What is Fast and Testimony Meeting?

Once each month, ordinarily the first Sunday, Mormons fast for two meals or 24 hours and donate what they would have spent on those meals to the poor. These offerings go to the ward itself and then only to the main church coffers if there is excess for the ward’s needs. These offerings are made in private, not dropped into a collection plate.

The sacrament meeting for the day follows a different pattern than those for other Sundays, where speakers are assigned ahead of time to deliver spiritual messages to the congregation. After the emblems of the sacrament are passed to the congregation, the meeting is opened up to whomever is moved by the Spirit to come up and bear testimony of the gospel. The main desire is to share testimony that Jesus is the Christ, that He atoned for our sins and invites us to repent and come unto Him, that He lives. Secondarily, a person might offer a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith was indeed a prophet, and that our current prophet holds the keys to priesthood power today. Most people have had spiritual experiences that have brought them to this witness, and they are free to share them, if they so desire.

Congregational leaders in the Mormon Church are not professional clergymen. They are the plumber or accountant down the street who have been called to serve for a period of time while still attending to their professions and families. They do receive counsel about fast and testimony meetings, and once in awhile have to interrupt testimony-sharing for a number of reasons. For example…

• The person is rambling and going on for too long. Testimonies are meant to be short, so that all who desire to will have time to share.
• The person is not really bearing a testimony, but is using the podium as a soap-box for some personal agenda.

The congregational leader will always try to be gentle and polite in asking the person at the podium to cease speaking, although there are rare occasions where the speaker was trying to cause a commotion and police had to be summoned.

Note that just as in every religious gathering, there are expected patterns of behavior from the congregation as well as the speaker. Speakers in testimony meeting are meant to speak from the heart, and they never bring prepared messages. Congregants never take photographs or videos in the chapel. No one ever applauds. Mormons never call out their approval, as Pentecostals might do, but simply offer a quiet “Amen” after the speaker says at the end of his talk, “…in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

How was this Event Unusual?

Little children often really want to bear testimony, and usually are excited to do so. This desire decreases typically as they mature and really begin to consider what they believe. Very young children will often parrot other children without thinking about what they believe. In Utah, their testimonies commonly sound like this:

I’d like to bear my testimony: I know the Church is true. I know Jesus lives and loves me. I know my family loves me, and I love them. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Children attend “Primary” until age 12, where they are taught basic gospel principles and learn hymns and do activities suitable for their age. At age 12, they move up into classes for teens, then at age 18 move up to classes for adults. Children are baptized at age 8, called “the age of accountability,” when they can discern right from wrong and understand the process of repentance.

This 12-year-old’s experience was unusual in many ways. First, she arrived with a prepared “speech” that was not a testimony, but a declaration of same-sex attraction and perception that the Church could not provide a safe place for her. Second, she had a support group with her that filmed the event, and reacted joyfully after she was eventually interrupted. She and her support group essentially hijacked the meeting.

The mic was switched off before she finished, but the congregational leader was courteous and repeated to the congregation many of the principles from her talk that were universally good.

Is the Mormon Church a Safe Place for Gays?

This girl’s mother had already decided to leave the Church because of the Fall 2016 policy “change” regarding gay marriage among Mormon members. This policy “change” has gotten repeated bad press, and many Mormons don’t even understand it. They have made radical decisions thinking they understood it, which is truly unfortunate.

The repeated statement (incorrect), especially seen in the press, is that children of gays are now considered apostates.

The policy not to baptize or perform ordinances for minor children whose parents oppose the Church has always been in place to avoid contention in the home. These children wait until they are 18 to be baptized but still report many spiritual experiences in the duration. This policy was extended to children of gay households, just as this policy has applied for over 100 years to children whose parents are polygamists. One thing people seem not to understand is that where gay parents are truly supportive of activity in the Church, children may have all ordinances (on a case by case basis), and the full support of the congregation is hoped for and expected.

