tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post4723191081804198089..comments2023-12-31T05:01:58.031-06:00Comments on Young Stranger: Flight From SelfJohn Gustav-Wrathallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03557940681381951271noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-76031686358533074312011-02-08T16:43:06.728-06:002011-02-08T16:43:06.728-06:00"Gay Latter-day Saints are blessed -- if we o..."Gay Latter-day Saints are blessed -- if we only knew how blessed! -- to have our worlds turned upside down. To have everything taken away from us. To find ourselves suddenly last in the spiritual rat race, when we thought we were well on the way to "earning" our "crown.""<br />I feel this way about my battles with depression, and my marriage. The things I have learned through these "struggles" have been far greater than anything any person could give. <br />This post gives me great hope and excitement for the numerous turns of events that are sure to come in my, and our lives.mandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09860003284114723790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-75479939985591937882011-02-06T14:00:29.865-06:002011-02-06T14:00:29.865-06:00Mr. Curie - thanks! Just spent a good part of the...Mr. Curie - thanks! Just spent a good part of the past week with other Mohos, visiting town for the "Creating Change" conference. Similar sentiments were expressed... But also a sense of how some of the anguish we go through makes us more compassionate people, with a greater passion for love and justice...<br /><br />Martin - Welcome to my blog! Thanks for the comment... I still do really hope that we can find better and better ways to care for and support each other through the coming out process...<br /><br />Amanda - Thank you so much for this comment, and for the love and support behind it... Keep us in your prayers! (Me, your gay uncles, all of us!)John Gustav-Wrathallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03557940681381951271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-6365230469245690592011-02-06T12:29:02.386-06:002011-02-06T12:29:02.386-06:00John, I just came across your blog as I have been ...John, I just came across your blog as I have been wanting to start my own "LDS" blog and wanted to see what others were doing. I wanted to say how impressed I am with your strength and resolve to be a shining example that belief in God is possible while being gay. My Uncle was gay and my husband has a gay uncle and the determination I feel to share with others to love others despite their sexual orientation is near to my heart. Gayness does not define who a person is. I remember my husbands uncle once expressed frustration that people think gay people don't believe in God. I was relieved to hear him say that and educate others as you are doing. I think people assume gay people are non-religious because of what you said in your post about how many gay people justify God away because it hurts to deal with their shame. I think we hear of more gays not believing in God because they are afraid to say they do as a result of church goers who might judge or even other gays who feel "betrayed" by such admissions. <br /> A gay person I knew struggled with guilt and feelings of condemnation because no one told them you can still partake of salvation if you have feelings of homosexuality. What you are doing is bringing hope to other people who struggle with the same thing.-Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04212826177566057327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-73524908095949488722011-02-01T18:40:06.623-06:002011-02-01T18:40:06.623-06:00Hi, I've posted a response to this post here.Hi, I've posted a response to this post <a href="http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2011/02/01/understanding-closet-present-day-mormonism/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15705068701218002977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-40621826075071573942011-01-29T16:12:45.344-06:002011-01-29T16:12:45.344-06:00YS writes: "I hope that we can get better at ...YS writes: "I hope that we can get better at being there for each other when that happens. We need to be better guides to one another. We need to calm others by staying calm. We need to give lots of hugs! We need to exchange phone numbers. . ."<br /><br />1. Having come out seven years ago, and yet still connecting to Mormonism via large chunks of testimony and a certain level of activity, I find that I may be stepping into the next stage in our evolution. As evidenced by your call here to assist, empower and inspire others in the beginning stages, I sense that we are all ready to start serving each other with the one thing that straight members cannot help with. <br /><br />2. When we are done with the process of our own true sexual identity formation, and find ourselves in a decent place with some level of understanding intimate exchanges, Young Stranger has challenged all of us to turn immediately to serving others who might truly need our loving help. This "paying it forward" is one of the most satisfying form of service I have found in my lifetime. <br /><br />3. Because we "get it", and because some are strong enough to step away from selfishness, we become ready to stand by him, whoever the him is in that chapter of one's life. Hugs, late night phone calls, and yes, even posting. The call, here, is to begin to take community building seriously - not because one shares testimony, but because one suffers the trials of becoming whole, that we might fulfill the measure of our true creation. Then, there is joy.Martin in NYCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2018387523779914474.post-10127904031855435192011-01-29T12:12:15.665-06:002011-01-29T12:12:15.665-06:00I was touched by a statement of yours that resonat...I was touched by a statement of yours that resonated with me, "To find ourselves suddenly last in the spiritual rat race, when we thought we were well on the way to 'earning' our 'crown.'" It really describes my feelings of losing faith and coming out, the world is turned upside down and it is all very disorienting.Mister Curiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00113134172902610883noreply@blogger.com