Gender Issues Archives - FAIR: Recent Episodes
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In his October 2025 General Conference address, “The Family Proclamation—Words from God,” Elder Ronald A. Rasband testified that The Family: A Proclamation to the World is not merely a cultural statement or institutional guideline, but revealed doctrine given by God through His prophets. He explained how the proclamation came forth through prayer, prophetic councils, and spiritual unanimity—and why its teachings deserve reverence in every generation.
Yet its clarity has also made it controversial. As social views on family, marriage, and gender continue to shift, many struggle with how the proclamation fits in a changing world.
This raises a common and sincere question:
Should Church leaders be more open to current social views rather than asserting fixed doctrine about the family?
The proclamation has a divine origin, so we must treat it with the reverence deserving words from God.
Common Criticism: “Church leaders should be more open to current social views on family, marriage, and gender, rather than asserting fixed doctrine.”Some feel that doctrinal clarity on the family appears rigid or exclusionary in a world that values personal identity, evolving norms, and individual experience. They wonder whether prophetic leaders should adapt their teachings to better reflect modern perspectives, especially when current doctrine feels misaligned with personal circumstances or societal consensus.
Fallacy at Work: Cultural RelativismCultural relativism assumes that truth must evolve alongside social consensus—that what is right or authoritative today should adjust as norms change.
Applied here, it suggests that revealed doctrine should be reshaped to reflect cultural acceptance. But this assumption overlooks the difference between compassionate ministry and doctrinal authority. It treats prophetic teaching as opinion rather than revelation and equates discomfort with error.
Elder Rasband’s Correction: Doctrine Comes from God, Not CultureElder Rasband teaches that the Family Proclamation originated through revelation, prophetic councils, and unity—not as a reaction to social trends, but as guidance given ahead of them. Its authority rests in God’s eternal perspective, not in human approval.
He explains that prophets are stewards, not authors, of doctrine. Their responsibility is not to mirror society, but to declare God’s truths—even when those truths are countercultural. At the same time, Elder Rasband affirms the dignity, worth, and belonging of every individual, regardless of circumstance.
Resolving this Fallacy: The tension many feel dissolves when we understand the role of prophets. God’s doctrine is not designed to validate every cultural moment; it is meant to anchor His children across all of them. The Family Proclamation provides clarity about eternal identity and divine purpose while leaving room for compassion, patience, and Christlike love. Upholding doctrine does not negate empathy—it grounds it.
Living Apologetics: Holding to Doctrine with Christlike CompassionIn a world that often frames disagreement as hostility, faithful members may feel unsure how to speak about the Family Proclamation without sounding harsh—or how to remain loyal to doctrine without appearing unkind.
Elder Rasband models a better way. He shows that it is possible to speak with doctrinal clarity and genuine love. Defending revealed truth does not require diminishing others’ experiences, and compassion does not require abandoning eternal principles.
Practical Apologetic Use:
- If someone says: “The Church just needs to catch up with the times.”
- You can respond: “The Church believes families are central to God’s eternal plan. Prophets don’t create doctrine based on culture—they share what God reveals. At the same time, everyone belongs and deserves compassion and respect.”
Ways to Apply Today:
1️⃣ Study the proclamation prayerfully, seeking to understand not just what it says, but why it matters eternally.
2️⃣ Speak with clarity and kindness when the doctrine is questioned.
3️⃣ Create belonging without compromise by extending Christlike love while remaining anchored to revealed truth.
Keep This Talk With YouElder Rasband’s testimony reminds us that God’s truths do not lose their authority simply because the world changes. The Family Proclamation stands as a divine anchor—offering clarity about eternal identity, purpose, and belonging in a time of confusion.
Choosing to trust revealed doctrine does not mean ignoring pain or complexity. It means believing that God sees further than we do and that His love extends to every soul. As we hold firmly to truth while reaching outward in compassion, we become better disciples of Jesus Christ.
How do I balance loyalty to revealed doctrine with Christlike compassion when cultural views differ from gospel teachings?
The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.
The post The Family Proclamation—Words from God appeared first on FAIR.