Another change was that although gay marriage was an offense that could lead to excommunication (as can adultery and fornication by heterosexuals), it used to be called a sexual sin. The world is quickly coming to a place where churches will not be able to label any sexual behavior a sin. Foreseeing this, Mormon leaders changed the name of the sin to be a sin against doctrine, which we call apostasy. Same result, but this is a legal protection so that the Church will not be sued into performing gay marriages. Note that excommunication in the Mormon Church is a step in the repentance process, and all who are removed from the rolls of the Church are encouraged to begin to take steps to be re-baptized. The pursuit of re-baptism happens often, even with gays.

Although the Church will never change its doctrines of marriage, it continues to forward gay rights in all other matters. Salt Lake City was named the most gay-friendly city among cities of its size in the U.S., because of liberal policies encouraged by the Church in Utah. Salt Lake, at the time of this writing, has a gay mayor, and she has had very friendly relations with church leaders as she performs the duties of her office.

*The featured image at the top of this article is a stock image from the Church, and not the girl spoken of in the article.

Life is filled with tantalizing, sparkling things that we, like children at the fourth of July, desire.  As we seek after that which we desire, however, we often fail to turn the box over and read the warning.

Desire is dangerous; many of us choose to suppress desire rather than risk getting burned.  Large organizations within society encourage suppression as a means of risk management.  All who have fallen victim to this suppression know that, while keeping us safe, it does nothing to encourage living full and joyous lives.

Light Sparklers Only After Reading the Warnings

Each of us comes to this earth with innate hopes and desires.  This is by design, and is the intent of a loving God. Learning to light the sparklers we choose, after considering the warning on the back of the box, will protect us and those we love from harm.

In Hamlet, William Shakespeare’s character Polonius counsels his son, Laertes, “This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

I submit that being true to ourselves involves honoring and following our desires, only after heeding the warnings given to us by a loving God.  As we turn our hearts and lives toward our Heavenly Father, accepting who we are and what we desire, vowing to do no harm, we will each find the path to a joyful life.  Although this path will look different for each of us, it will involve developing within ourselves the attributes that God possesses.  “Therefore, what manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).

God’s Accelerated Learning Program

I clearly remember the day, over 14 years ago, when I prayed, with the overwhelming desire to bless my family.  The clear response, “have another child,” came to my mind.  I was open to the guidance of the Spirit and began moving toward this goal.

After years of trying, left with a miscarriage, and no baby, I wondered if I had misunderstood the answer I received.  I continued to try, finally bringing home a beautiful baby boy.   I was sure that this child would bless my family.

As my son reached the 1 ½ year mark, I could tell that something wasn’t right.  My search for answers finally brought a diagnosis of autism.  I was heart-broken as I saw the future I had imagined for him dissolve into a foggy unknown.  I began moving through weeks and months, filled with uncertainty and frustration.  Our house began to resemble a battle zone, as he put holes in the sheet rock with his head, frustrated by emotions he didn’t understand and couldn’t express.  The burden of caring for him, watching his dad and siblings retreat to their rooms in avoidance, weighed heavily on my soul.

How could my desire, which resulted in a child with special needs, be a blessing to my family? Most people view autism as a curse.  After all, no one chooses to have an autistic child.

I hope that those of us who are burdened with similar struggles, in ourselves or those we love, come to know that a loving Father in Heaven has seen fit to place us in His accelerated learning program.  Will we have more homework?  Yes!  Will we feel completely unprepared?  Yes!  Will we advance through years of experience in months or even weeks?  Yes… as we accept God’s will and turn ourselves over to the teachings of His Spirit.  Our burdens will then become our greatest blessings. This is the design of the great architect; the last shall be first and the first shall be last (Matthew 20:16).  The burdened shall be blessed with compassion and understanding and the the blessed shall be burdened to remain in a state of ignorance concerning those who struggle.

God’s Accelerated Learning Program can teach us more in a short time than we would otherwise learn in years.

