General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

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I Have Questions
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General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

Post by I Have Questions »

It’s a shame that Elder Snow didn’t say this whilst actively serving. It’s also a shame that he wasn’t inspired to see the risks to LGBQT+ members before his granddaughters brought things into sharp focus for him.
“There’s nothing like having grandchildren. Do not mess with my granddaughters,” emeritus general authority Seventy Steven E. Snow said. “When I learned about my granddaughters, when they came out, that was real. That made a huge change in my life.”

Snow gave the opening prayer Friday at the Gather Conference, a two-day event in Provo organized by Lift + Love, a group designed to strengthen LGBTQ+ individuals and families in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

During a Q&A session, Snow voiced his belief that church members have a responsibility to make the institution safer and more welcoming.

“We need to do more. We need to be more inclusive,” Snow said. “We need to find a place — hard as it may be right now — we need to find a place for our friends, our grandchildren and our children to be at home in the church.”
When he was serving in the Presidency of the Seventy his words would have been more meaningful. I hope he’s apologised to his granddaughters for being a Yes man whilst in office. I also note he’s exhorting the members to be more inclusive, despite the solution to the problem being his senior colleagues in SLC. Blaming the members for the sins of the leaders is pretty shallow.
Pearson also shared the story of a bishop in her area who ministers to a lesbian couple in his congregation. “The bishop has said, ‘If I am ever instructed by somebody in authority above me to do anything to discipline those women, I would before that resign my post as bishop.’”

“I’ve heard similar stories,” Pearson said, “of bishops who have been that determined to make sure that everybody has a place there.”
If only Elder Snow had spoken as passionately as those Bishops when he was in a position to have influence.
Fifteen years ago, Snow said, he would have had a hard time imagining himself at an event like Gather. But as his granddaughters have “taken a step back from the church,” he said, he has developed a deeper understanding of the difficulties that LGBTQ+ members face.

“They could offer so much,” he said, “but it’s not an easy place for them to be — the church.”
So, having done nothing himself when he had the chance, he’s now telling the members they need to do more. Is there a facepalm emoji? Had he started with a public apology for his past complicity in the institutional homophobia generated by Church policies and doctrines, I’d have had a bit more time for him. But no, in typical Church Leader fashion, he’s blaming the members for being unwelcoming.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
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Re: General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

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I suppose it is better to learn the wrongness of his actions later than never. Still, religion based on hatred seems wrong. It would take a TBM to argue with that.
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Re: General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

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It was of no interest to Elder Snow when it did not directly affect him and his family.

But now that it does, ...
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Re: General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

Post by Alphus and Omegus »

Pushing away allies who came late to the struggle makes no sense. Snow should be welcomed, even though his awakening was only because of personal experience.

It's better to have someone of his former stature saying these things than not at all. It's extremely brave of him since people will want him excommunicated for this.
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Re: General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

Post by drumdude »

malkie wrote:
Sun Jun 29, 2025 11:17 pm
It was of no interest to Elder Snow when it did not directly affect him and his family.

But now that it does, ...
That’s called “revelation.”
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Re: General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

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Alphus and Omegus wrote:
Sun Jun 29, 2025 11:37 pm
Pushing away allies who came late to the struggle makes no sense. Snow should be welcomed, even though his awakening was only because of personal experience.

It's better to have someone of his former stature saying these things than not at all. It's extremely brave of him since people will want him excommunicated for this.
I agree.

But it would be good if he were able to talk about his change of heart, and perhaps encourage others to speak up sooner rather than later, and out of compassion for all, rather than the unexpected discovery that what they thought would only hurt "others" is now hurting them.
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Re: General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

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Alphus and Omegus wrote:
Sun Jun 29, 2025 11:37 pm
It's extremely brave of him since people will want him excommunicated for this.
It is brave, since he knows he will have to face members warped by the hatred of its top leaders. That warping is unfortunate since LDS members can be such wonderful people on their own. The trouble is, they will obey even the most odious suggestions by the Brethren. They will turn their musket fire on LGBTQ people everywhere, in this breaking of the Great Commandments.

Glad this guy loves his granddaughters.
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Re: General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

Post by MG 2.0 »

Alphus and Omegus wrote:
Sun Jun 29, 2025 11:37 pm
Pushing away allies who came late to the struggle makes no sense. Snow should be welcomed, even though his awakening was only because of personal experience.

It's better to have someone of his former stature saying these things than not at all.
Agreed.

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Re: General Authority exhorts the LDS Church to change course on LGBTQ+ policies

Post by I Have Questions »

Alphus and Omegus wrote:
Sun Jun 29, 2025 11:37 pm
Pushing away allies who came late to the struggle makes no sense. Snow should be welcomed, even though his awakening was only because of personal experience.

It's better to have someone of his former stature saying these things than not at all. It's extremely brave of him since people will want him excommunicated for this.
On reflection I think you’re probably correct on this. I just find it really cheap of him to do it now and not when he was in office.

He’s in no danger of being excommunicated because he blamed the members, not the leadership. Another cheap move.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
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