In his October 2025 General Conference address, Elder Brik V. Eyre taught that our lives “will fundamentally change if we better understand who we really are.” He testified that we are not accidents of creation or mere products of circumstance—we are beloved sons and daughters of God, endowed with divine potential and accountability.
Some faith traditions see humanity primarily as creations of God—beautiful, but passive. Elder Eyre reminds us that the restored gospel restores a higher truth: we are children of God, heirs with Christ. That single shift in identity changes everything—from how we face trials to how we use our agency.
“We must seek validation vertically, not horizontally. And as we do, we too can boldly proclaim, ‘I am a child of God.” — Elder Brik V. Eyre
Common Criticism: “If God made me this way, how can He hold me accountable?”In a world shaped by victimhood and self-definition, some wonder whether personal accountability is fair. “If God created me with these tendencies or challenges,” the reasoning goes, “then He’s responsible for my choices and outcomes.”
This view can make us feel powerless—defined by biology, upbringing, or circumstance—rather than divine design. It assumes that identity is static, not eternal.
Fallacy at Work: The Fatalism FallacyThe Fatalism Fallacy is the mistaken belief that our choices don’t matter because everything—including who we are—has already been decided.
Fatalism whispers that agency is an illusion. It treats human beings as programmed outcomes of creation rather than participants of divine parentage. Applied to faith, it mistakes God’s authorship for authorship without consent: if He “made” us, then we cannot act for ourselves.
Elder Eyre’s message refutes that completely. Our Father in Heaven did not manufacture us; He fathered us. Children inherit divine capacity. Creation makes objects; parenthood makes agents. To be God’s child is to share, in embryo, His creative power—the ability to choose, grow, and become.
Resolving this Fallacy: The restored gospel’s doctrine of divine identity transforms accountability into empowerment. Because we are God’s children, not His puppets, we are capable of growth beyond our circumstances. The adversary whispers, “You’re never going to get better—this is who you’ll always be.” But divine truth replies, “You are a child of God—this is who you are becoming.”
Agency is not punishment; it is privilege. The Father’s plan was never to trap us in weakness but to teach us to act, repent, and progress. As Elder Eyre testified, “The adversary will always try to label us by our weaknesses, but Heavenly Father consistently and lovingly reminds us that we are His children.”
“While our Heavenly Father lovingly reminds us that we are His children, the adversary will always try to label us by our weaknesses.” — Elder Brik V. Eyre
Living Apologetics: Identity That Empowers AgencyA frequent misconception is that faith in divine identity means blind obedience—that if God is our Father, He dictates our lives. Elder Eyre flips that narrative. Knowing we are children of God gives us both the courage and the responsibility to act.
Our divine inheritance is not exemption from struggle; it is the endowment of power to grow through it. Christ’s Atonement makes that growth possible, and prayer connects us to the source of it.
Practical Apologetic Use:
- If someone says: “If God made me this way, I shouldn’t have to change.”
- You can respond: “He didn’t just make you—He begot you. As His child, you have divine DNA. That means you’re not trapped by what is—you’re invited to become something more.”
Ways to Apply Today:
1️⃣ Seek validation vertically. Before scrolling, comparing, or apologizing for who you are, spend time “being with God.” Let Him remind you of who you are to Him.
2️⃣ Replace labels with lineage. When you catch yourself thinking, “I’m just not good at…,” reframe: “I’m a child of God learning to…”
3️⃣ Act from identity, not insecurity. Make one decision today that reflects divine potential rather than fear or habit.
Keep This Talk With YouUnderstanding divine identity is the foundation of divine destiny. Elder Eyre’s invitation is not merely to believe in God, but to believe God when He tells us who we are.
Remember: creation defines existence; sonship defines becoming.
When you feel unworthy, uncertain, or overwhelmed, repeat Moses’s declaration: “Who art thou? For behold, I am a son [or daughter] of God.” (Moses 1:13.) That truth banishes shame, restores agency, and anchors hope.
This week, try one small step:
- Write in your journal the sentence, “I am a child of God, therefore I can choose.”
