Friday, January 17, 2014

Narrative for Gay Members?

Christ taught His gospel through narrative.  He took the principles he wished to convey and put them into parables, stories in which the concepts could be better understood and applied.  He taught by example for the very same reason.  Today, the Church leaders teach in much the same way.  Just go over the last general conference and see how many stories were told to illustrate principles of the gospel.

Others teach by narratives, too.  A very popular narrative, for example, is that when you are attracted to someone, you should have a sexual relationship with them.  Watch almost any movie made for teens or adults in the last several decades, and that narrative plays out.  It claims that there are no consequences (or at least very few) to a casual sexual relationship.  Such things come and go with little effect on the participants.  The leaders of the Church counter with an opposing narrative.  They explain that our feelings of attraction for the opposite gender are healthy and essential, but need to be channeled into an eternal relationship in order for us to reach our full potential as children of our Heavenly Father.  Sexual relationships outside of this context serve only to hamper our eternal progress and have dire consequences.  It is a powerful narrative that resonates with most members of the Church.

What we are lacking, though, is a narrative for gay members.  There are plenty of stories dealing with sexual morality, for example, from a heterosexual point of view.  They are there in the scriptures, in conference talks, in stake conferences, in our wards and families.  We are instructed to forgive people, and learn how to repent if we fall victim to inappropriate behaviors.  However, where are the narratives for the homosexual members of the church?  Where are the examples?  Where are the gospel teachings that truly edify and light the way?  Why do they seem to be missing?

I realize that the American cultural definition of sexual orientation has been changing dramatically.  So the way we communicate about these things needs to change with our definitions.  We need examples.  We need leaders.  We need the stories of more faithful members who have gay orientations.  And they need to be broadcast to the whole church, not just some niche that a few gay members will locate.  I don't mean to diminish mormonsandgays.org or Voices of Hope.  They are great resources.  But they operate on the fringe of the Church where many who need them will never find them.  Those who need these stories are not just the gay members.  They are all members.  How can we expect leaders and members to know how to interact with their homosexual brothers and sisters if the Church has not provided any context, any narrative to help them understand?

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