These difficult learning experiences with my son have changed my priorities, moving me away from the superficial and toward kindness and compassion for all of God’s children, especially those with special needs.  God has blessed me with children who have taught me many things, children who would, in their own way, each be considered on the margins of society.

Why Are So Many Of God’s Children On The Margins?

While autism is a very different struggle than same-sex attraction, mental illness, or addiction, all of these things often lead to marginalization.  Like my children, more people today find themselves in the margins than ever before.  Perhaps this is the way the great architect, our loving Father, reshapes and aligns society to His purpose.  He places what looks like a curse on our paths, which blesses us by expanding the boundaries of what we find acceptable, making room for all of God’s children.

Tom Christofferson, brother of L. Todd Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Mormon Church, found himself in the margins of his conservative, religious society when, after a Mormon mission and failed marriage, he came out and told his family that he was gay.

Families who show unconditional love to all members, despite their struggles, can take away the sting of marginalization.

He was fortunate to have a family that valued their relationships more than portraying the image of the perfect Mormon family.  He explains, “Quite soon after I came out, [my parents] took an opportunity to express to my brothers and their wives their determination that nothing would be allowed to break the circle of love that binds all of us together as a family. As they expressed it, while none of us is perfect as individuals, we can be perfect in our unconditional love for each other” (Tom Christofferson).

The Church’s View On Gay Marriage

Misunderstandings have been circulating since the Mormon Church announced changes to “Handbook 1,” which contains instructions and policies for leaders of the Church, concerning same-gender marriage. The Handbook affirms that those “who choose to enter into a same-gender marriage or similar relationship commit sin that warrants a Church disciplinary council” (The First Presidency). This policy is not new and is not specific to same-sex couples.

While not recognizing gay marriage, the Mormon Church invites members to embrace all of God’s children.

Serious sexual sins, including adultery and sexual relations outside of marriage, especially when members have partaken of higher covenants, have always bought the possibility of excommunication, which is actually a first step on the way back to full membership.  Excommunication is a private matter, never publicized unless the person involved chooses to make it public. The Church has no form of institutionalized shunning.

Honorable members of the Church, such as Tom Christofferson, often ask for excommunication when they decide to follow a life path that goes against the teachings of the Church.  This type of decision takes a great deal of courage, and shows a deep understanding and respect for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Years later, when Tom chose to align his decisions with the teachings of the Church, he was re-baptized, returning to full membership.

The Church changed gay marriage from a sexual sin to a sin against doctrine (apostasy) to give legal protection to leaders, preventing them from being forced to perform gay marriages, especially within Holy Temples. Nothing about the disciplinary process has changed.

Similarly, church leaders have always been counseled against baptizing any child whose parents are opposed to, or who have a lifestyle that goes against, the standards of the Church.  Because of the recent legalization of same-sex marriage, Church leaders have expanded their policy to include gay parents in this group. Elder Christofferson, of The Quorum of the Twelve apostles, explains that the change in policy originates out of compassion, “we don’t want [children] to have to deal with issues that might arise where the parents feel one way and the expectations of the Church are very different” (D. Todd Christofferson).

Clark Johnsen, his boyfriend Matt, and Clark’s nieces and nephews.

Two formerly faithful Mormon gays, however, who still believe and support, but cannot fully live the standards, can have their children receive baby blessings, baptisms, and other ordinances, if they so choose.  Leaders are counseled to implement this policy on a case by case basis, relying on the guidance of The Holy Ghost.

Church doctrine, such as this, is consistent with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. “The Savior’s love was never withheld from anyone and His words on the cross exemplify that. But, He also expressed love by teaching clear doctrine and standing firmly against sin” (Michael Otterson).  An example of this can be found in John 8:11, when he showed mercy by protecting, not condemning, the women taken in adultery, then telling her, “go and sin no more.”

Who are The Least of These?