- In prayer, ask not only for help but for remembrance—of who you are, and whose you are.
- When you see others struggling, remind them of their divine heritage, not their human limitations.
How will you live differently this week because you know who you really are?
The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.
The post Know Who You Really Are appeared first on FAIR.
by Mandy Davis at the 2024 FAIR Conference
Nine years ago, I had the opportunity to start attending meetings at the United Nations. After the very first time going, I knew that it was going to be a hinge point in my life; and that I would never be able to unsee just how calculated the efforts were to undermine and fight against God’s plan in many areas of society. I knew that I would have to get to a point in my life where it became a well-used habit to be able to view the culture and trends of the world with a gospel lens.
So each time, after coming home from the United Nations, I would discuss things with friends and family about my experience. I shared with them some of the things that we needed to watch for and that we would start seeing in society. And some of the people really took things to heart and believed what we were seeing, and others didn’t.
CONTINUED HERE
Mandy Davis grew up in Alberta, Canada. She graduated from Utah State University with a Communications degree. While there, she met her husband and they now reside in Cache Valley with their 3 children. Mandy has had the opportunity to attend meetings at the United Nations both in the United States and abroad. Her experiences at the United Nations deepened her resolve to defend the family at a time when it was becoming unpopular to do so. Her Instagram account, @ChristianOverCulture helps encourage people to view trends in society through a gospel lens. She teaches how to put Christ over the culture of the world and practice intentional discipleship.
The post Viewing Today’s Culture Through the Lens of the Gospel appeared first on FAIR.
by Brent Andrewsen at the 2024 FAIR Conference
How do we help our young people avoid deception, or keep them from “stumb[ling] exceedingly”? We keep the “plain and precious” parts of the gospel front and center in their lives.
Brent Andrewsen practices at a regional law firm with offices throughout the Intermountain West. He is the chairman of Sutherland Institute Board of Directors, an independent research and educational institution and think tank, whose mission is to advance civility, sound ideas, and principled public policy supporting faith, family and free enterprise. Brent serves as the chairman of Skyline Research Institute and is the former chairman of the Board of Directors at Kirton McConkie. He has an AV Preeminent peer rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is recognized as one of Utah’s Legal Elite for estate planning, a Mountain States Super Lawyer for estate planning and non-profits, and a Best Lawyer for trusts/estates and non-profits/charities. He was also honored by Utah Business magazine as a 40 Under 40 Rising Star. Brent earned his B.A. in political science from BYU and a J.D. cum laude from the Washington & Lee University Law School.
The post Preserving and Protecting “Plain and Precious” Truths In Our Families appeared first on FAIR.
FAIR has a service where questions can be submitted and they are answered by volunteers. If you have a question, you can submit it at https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/contact. We will occasionally publish answers here for questions that are commonly asked, or are on topics that are receiving a lot of attention.
Question:In the time since General Conference, we have had several questions about the resurrection – whether our bodies will be resurrected in their perfect form, and what the difference would be between a Celestial versus a Terrestrial or Telestial resurrected body.
