A Path Forward

gayldscrossroads.org/path-forward

I know you can’t read that, so check out the full-sized version at gayldscrossroads.org/path-forward. It’s also on page I-1 of the book, Gay LDS Crossroads: My journey, your journey, and a scripture-based path forward, by Evan Smith, edited by Marci McPhee, available as a free download or navigable e-book at gayldscrossroads.org, or on Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions (priced as low as the publisher allows; all proceeds will be donated to LGBTQ charities).

This one-page chart condenses current options and possible future directions for individuals and the institutional church, with their implications. (Note: This chart deals with issues for LGBQ folks. Absent from this acronym is T for transgender. Issues for our transgender siblings may be different from these in this chart.)

For individuals, the choices are:

1. Remain celibate and stay in the church,

2. Enter a mixed-orientation marriage and stay in the church, or

3. Leave the church, with or without a legal gay marriage.

For the institutional church, the choices are:

1. Insist on celibacy or mixed-orientation marriage for church worthiness (which is the status quo),

2. Same worthiness standards but (i) formally acknowledge doctrinal ambiguity about gay couples in heaven and/or (ii) formally allow LGBQ members to leave the church without guilt if needed to protect mental health,

3. Accept gay civil marriage for church worthiness but not temple worthiness (i.e., the individuals can be members of the church but not hold temple recommends),

4. Accept gay civil marriage in the temple for time only. This would make the individuals temple worthy but would not change the status of their marriage after death, or

5. Full equality for LGBQ church members, including gay temple sealing and full church and temple participation.

Read more about the implications of these choices for individuals, and the possible doctrinal or policy changes that would need to happen to accomplish any of the institutional changes.

There *IS* a path forward, for individuals and the institutional church. Thank you, Evan, for lighting the path.