Visions and Blessing in the Kirtland Temple

Randall Thacker

Affirmation Calendar June Pride celebrations held across the world June 30 Deadline for early registration ($179) for the Affirmation conference July 15 Movie Night & Potluck in Salt Lake July 24 Pioneer Day August 1 Deadline to submit a nomination for the Mortensen Award August 3-6 Sunstone Symposium in Ogden August 15 Deadline for on-time registration ($199) for the Affirmation conference August 25 Deadline to reserve a conference room at a special rate September 16-18 Affirmation Conference in Cleveland and Kirtland October 11 National Coming Out Day December 1 World AIDS Day December 8-9 Anniversary – Affirmation was organized nationally in Los Angeles(1979)

Conference Registration Goes Up on July 1

by Randall Thacker, Assistant Conference Director

Have you ever dreamed what it might be like to be welcomed back into a Mormon temple? I have, and I know of many other gay and lesbian Mormons who have a longing to feel the full embrace of their faith, including a welcome again to the Lord’s house.

In September, we have been invited as a group to enter the first latter-day temple, dedicated in Kirtland in 1836 by the Prophet Joseph Smith. As you may know, our Annual conference will be held in Kirtland/Cleveland, Ohio September 16-18, 2011.

Our Sunday devotional service will be held in the historic Kirtland Temple and will be an inspiring and moving spiritual service of speakers and musical numbers. I’m looking forward to sitting next to a couple hundred or more of my lesbian, gay, bi, transgender and allied Mormon sisters and brothers. We will feel the Spirit of the Lord’s unconditional love and catch a vision of an inclusive Mormon faith.

The devotional speakers and topics include:

• Bill Russell, former president of both the John Whitmer Historical Association and the Mormon History Association, and author of the book, Homosexual Saints, who will speak on the legacy and blessings of the Kirtland Temple and community created by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the lives of ALL types of Latter-Day Saints.

• John Donald Gustav-Wrathall, a gay Mormon and author of the Sunstone article, “A Gay Mormon’s Testimony,” who will share his experiences of the blessings that come from seeking to keep the Spirit in our lives.

• John Behn, active Mormon father of a gay son and former bishop and high counselor will share how the blessings of the Spirit are bringing him peace and understanding through the difficult journey of reconciling his son’s homosexuality with his love of the LDS faith.

• Joanna Brooks, award-winning Mormon scholar of American religion and culture at Religion Dispatches .org and author of many affirming articles will speak on “Visions of an Inclusive LDS faith.”

The devotional will also feature musical numbers that were sung at the Kirtland Temple dedication, including “The Spirit of God” and a moving re-enactment of the Hosanna Shout.

I hope you, your friends, and family will join me and your fellow LGBT Mormons this September 16-18 in Kirtland/Cleveland, Ohio for a spiritually renewing devotional and a remarkable conference. The cost of registration is very affordable, but will increase soon, so register today.