Love One Another: A Discussion on
Same-Sex Attraction
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.
Where the Church stands:
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.
What Needs to Change Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Twelve Apostles
Purpose of This Website Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Twelve Apostles
A Collection of Conversations
This website is a collection of conversations; conversations with Church leaders, conversations with Church members who are attracted to people of the same sex, and conversations with the loved ones of gay spouses, children, or grandchildren who are dealing with the effects of same-sex attraction in their own lives. These conversations are not always easy to have. They deal with love and acceptance, sin and morality, aspirations and despair. Those who speak from the heart on this website do not necessarily represent in every word or detail the policies or positions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but all of them speak with authenticity because they reflect what has happened in their own lives and the experiences of those they love. The Church leaders featured here reflect the sentiments and teachings of the highest Church authorities — the First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.
This official website does not offer a comprehensive explanation of everything related to same-sex attraction, but it does reflect the feelings of Church leaders as to how we should treat each other as part of the human family. The site offers a place where the people whose lives are impacted by attraction to the same sex can find inspiration to work through difficult challenges while remaining faithful to Church teachings.
The Church’s approach to this issue stands apart from society in many ways. And that’s alright. Reasonable people can and do differ. From a public relations perspective it would be easier for the Church to simply accept homosexual behavior. That we cannot
do, for God’s law is not ours to change. There is no change in the Church’s position of what is morally right. But what is changing — and what needs to change — is to help Church members respond sensitively and thoughtfully when they encounter same-sex attraction in their own families, among other Church members, or elsewhere.
“It’s a difficult subject”
Let’s Talk – a collection of thoughts
Senior Church leaders in this website represent the official position of the Church. Additional videos feature real people sharing real experiences from their own perspectives. These candid and sincere expressions show the many human facets of a sensitive matter. Understanding comes when people on all sides of a discussion are given a chance to tell their stories.
Kind and Reasoned Conversation
We can all come together to foster a climate of goodwill and a determination to understand the workings of God in each individual life. Latter-day Saints take the Christian charge to “love one another” seriously. Though we all fall short, each of us can reinvest in kindness and gentle persuasion.
Connecting and Understanding
Conversation – a collection of thoughts
