. Now what?😢
Im 64 have abstained for many years and Pray Always still although masculine am also only same sex attracted. 😮
Look good 👍 🤟🥰
I want see you Evan Smith
💓
Where do former LDS members land? Do they become Methodist, Episcopalian or Presbyterian for practicing their Christian beliefs?
Great question! Many Latter-day Saints don’t land anywhere. Personally, I think it has a lot to do with the indoctrination of Mormonism. Inside the church you’re taught that there is no other truth beyond Mormonism-they are the “fullness of the gospel”. So, by tradition, when Latter-day Saints leave the faith, they don’t search for additional truth, they often inherit agnostic or atheist based beliefs.
Now, some who leave Mormonism do find other faiths, and often those new faith traditions include spaces of affirmation and a familiar sense of community that they once enjoyed with the Mormon church.
@@LatterGayStories I’m kind of shocked because what caused them to leave was questioning the church. You would think that former LDS would seek another understanding a different perspective.
@@chattajaybird2630 I think that for many, the studying and reflection they do as they leave leads them to see atheism or agnosticism as more reasonable options.
@@chattajaybird2630 yes, the different perspective is that the guys that wrote the bible were probably the same as Joseph Smith.
“One and only true church” is drummed in so deep that they mostly become agnostic. LDS church does a marvelous job of see to that!
Gay ceiling is what I thought you meant, so I imagined a lovely stained glass rainbow ceiling in the temple.
Im gay with three sons a daughter and granddaughter and my ex is my BFF. They are love im surrounded with their love. I was engaged to a man. lived in the gay community def attracted to men. but it ended and i was near suicidal extremely depressed turned to Hinduism saw God differently returned to christ and saw the connection beyond mormon doctrine but spiritually speaking I felt at one and this is now my spiritual practice the gospel my sadhana(spiritual practice) and im at peace. i love talking to God i feel he is me and i am he im not stuck on knowledge doctrine.
"Calm your wife down." WOW.
"Out of Zion, the Perfection of beauty, God hath shined." Note Daughter Zion is also know as Jerusalem below and is captive whereas, "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our Mother of us all." Galatians 4:26. Also read Psalms 119:1, 34, 136. For we have a pearl of wisdom also like a diamond within us known as a mystic Law ,one principle but two in function! When we are enlightened we become pure, good ,following precepts and commandments but when we are deluded and we defile the law, then we cause harm to ourselves and those we love around us. Such is the working of this Law of causality by which we work out our salvation. However, in this world we also face the Enemy. We find in 1 John 3:4-9. Also read Rev 2:24, Ephesians 2:1-3 and 6:12. When reading the following scripture Luke 4:5,6 note the profundity of verse 6, "And the devil said unto Jesus, ALL THIS POWER WILL I GIVE THEE, and the glory of them: FOR THAT IS DELIVERED UNTO ME" And whomsoever I will give it." A source that best elucidates this perplexing statement given by Satan himself is found in the Jewish 'Sefir ha Bahir' known within the voluminous Jewish Kabballah which represents hidden secrets of the Torah. They consist of an esoteric oral transmission from mouth to ear for only the initiated and beginning even before and after the second temple. So in this Book of Bahir, we find a doctrine of Satan as seducer of souls. As the Prince of 'Tohu' a Hebrew term meaning Chaos or Abyss ,even before the beginning of the world, and the material/physical world fashioned from it. For the world we live is also the domain of this devil and its people have been under his Rule since time without beginning. Not only has he built the prison confining all humankind within it but also has made parents and children into shackles! For Satan has invaded our very sacred space of our Christian homes and caused confusion and derision causing us even to stray from Zion, the Temple of our God and its children. Human sexuality is very fluid within the early years of our life. When we limit ourselves by using labels such as 'straight' or 'gay', we immobilize ourselves in a self-discovery of who we are as well as our potential of whom we can become known 'REGENERATION." So let us pray to Our Heavenly Father and Our Heavenly Mother to become our role models and to live our lives in manifesting our true and authentic selves latent within this inner Pearl of wisdom which is a diamond to be polished throughout our lives. Ponder and pray for Wisdom and Discernment!
The guest starts to talk at 4:40
Jesus said there'd be no marriage in heaven, straight or gay, so that settles that argument.
Read: "Behold, those days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and Judah." Jeremiah 33:33, "...I will put My Law in their inward parts, and write it IN THEIR HEARTS and will be their God and they shall be my people." Jeremiah 33:33. Through this divine 'Pearl of Wisdom', known also as Mystic Wisdom/Mystic Law , Mysticum Tremendum, one becomes regenerated through the Law of Moses within their inward part, hence working out their salvation! Therefore, we drink from the ever-flowing Fountain where we will never thirst again! "They have forsaken me The Fountain of Living Waters..." Jeremiah 2:13. Also "..I shall keep Thy Law ; yea. I shall observe it with My Whole Heart." Psalm 119:34. "We become what we behold, as in a mirror, by the desires of our heart!" Roger Bacon . Ponder, pray for Wisdom and discernment! For our prophet, Joseph Smith in 1820, who also prayed for wisdom and received a revelation beyond his wildest dream when a pillar of light descended upon him in the open meadows!
P S In Elaine Pagel's book, 'The Origin of Satan' we find on p. 174 "Gospel of Phillip, he teaches that within each person lies hidden the 'root of evil." This is Phillip's interpretation of the traditional Jewish teaching of the yetzer 'hara, which rabbis called the 'evil impulse.' So long as we remain unaware of 'the root of evil' within us, Phillip says, 'it is powerful; but when it is recognized, it is destroyed,' He continues, 'As for us, let each of us dig down to the root of evil within us, and pull the root from the heart. It will be plucked out if we recognize it. But if we do not recognize it, it takes root in our hearts and produces its fruit in our hearts. It masters us, and makes us its slaves. It takes us captive, so we do what we dot want to do, and what we do not want to do, we do, Romans 7:14-15. It grows powerful because we have not recognized it." We all are under the Curse of the Law! Romans 6:14 But Christ has paid the price on the cross and so we are not under the Law but under Grace! Deut. 11:28-29. There is a Ransom Theory of Atonement which is a teaching that the death on the cross was a RANSOM PAID by Jesus to Satan. Mark 10:45. This theory was developed by the early church Greek church Father Origen 185-250 CE advocated that Satan held people captive as a victor in war. Hence, since Satan held us captive, a RANSOM had to be PAID NOT TO GOD BUT TO SATAN HIMSELF! 1 Timothy 2:5,6 Lastly, in Romans 3;29-31 'Do we make VOID the Law through faith? GOD FORBID; YEA WE ESTABLISH THE Law!"