Answer from FAIR Volunteer David Smith:Resurrected BodiesIn his October 2023 general conference message, President Nelson reminded us: “Your choices today will determine three things: where you will live throughout all eternity, the kind of body with which you will be resurrected, and those with whom you will live forever.” President Nelson reemphasized scriptural teachings about resurrected bodies, as explained in a Church manual:
The scriptures are clear that all of God’s children will be resurrected (see 1 Corinthians 15:22; Alma 11:42; 40:4). The eternal kingdom inherited by a resurrected person, as well as the nature of a person’s resurrected body, however, will be determined by his or her faithfulness and obedience to God’s laws (see 1 Corinthians 15:40–42; D&C 76:96–98; 88:22–24, 28–31). Those who will inherit the celestial kingdom will have bodies that are celestial, “whose glory is that of the sun” (D&C 76:70). Those in the terrestrial kingdom will have bodies that differ from those in the celestial kingdom, “even as [the glory] of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament” (D&C 76:71; see also D&C 76:78). Telestial bodies will have a lesser glory, “as the glory of the stars differs from that of the glory of the moon in the firmament” (D&C 76:81). (“Chapter 28: Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–119,” in Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual [2018])
Restored to a Perfect FrameWe know from ancient and modern prophets that in the resurrection we shall receive our bodies as they were except in a perfected, flawless state. Here are just a couple of relevant quotes: “The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, . . . and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body.” (Alma 11:43–44) * “Every fundamental part of every body will be restored to its proper place again in the resurrection, no matter what may become of the body in death. If it be burned by fire, eaten by sharks, no matter what. Every fundamental part of it will be restored to its own proper place.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, “Chapter 3: The Plan of Salvation,” in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith) Procreation Only Among Exalted Beings*We also learn through modern revelation that the opportunity to have children after the resurrection is a privilege available only to those who have an exalted body (see Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4; 132:16–19). The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:
Except a man and his wife enter into an everlasting covenant and be married for eternity, while in this probation; by the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood; they will cease to increase when they die, that is, that they will not have any children after the resurrection; but those who are married by the power and authority of the Priesthood in this life, and continue without committing the sin against the Holy Ghost, will continue to increase and have children in the celestial glory. (“History, 1838–1856, volume D-1 [1 August 1842–1 July 1843],” page 1551, entry for 16 May 1843, josephsmithpapers.org )
Echoing these teachings, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:
So far as the stages of eternal progression and attainment have been made known through divine revelation, we are to understand that only resurrected and glorified beings can become parents of spirit offspring. Only such exalted souls have reached maturity in the appointed course of eternal life; and the spirits born to them in the eternal worlds will pass in due sequence through the several stages or estates by which the glorified parents have attained exaltation. (“The Father and the Son: A Doctrinal Exposition by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,” reprinted in Ensign, April 2002)
Differences in Resurrected BodiesAlthough we do not have much clear revelation what the difference is between Celestial/exalted bodies and other resurrected bodies, we do know that one difference is the ability (or lack thereof) to have children. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught:
Some of the functions in the celestial body will not appear in the terrestrial body, neither in the telestial body, and the power of procreation will be removed. I take it that men and women will, in these kingdoms, be just what the so-called Christian world expects us all to be – neither man nor woman, merely immortal beings having received the resurrection. (Doctrines of Salvation 2:287–288)
In light of the doctrines quoted above, I interpret this statement by President Smith to mean not that these resurrected bodies will have been changed so that they no longer have any gender but rather that they will not be able to do fundamentally what men and women can do through a difference in gender (i.e., procreate).The post FAIR Questions: What did President Nelson mean by “the kind of body with which you will be resurrected” in his General Conference talk? appeared first on FAIR.
by Zachary Wright Introduction Someone I know, who is a very vocal LGBTQ+ advocate, once got into an argument with me about concepts behind gender. I did everything I could to understand where they were coming from, seeing as this is a complex topic with differing perspectives. However, they were trying to convince me (among […]
The post By Study and Faith – Episode 6: Cognitive Biases appeared first on FAIR.
by Skyler Sorensen
(Originally posted at Public Square Magazine)
When choosing to associate with a group, you have to consider the implications and effects the group has as a whole. In recent years our prophets and apostles have implored us to seek to understand the experience of our LGBT+ brothers and sisters. At a BYU devotional in 2017, and in regard to members of the Church with an experience under the LGBT+ acronym, Elder Ballard said, “We must do better than we have done in the past so that all members feel they have a spiritual home where their brothers and sisters love them and where they have a place to worship and serve the Lord.”
At the same time, pride celebrations are advertised by many as the best way to show LGBT+ people love and support. This juxtaposition has led some to the conclusion that the brethren are instructing us to use pride celebrations as the catalyst for showing “support” for LGBT+ people. But what message are we sending when we support such a movement?
Church members who engage with pride do so either oblivious to the more radical and sexual aspects of the movement or ignore them—writing them off as mere aberrations to the general purpose of the movement. You can individually decide to engage with pride and have the best intentions, but that doesn’t mean you have control over the totality of the message it sends. As one in the thick of squaring my sexuality and religious values, I ask you to consider the impact pride has on the most impressionable members of the Church.
