This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Here are some other highlights from the new LDS website mormonandgay.org:
• Under the Frequently Asked Questions section, the site says it uses "same-sex attraction" to be "inclusive of people who are not comfortable using a label, not to deny the existence of a gay, lesbian or bisexual identity." Several of the Mormons profiled in videos do describe themselves as "gay, lesbian or bisexual," and not one says his or her attractions are a choice.
• The site acknowledges that sexual desires "are complex and shaped by many factors." It goes on to urge members: "If you're wondering what someone means when they say, 'I'm gay,' just ask them."
• The site provides links to additional reference materials, most are to LDS scripture, sermons or social-service information. The segment on depression and suicide provides a link to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and a number for a prevention hotline.
• To locate the new "Mormon and Gay" content, users click on "Families and Individuals" on the LDS Church's official internet home page and then select "Hope and Help" listed below "Understanding Life's Challenges." Besides the "Mormon and Gay" materials, the "Hope and Help" page includes links to topics ranging from abuse and addiction to single-parent families and unemployment.
• A section on potential therapy notes that "seeking insight from a professional counselor is a sign of strength and humility." It says further that the church "recommends approaches that respect 'client self-determination.' In other words, the individual has the right to determine desired outcomes, and therapists and counselors should respect his or her wishes."
• On the question of possibility of changing an orientation, the site says, "For some, feelings of same-sex attraction, or at least the intensity of those feelings, may diminish over time." It does, however, warn parents and leaders against expecting or demanding "a change in attraction ... as an outcome."