I am offering space on this server for the personal essays of
Latter-day Saints who have experienced same-sex attraction or
sexual addiction in some form in their lives and who desire to
live according to Gospel principles. I will also link to such
stories on the Web. I am looking for people who consider
themselves Latter-day Saints (whether currently members in good
standing or not) to share their stories (anonymously, if
desired).
I'm looking for contributions from you!
Stories of Latter-day Saints who have faced same-sex attraction challenges:
+ Becoming a Man among Men
LDS
by Rich
+ Becoming Whole Again LDS
Article from the Ensign, January 1997, pp. 26-29
+ Bob's Story LDS
+ Brad's Testimony LDS
+ Dale's Testimony LDS
+From
Muck to Miracles LDS
by Joe H.
+ Guy: Journal of a
Beloved Son with SSA LDS
with comments by his mother, Carolee Newgren
+ Julie's Testimony LDS
+ Ken's Testimony LDS
+ Love!
Testimony! Service! LDS
by Scott Singer*
+ My
Help With Same-Sex Attraction LDS
by Ian Reese*
+ My
Journey to Peace LDS
by Dan Flanders*
+ My
Story: The Mighty Change LDS
by Richard
+
A Saint from Sin
City LDS
by Steve
+ Sandy's* Testimony
LDS
Shared in the Evergreen International Conference
1998
+ Sharon's Story LDS
+ Suzi's* Testimony LDS
+Understanding
Desensitization and the Necessity for Resensitization
LDS
by Rex Goode
*pseudonym
Other published personal stories:
+ Anonymous. One Man's Struggle.
+ Bergner, Mario. Setting Love in Order.
$12.
A powerlul account about the author's ten-year journey to
wholeness. This book is an important contribution for those who
seek freedom from homosexuality and for those who minister.
Bergner is extremely insightful and expresses profound truths
simply and beautifully.
+ LDS Cox
LCSW, Shirley; David Matheson, MA; and Doris Dant, MA. Evergreen Workbook for Men.
$35.
A top-quality, information-packed, and highly readable
reference which is of universal applicability to any man seeking
self-insight on this subject. The authors mention that this book
is a supplement -- not a substitution -- for counseling and
support groups. Includes the personal story of David Matheson.
+ LDS Eldredge,
Erin. Born That Way. Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994.
A very helpful book relating the success story of an LDS lady
who overcame her SSA through the Atonement.
+ Graham, Andrew S. Captain of My Soul.
+ Howard, Jeanette. Out of Egypt.
$18.
Practical how-to guide for Christian female SSA strugglers
and those who counsel them. Explains various issues confronting
those trying to change their feelings and behavior. Jeanette also
describes her own journey from lesbianism.
+ LDS Hyde, Garrick & Ginger,
eds. A Place in the Kingdom: Spiritual Insights from
Latter-day Saints about Same-Sex Attraction. Salt Lake
City: Century
Publishing, 1997. Includes a list of additional resources.
ISBN 0-941846-05-9. Available from Evergreen
International Tel. (800)391-1000.
Essays on the effect of same-sex attraction in the lives of
Latter-day Saints written largely by members of Disciples,
an e-mail support group for people wanting to live the Gospel
despite SSA challenges.
+ Johnson, Barbara. Where Does a Mother Go to
Resign? $10.
True story of a mother's struggle with the death of two sons
and the homosexuality of another.
+ Konrad, J.A. You Don't Have to Be Gay: Hope and Freedom
for Males Struggling with Homosexuality or for Those Who Know of
Someone Who Is. Hilo, Hawaii: Pacific Publishing
House, 1992. ISBN 0-942817-07-9.
A unique book about Christians leaving homosexuality behind,
based on the author's personal experiences and written in the
form of letters between two friends.
+ Mansfield, Ty (ed.) More Hope in His Word:
Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Same-Gender Attraction.
An anthology of Gospel teachings and personal essays that are
true to the teachings of the Lord's Church.
+ Matis, Fred & Marilyn, and Ty Mansfield. In Quiet Desperation: Understanding the
Challenge of Same-Gender Attraction. Deseret
Book, 2004.
A parent's spiritual journey toward understanding. A young
adult's search for purpose and peace. One of the most spiritually
insightful books on the topic by those who understand and love
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
+ Medinger, Alan. All
Things Became New.
The story of a married man, now the director of Regeneration
Books, who overcame his homosexual struggles.
+ NARTH: A Client Describes the Change Process
+ NARTH: Interviews & Testimonies
+ Nicolosi, Joseph. Healing
Homosexuality: Case Stories of Reparative Therapy.
Northvale, N.J.: Jason Aronson, Inc., 1993. ISBN 0876683405. $30.
Order by calling (800)782-0015.
A broad picture of male homosexuals through the stories of
six men counseled by the founder of NARTH. Reparative therapy is
the framework within which these men worked to resolve their
developmental failure to fully identify with their fathers, which
led to an eroticization of maleness.
+ Opp, Gordon. An Ex-Gay Man Describes the Change Process.
+ Paulk, Anne and John. The Other Way Out.
The story of how a drag queen and a lesbian
overcame their homosexual challenges through faith in Christ.
+ Prichard, Don W. You're Never Too Old to Change!
+ Testimonials on the Evergreen Website
+ LDS Testimonies on the Exodus Website
+ Worthen, Frank. From Being Different to Making a
Difference.
The founder of Love in Action shares how his Christian faith
changed his life forever.
Other publications that include stories of LDS people who did not remain completely faithful to the Gospel:
+ LDS Kerby,
Brent (ed). Gay Mormons? Latter-day Saint
Experiences of Same Gender Attraction.
A compilation of personal stories with various
perspectives, including those that are not necessarily
Gospel-supportive.
+ LDS
Schow, H. Wayne. Remembering Brad: On
the Loss of a Son to AIDS. Salt Lake City:
Signature Books, 1995. ISBN 1-56085-070-1.
Written by the active LDS father of a gay son who laments
that the Church did not meet all of his family's needs.
+ LDS Schow,
Ron; Wayne Schow; & Marybeth Raynes, eds. Peculiar
People: Mormons and Same-Sex Orientation. Foreword by
Lowell L. Bennion. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1991. 373 pp.
Written with the perspective of people with an LDS background
who nevertheless believe that a same-sex orientation should not
or cannot be overcome. Not entirely Gospel-supportive.
If you think you would like to post your story here, please check it well to be sure it says what you want to say, and only mention your name or other identifying information if you are comfortable with the possibility of anybody reading it. You may use pseudonyms or initials for yourself or others, although I ask you to identify yourself to me with full name, e-mail address, and telephone number. This information will not be shared with anyone else.
Please e-mail your HTML or pure text files (or questions) to me at LDS_SSA@yahoo.com. Please include a short description of your contribution (around 50 words maximum). Although I am wanting all sincere perspectives here, I will be the final judge on what is appropriate for this site. But don't hesitate to submit your sincere ideas, no matter how unorthodox. I'll be looking forward to reading them!