The Loudest Message of Pride
The pride movement isn’t a monolith or even a structured organization. There are gradations of radicalism within the pride movement, and there’s not one single organization we can point to and critique. We can, however, look at the trends and loudest opinions coming from those who engage with it.
During the summer of 2022, activists organized an unofficial event to welcome BYU freshmen to school. It was called “Back to School Pride Night” and included a drag event that was advertised as an “all-ages” event.
Ahead of the event, it received national criticism. In response to the backlash, the organization in charge of the event posted on Instagram that they made further efforts to ensure the event was family-friendly. This included having the performers only go by the first part of the drag queen’s name since many of them were sexual puns. Still, when videos of the event surfaced, a drag queen danced in explicitly sexual ways.
There are also events like the Loveloud music festival. Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons stands as an unofficial cultural leader of pride celebrations and puts on events like the Loveloud music festival. The goals of the event are two-fold: provide support for LGBT+ people, and campaign religious organizations like the Church to change their doctrine.
HBO funded a documentary that followed the creation of this event. At the climax of the film, there’s an introspective montage of Reynolds walking the grounds of Temple Square. The filmmakers juxtaposed these shots with footage from Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s talk “Love and Law,” in which he reaffirms the sanctity of marriage between man and woman. He gave this talk shortly after the first Loveloud festival. During the montage, they cut to Reynolds voicing his disappointment with Oaks’s message, as if to say, “We failed in our goal.” While it’s clear that cultural figures such as Reynolds have a genuine concern for LGBT+ people, it’s just as clear that they share a common goal: pressure the Church to change its doctrine regarding marriage.
Doctrinal Uncertainty
Pride celebrations have and continue to influence the culture of the Church. One of the effects of pride is the increase in doctrinal uncertainty and speculation. It’s all too common to run across members of the Church, with varying levels of activity, who entertain or sanction the idea of doctrine on the family changing to include same-sex unions or gender expansiveness. More often than not, these same church members are those who are also active in pride celebrations and view their political activism as a kind of missionary work. They take the more radical activists at their word that pride celebrations are the best way to show love, and they don’t dare to suggest other methods.
When we engage with the pride movement, whether intentionally or not, we are promoting the message that doctrinal change is the only acceptable way forward—or at least, that it’s a strong possibility. Please consider how spiritually damaging this message can be for gay/SSA and gender dysphoric Latter-day Saints.
Imagine you’re undergoing therapy, and your therapist helps you outline a plan of action to help you overcome some social anxiety you’ve been feeling. The plan is thorough, specific, and comprehensive. It outlines specific tasks for you to complete each day, goals to work toward, methods to overcome negative thought cycles, and a rough timeline for when to complete each thing. You both feel good about the plan, and you leave feeling motivated.
When you get back home, you get a text from your therapist:
“Oh, by the way, I may change my mind on all of what we talked about today before your next appointment.”
“You—what?” you ask.
“Yeah, I might decide that everything we outlined will actually make things worse for you. I haven’t decided yet, but it’s a pretty good possibility. Just do your best to stick to it, and we can discuss it at our next appointment. I’ll have my secretary message you if I change my mind.”
Would this make it easier or harder to follow the plan? Would it inspire or destroy confidence in your therapist? How are you supposed to follow the plan if it’s all but inevitable to change completely?
Now, raise the stakes to an infinite degree as we compare this analogy to the pursuit of eternal progression for gay Latter-day Saints. How are we supposed to commit ourselves to the gospel with the possibility of fundamental doctrinal changes hanging over our heads?
I didn’t grow up with that idea as a common talking point, but I can only imagine how difficult that would be to a young, impressionable, gay/SSA Latter-day Saint already having trouble finding their place in the Church. This type of thinking inevitably leads to a state of religious paralysis. Gay Latter-day Saints in this category likely wouldn’t want to leave the prescribed path of happiness they believe in so deeply, but committing themselves to something with such a flimsy foundation seems fruitless. So instead, they exist in religious limbo, too dedicated to Jesus Christ to leave the fold but too uncertain about the future of our doctrine to progress in a healthy direction. We talk at length about the mental health of gay/SSA and gender dysphoric Latter-day Saints, and rightly so. Aside from the obvious atrocity of familial shunning, what other factor could negatively impact their mental health as much as this type of religious whiplash?
