Answering question 7 if you are a temple-worthy LGBTQ advocate
TheChurchofJesusChrist.org
Evan and Marci take you behind closed doors, for those who are interested:
Question 7 of the temple recommend questions can be a thorny one for LGBTQ advocates: “Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?”
Marci responded in her temple recommend interviews: "no, I don’t support anything contrary to the church -- but when its doctrines conflict internally, I choose what I think Jesus would do. That is, when the church teaches ‘LGBTQ discrimination’ and ‘all are alike unto God,’ I pick the latter. That's not contrary to the church; that IS the church. I consider my work as an LGBTQ advocate to be a strong part of my commitment to follow Jesus Christ: leaving the 99 and seeking the one, keeping my baptismal covenant to mourn with those who mourn. Right now that is often my LGBTQ siblings.” Although neither my ward or stake interviewer agreed with my LGBTQ advocacy, one of them said (after a brief back-and-forth discussion): "I don’t agree, but it's a good thing you're doing. It comes from the love in your heart."
Evan simply said no with no comment, and looked them straight in the eye. Evan later said, “They know my story, they know about my work.”
The Handbook says: “The interview allows a member to attest that he or she is living according to God’s commandments and he or she is prepared to enter the house of the Lord” (26.2). I understand that to mean that it’s an honor system, and that the interviewer lets the interviewee speak for themselves.
The final temple recommend interview question asks: “Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?” Yes. I cherish the temple and the power and insights I gain in the Lord’s holy house. And I cherish all that I am learning from my LGBTQ siblings about being Christlike, having faith, hope and love.
EXTRA CREDIT: This from Evan in Chapter 8 of GayLDSCrossroads: Can a church member be in good standing if they support LGBTQ political causes?
Many church members wonder whether they can support civil marriage equality and other LGBTQ political causes and still be a member of the church in good standing. When one of our current apostles, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, was asked by a reporter back in 2015 whether Latter-day Saints would risk losing their church membership or temple privileges if they supported gay marriage privately among family and friends or publicly on social media, marched in pride parades, or belonged to gay-friendly organizations such as Affirmation or Mormons Building Bridges, he responded as follows:
“We have individual members in the church with a variety of different opinions, beliefs and positions on these issues and other issues...In our view, it doesn't really become a problem unless someone is out attacking the church and its leaders — if that's a deliberate and persistent effort and trying to get others to follow them, trying to draw others away, trying to pull people, if you will, out of the church or away from its teachings and doctrines.” (https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=2301174&itype=CMSID ).
So, given that latitude allowed by the church, . . . [I am] being more open about my support for LGBTQ equality. I am not trying to pull people out of the church. I myself am deciding to stay in the church.