The following is a 45 minute interview of a good friend of mine. He is a very active gay Mormon and talks about his experience with "coming out", his perspective on proposition 8, and some of his other thoughts surrounding these issues. It's definitely worth listening to:
http://www.nine-moons.com/2009/03/30/a-totally-gay-podcast/
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
God's Love
Eventually, I'm sure I'll need to address exactly what my position is, being a gay mormon. While this is certainly important, there's a topic I feel should be addressed first. I've run across a few people, and assume there are a lot more, who believe in God and wonder if God does not love them because they are gay.
God does love you! He loves all of His children: whether black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight, or whatever else. I think of the story in the Bible, of the women caught in the act of committing adultery. Christ did not condemn her, he didn't look down on her. He talked to her with love, and it was his only desire to help her. He was concerned for her happiness.
This is how God feels towards us. He, better than anyone else, understands you. He knows of your struggles. He knows of our passions, your strengths, your weaknesses. He's aware of your hopes and dreams, and it is His desire that you are happy.
It is my promise to anyone who questions whether or not there is a God who loves them: get on your knees; poor out your heart; tell Him how you feel; tell Him your concerns, your worries. If you do this in sincerity, there will come into your heart a feeling of peace, of comfort. You will be able to feel His love.
Here are the lyrics to a song that means a lot to me:
God does love you! He loves all of His children: whether black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight, or whatever else. I think of the story in the Bible, of the women caught in the act of committing adultery. Christ did not condemn her, he didn't look down on her. He talked to her with love, and it was his only desire to help her. He was concerned for her happiness.
This is how God feels towards us. He, better than anyone else, understands you. He knows of your struggles. He knows of our passions, your strengths, your weaknesses. He's aware of your hopes and dreams, and it is His desire that you are happy.
It is my promise to anyone who questions whether or not there is a God who loves them: get on your knees; poor out your heart; tell Him how you feel; tell Him your concerns, your worries. If you do this in sincerity, there will come into your heart a feeling of peace, of comfort. You will be able to feel His love.
Here are the lyrics to a song that means a lot to me:
I wander through the still of night, when solitude is everywhere-
Alone, beneath the stary light, and yet I know that God is there.
I kneel upon the grass and pray; an answer comes without a voice.
It takes my burden all away, and makes my aching heart rejoice.
When I am filled with strong desire, and ask a boon of him, I see
no miracle of living fire, But what I ask flows into me.
And when the tempest rages high I feel no arm around me thrust,
but every storm goes all away and makes my aching heart rejoice.
It matters not what may befall, what threatening hand hangs over me;
He is my rampart through it all, my refuge from mine enemy.
Come unto him all ye depressed, ye erring souls whose eyes are dim,
ye weary ones who long for rest. Come unto him! come unto Him!
Alone, beneath the stary light, and yet I know that God is there.
I kneel upon the grass and pray; an answer comes without a voice.
It takes my burden all away, and makes my aching heart rejoice.
When I am filled with strong desire, and ask a boon of him, I see
no miracle of living fire, But what I ask flows into me.
And when the tempest rages high I feel no arm around me thrust,
but every storm goes all away and makes my aching heart rejoice.
It matters not what may befall, what threatening hand hangs over me;
He is my rampart through it all, my refuge from mine enemy.
Come unto him all ye depressed, ye erring souls whose eyes are dim,
ye weary ones who long for rest. Come unto him! come unto Him!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Introduction
I am starting this blog with the intent of helping myself and others.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have grown up in a large Mormon family: all active in the church. I've had my share of struggles, triumphs, doubts, answers to prayers, moments of loneliness, times of despair, and great friends.
Let me be the first to admit that there is a lot that I don't understand, a lot that confuses me, and a lot of questions I don't know how to begin to answer. However, there is something that I do know. I am certain of the existence of a God -- a Heavenly Being -- who is intimately concerned with my well-being. I know that the love God has for me also transcends to the rest of His children.
My intent in writing, is not to address an entire audience of people with opinions towards homosexuality and religion. Rather, my audience is to other Latter-Day Saints, or anyone else, for that matter, who desires to follow God to the best of their abilities.
I will not claim that my ideas are the view of that of the church's. However, I do believe that God has spoken through prophets. I have prayed, and found support for this belief. Following this belief has brought fruits of peace and comfort. The happiest times of my life have been when my life most closely resembled that of the counsel that came from God through His prophets. Thus, when my ideas do conform to that of revealed doctrine, I am pleased.
I am not sure where this blog will lead. I invite you to be a part of my life. I will try to keep my words as sincere and genuine as possible.
Marcel Knighting (only a pen name)
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have grown up in a large Mormon family: all active in the church. I've had my share of struggles, triumphs, doubts, answers to prayers, moments of loneliness, times of despair, and great friends.
Let me be the first to admit that there is a lot that I don't understand, a lot that confuses me, and a lot of questions I don't know how to begin to answer. However, there is something that I do know. I am certain of the existence of a God -- a Heavenly Being -- who is intimately concerned with my well-being. I know that the love God has for me also transcends to the rest of His children.
My intent in writing, is not to address an entire audience of people with opinions towards homosexuality and religion. Rather, my audience is to other Latter-Day Saints, or anyone else, for that matter, who desires to follow God to the best of their abilities.
I will not claim that my ideas are the view of that of the church's. However, I do believe that God has spoken through prophets. I have prayed, and found support for this belief. Following this belief has brought fruits of peace and comfort. The happiest times of my life have been when my life most closely resembled that of the counsel that came from God through His prophets. Thus, when my ideas do conform to that of revealed doctrine, I am pleased.
I am not sure where this blog will lead. I invite you to be a part of my life. I will try to keep my words as sincere and genuine as possible.
Marcel Knighting (only a pen name)
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