Some see doctrinal speculation as a way of providing comfort for church members with these experiences. Squaring same-sex attraction with a covenant life isn’t easy, and it can cause real distress. When someone is feeling distressed, it’s natural to want to find someone or something accessible to blame. When someone we love is hurting, we feel a distinctive push to vindicate their suffering at any cost. In some cases, members of the Church with LGBT+ family or friends start viewing the doctrine of eternal families as an obstacle instead of the very reason for living the gospel. They start adopting what I call the “maybe someday” language, which acts as a band-aid for cognitive dissonance instead of setting them up for success on their spiritual journey.
The most compassionate thing we could do for gay/SSA and gender dysphoric Latter-day Saints is to treat them like any other church member—be forthright and understanding while discussing the doctrine of eternal families. Don’t relegate your message to a slew of speculation or empty promises. Teach the doctrine simply and with love, so we know what’s expected of us and can move forward in our pursuit to know Christ.
As Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt warned last General Conference, “These lesser, secular approaches are beneath you and can be lethal to the long-term faithfulness of your child … I know from personal experience that teaching your beloved child why we all desperately need Jesus Christ and how to apply His joyful doctrine is what will strengthen and heal him or her.”
How Can We Support?
There are better ways to support our LGBT+ brothers and sisters than engaging with pride celebrations. First, let us define our terms. What do our prophets and apostles mean when they implore us to “support” our LGBT+ brothers and sisters?
Many in activist circles have taken ownership of the word “support.” They’ve co-opted and thwarted definitions and terms, creating counterfeits of their purer essence. Instead of “bearing the burden and helping to lift,” the definition of “support” is now “champion and sanction.” We’ve also redefined other words.
“Kindness” has become “cheery, whole-hearted agreement.”
“Disagreement” now means “erasure.”
And “Love” is defined as “fully affirming my morality, choices, and actions.”
Not only does this make conversations more confusing, it makes them all but fruitless. Instead of talking with one another, we talk past each other, each using the same words to mean completely different things. Then, instead of arguing about the substance of an idea, we argue about definitions and then leave feeling frustrated rather than understood.
In the Book of Mormon, shortly after the prophet Lehi dies, Nephi speaks the words of his heart. “I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness;”
Recognizing that it was sin that caused his heart to groan, Nephi explained how God supported him through those trials. God didn’t just comfort Nephi during his trials; He didn’t just tell Nephi what he wanted to hear or only listen to his groaning; He helped Nephi leave his sins behind and cling to Him.
Same-sex relationships aren’t the only place we find sin. There are a host of ways we distance ourselves from God. But few sins are more celebrated than same-sex relationships. Few diversions from the covenant path are more lauded than gender transitions.
I’m not suggesting that we abrasively find every opportunity to tell those committing sexual sin that they are. There are different ways to stand for truth in different scenarios. When we’re speaking with an individual personally, we should handle it much differently than if we’re posting something publicly. What I am suggesting is that we remain mindful of the importance of pointing others to Christ. No path will lead to more joy than the covenant path.
As Elder D. Todd Christofferson reminded us, “… the first commandment must be first because attempts at love that are not grounded in God’s truths risk harming the person or persons we are trying to help.” When we value being right more than helping an individual, we’ll just push them further away. At the same time, if we value cordiality more than truth, we’ll quickly abandon truth in an attempt to remain cordial.
The balance of grace and truth is the hardest one to achieve; it’s also the most important. Without grace, we’ll serve as barriers to others finding Christ; without truth, our grace will comfort others in their voyage away from Christ.
It’s one thing to tolerate others celebrating what they want; it’s another thing entirely to join them in a celebration that serves to cut against our religious beliefs—beliefs of which, by our own admission, help the most vulnerable to succeed.
If we truly believe this is Christ’s Church restored to the earth, it makes sense to believe in the reality of the plan of salvation. If we believe in the reality of the plan of salvation, it’s morally consistent to believe that marriage between a man and a woman sets us on the spiritual trajectory toward ultimate and lasting joy. If someone we love is deviating from that plan, why would we celebrate that? We can honor their choices, maintain the relationship as much as they’re willing, and genuinely cheer on their successes in life. But having an understanding of the plan of salvation means pointing our loved ones toward the Savior, not the world.
Skyler Sorensen grew up in St. George, Utah as the 4th of 8 children. He is an active Latter-day Saint, gay, and married to his beautiful wife Amanda in a mixed-orientation marriage. He graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s in Media Arts and has always gravitated toward using creative avenues to promote his beliefs. He created and co-hosts the podcast “Sit Down with Sky and Preston”, dedicated to defending gospel principles through the lens of LGBTQ issues. The podcast recently switched to ”Sit Down with Sky and Amanda” for their new season, where Skyler’s wife, Amanda, joins him as cohost.
Skyler and Amanda have 2 children. Their first son, Milo, was born in August 2019 at 24 ½ weeks. After a few weeks of battling for his life in the NICU, he passed away in Amanda’s arms. After battling with infertility after Milo’s death, their daughter, Remi, was born in January of 2022 and is spoiled beyond belief.
They live in Utah County, and Skyler currently works as a video editor.
He has a firm belief in the Restoration of Christ’s church and a strong testimony of Jesus Christ in his role as Savior and Redeemer. He has a deep desire to explain simply the importance of living gospel principles, no matter your life circumstances.
The post Beyond the Rainbow: Supporting LGBT+ Saints Faithfully appeared first on FAIR.
Seven years ago, a FAIR conference presentation identified a harmful ideology among some members of the Church of Jesus Christ. It claims that God gives revelations, visits, and special priesthood ordinations to individuals outside of church leadership, and that faithful church members should follow and obey those individuals, and believe the truth of their purported […]
The post Evaluating Claims that Contradict the Prophets appeared first on FAIR.
BYU unquestionably made the right choice to remove an LGBT “resource pamphlet” from freshman welcome bags, but the public doesn’t understand why. Reporting has sympathetically portrayed student activists and their purported good motives, but failed to detail their disturbing and harmful recommendations. The latest tempest in the social media teapot features yet another clash between […]
The post What You Didn’t Hear About the LGBT Pamphlet at BYU appeared first on FAIR.
Rejecting the Living Prophets by Following Future Prophets by J. Max Wilson (Adapted from his post at Sixteen Small Stones) One of the key doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that we have living prophets and apostles today who are authorized by God to receive revelations for the Church and […]
The post Come, Follow Me Week 20 – Numbers 11-14; 20-24 appeared first on FAIR.
The Two Trees by V.H. Cassler (This is from a presentation given at the 2010 FAIR Conference) The Restored Gospel teaches me that the term “God” means an exalted woman and an exalted man married in the new and everlasting covenant (and we also get that from D&C 132). We are taught that there is […]
The post Come, Follow Me Week 3 – Genesis 3–4; Moses 4–5 appeared first on FAIR.
The Proclamation Is a Light Against Sophistry by Cassandra Hedelius In September 1995, President Hinckley used a big word. “With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, […]
The post Come, Follow Me Week 51 – The Family: A Proclamation to the World appeared first on FAIR.
We Believe All that God Has Revealed by Cassandra Hedelius On social media and other discussions, it’s very common for LGBT activists/allies to invoke the ninth Article of Faith. They take for granted that the church’s teachings on marriage and sexuality are wrong, and assert that God will soon change them. After all, “we believe […]
The post Come, Follow Me Week 50 – Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 & 2 appeared first on FAIR.
This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is from our 2021 conference held in August. If you would like to watch the presentations from the conference, you can still purchase the video streaming. Edwin E. Gantt, Agentic Sexuality: How a Latter-day Saint Perspective Can Rescue Humanity from the Tyranny of the Abstract […]
The post FAIR Conference Podcast #65 – