1-30-23
Ok it was a good week.
I wanted to focus this email on an experience I actually had yesterday for two reasons:
I haven't felt the spirit like that in a super long time
Not much else actually happened this week
So yesterday me and Elder Rigby had a our day planned and out of nowhere we got a text from the ASL branch president, President Peterson explains that there was a group of members that wanted to go up the Oakland temple auditorium to attend a devotional- so they wanted us to interpret. So we threw all out plans away and moved dinner earlier, we got permission from President to leave the mission and we headed out.
(Real quick- at the dinner we got to ride in the "Rivian" apparently it's a really big deal or something. He went from like 0-72 in like 4 seconds. I felt all the fluids in my ears and stuff hit the back of my head it was like a rocket ship)
We got there and I had no clue what to expect and then they introduced the speaker and mentioned he was the "Gay Latter-Day Saint" Ben Schilaty.
This was like, the best Devotional I've ever attended. He shared so many stories that were just so real and full of emotion. He is such a pure example of exactly what members should be. He taught pure doctrine and it was just SOOO GOOD.
Now, I've had a few friends who have SSA feelings and It's been an adventure to learn more about their story and learn how I can be an ally. It's really a scary kind of topic because of all the things the world tells us about SSA and LGBTQ stuff. There's so many different opinions and feelings and ideas going around and it's hard to discuss while holding onto doctrine and love.
But, Ben Schialty did it perfectly. He shared a story about the first time he ever came out to somebody. It was his two best friends from college and one was his roommate. He could feel the spirit telling him to come out and he knew that the situation had happened just right for him to tell them
So he did.
One of the friends asked a bunch of good questions and the other one sat in silence. So Ben was feeling scared and asked him like "what's going on…? I understand if you dint want to be roommates any more…."
And his friend was like "what?! No! You're still the same guy! I'll always be here for you no matter what!"
When people come out or really tell us any struggle or trial they have we have to react with love and consider how hard this really is for them.
I reflected back on when I was struggling with an addiction to pornography and how different people responded when I told them. My dad asked lots of good questions and asked how he could help. I remember not really knowing how he could help at the time and my dad was ok with that. He didn't treat me any differently and we still did all the things we did before. There were some friends I told about it and my confidence in telling them gave them the courage to tell me and other people as well. They all responded with love and that's what was most important at the time.
The absolute best example was when I told my Bishop. Bishop Griffith immediately turned to his worn and super marked scriptures and started reading and testifying of the love Jesus has for me. He taught me about repentance and commended me for having the courage to tell him.
So basically, if somebody loves you and trusts you enough to tell you something you gadda react with love.
The other thing he was saying was about the church needs to be welcoming of everybody(including every type of LGBTQ+) everybody should feel welcome in our church-nobody should ever feel unwelcome.
Please please don't ever be the reason somebody doesn't want to come to church.
He told a story about a Sunday school teacher who told him that he really shouldn't be talking about being Gay in church. And he was walking out of the church like 'You know what? I don't wanna come here next week!' Luckily by the next Sunday he had decided to come back.
That's not always what happens though.
So, do all you can to make everybody no matter what feel welcome in our churches. Please.
P.S.
I do have a recording of most of the devo. If you want it lemme know.
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