Jesus Christ teaches us the importance of caring for those on the margins, such as the women taken in adultery, in Matthew 25:40, explaining that, “inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”  Our job is not to judge others but to love them unconditionally.

Jesus Christ, who spent His time caring for “the least of these”, asks us to do the same.

To paraphrase Matthew 25:35-36, Christ describes “the least of these” as those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, sick, and in prison.  He speaks of taking in the stranger, which He always did.  Who are these strangers?   They are the lonely, outcast, lost, heart- broken, undervalued, and overlooked, in short, all who are in the margins of society.

True disciples of Jesus Christ (which all who are baptized within the Mormon Church covenant to be) follow His perfect example in caring for “the least of these.”

In Mosiah 18:8 of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Mosiah explains that all who, “are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death,” are welcome to be baptized and join with the people of God.

What better way to bear one another’s burdens, mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, than to open our arms to those that are pushed to the margins of society?

Caring For Those Who Find Themselves On The Margins

Jeffrey R. Holland, along with President Thomas S. Monson and other leaders, invite us to care for those in the Margins of society and the Margins of the church.

Some claim that while members of the Mormon Church want to be more open and accepting toward all their brothers and sisters, including those with same-sex attraction, church leaders remain unwilling to welcome them.  In my experience, however, church leaders have followed the example of Him, to whose Church they belong, in showing compassion and understanding toward all who find themselves in the margins.

In the April, 2017 General Conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, compares all of humanity to the great choir of mortality, with the mission to sing the songs of everlasting joy.

Mormons marching to support the gay people they love.

He explains, “once we have accepted divinely revealed lyrics and harmonious orchestration composed before the world was, then our Heavenly Father delights to have us sing in our own voice, not someone else’s.”   He implores all who are struggling, “Above all, don’t abandon your role in the chorus. Why? Because you are unique; you are irreplaceable. The loss of even one voice diminishes every other singer in this great mortal choir of ours, including the loss of those who feel they are on the margins of society or the margins of the Church” (Jeffrey R. Holland).

These are the words of a true disciple of Jesus Christ!  Christ, “who cast a net over all types of people. The Greeks, the Romans, The Samaritans, and every other nation across the globe… even the worst of repentant sinners,” asks us to do the same (Greg Trimble). The only people excluded from Christ’s presence are the self-righteous elite, modern day Pharisees and Sadducees, who insist upon, “proper dress and grooming… careful observance of all the rules… precious concern for status-symbols… strict legality… pious patriotism (Hugh Nibley).  All who come to the Savior with a broken heart and contrite spirit are welcome!

Let us never make obedience more important than compassion!  Let us never concern ourselves so much with following the letter of the law that we ignore the promptings of the spirit.  Let us never be the reason someone chooses to leave our congregations and not return.

Let us welcome all who come through the doors of our meeting houses with open arms, especially those who on the margins of society and the margins of the Church.

The Mormon Church is not an exclusive country club, with a sign that reads “For Members Only, Dress Code Required,” it is a hospital, with a sign that reads “Visitors Welcome.

Perhaps we could expand this sign to read, “sinners, the heart- broken, those who feel forsaken, those who have wandered and wish to return, those who are in moral and physical bondage, those who feel shunned and unwanted, and all who feel broken, welcome”.

Diane Oviatt marches in Pride Parade to help,, “give young gay Mormons the will to go on, to stay alive.”

It is time for all members of the Mormon Church to stand up and show that each of our brothers and sisters, gay or straight, addicted or free, disabled or whole, discouraged or hopeful, faith-filled or doubting, is welcome to worship and heal with us.  We all have the job of caring for “the least of these” and ensuring that no one who enters will leave feeling worse than he did when he came.

Earthly Labels Distract us from Our Eternal Identities

Elder David A. Bednar, of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was recently asked how homosexual members of the Church can remain steadfast in the gospel.  His response was, “First, I want to change the question. There are no homosexual members of the Church. We are not defined by sexual attraction. We are not defined by sexual behavior. We are sons and daughters of God” (David A. Bednar).

Ty and Danielle Mansfield chose to marry despite his same- sex attraction.

Ty Mansfield, a Mormon who has struggled with same-sex attraction, reiterates Elder Bednar’s words, “What if there is no “gay” or “straight” in the Eternal World and the spiritual ideals and identities of the kingdom of God… swallow up all of our social identity constructs that blur eternal identity? What if the more deeply we understand and feel spiritually connected to eternal realities and our eternal identity, the less meaningful any proximate, mortal identities or labels will feel to us?” (Ty Mansfield).

These words apply equally to any other circumstance that would place us on the margins of society.  My youngest son, while labeled autistic, is a son of God; a group of young people that I care about, while labeled homeless and drop-outs, are children of God; another that I care about, while labeled bi-polar and agoraphobic, is a daughter of God.

A Kingdom of Glory with Light Equal to the Light We have Received

The limitations and difficulties of this life will not always be with us.  On the day of our resurrection, we will be given perfect, immortal bodies and receive a mansion in one of the glorious kingdoms of God.  We will each receive a place in a kingdom which is filled with light and glory equal to the light which we have received. This is the original intent and design of the great architect, our loving Father.

All who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, humbly using His atonement, will become whole, receiving a kingdom of glory equal to His light in their lives.

Dallin H. Oaks, a member of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,  explains, “The theology of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is comprehensive, universal, merciful, and true. Following the necessary experience of mortal life, all sons and daughters of God will ultimately be resurrected and go to a kingdom of glory. The righteous—regardless of current religious denomination or belief—will ultimately go to a kingdom of glory more wonderful than any of us can comprehend (Dallin H. Oaks).

Any who claim that those with same-sex attraction, or others who are on the margins of society, will be placed in the lowest kingdom of heaven, or in outer darkness (equivalent to most of Christianity’s view of hell), do not understand the doctrine of the everlasting gospel.  Those who are deemed unworthy, or placed in the margins of society, are exactly like they Jesus Christ administered to while upon this earth.  He spent His time with the lepers, the sinners, the sick, and all of those who were considered unclean.    All who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, humbly using His atonement, will become whole, receiving a kingdom of glory equal to His light in their lives.  Following the pattern of the great architect, these who are last will be first.

The Commandments we Can Keep

Tom Christofferson has, with great courage, broken through the barriers that exist between those with same-sex attraction and the Church.  When he felt the need to return to the faith of his youth, he and his long- time partner chose to begin attending their boundary ward, which accepted them with open arms.  Although not officially members of The Mormon Church on record, they were members of Christ’s congregation, the great choir of mortality, in spirit (Tom has since been officially re- baptized into The Mormon Church).

Tom Christofferson returned to his faith, building bridges between the LGBT community and the Mormon Church.

True to his faith in Jesus Christ, Tom reminds us to be, “consistently diligent in seeking out those who seem alone or uncomfortable in our wards and taking the initiative to make them feel welcome…first to utter the kind word; first to offer praise; last to criticize or find fault” (Tom Christofferson).

With Elder Holland, let us make the Church a place for “those who speak different languages, celebrate diverse cultures, and live in a host of locations… for the single, for the married, for large families, and for the childless… for those who once had questions regarding their faith… for those who still do… for those with differing sexual attractions. In short… for everyone who loves God and honors His commandments” (Jeffrey R. Holland).

Let us honor the commandments we can keep, join the choir, and sing the songs we know.  As we do, God will guide us to expand our vocal abilities, until we can sing even the most complex harmonies in the most sacred of hymns, those, “songs we cannot or do not yet sing” (Jeffrey R. Holland).

Let us prayerfully honor the spark of our desires, taking their fire, and igniting the sparklers of life.  Let us then authentically welcome our brothers and sisters on the margins.  As we do so, our light will, “shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

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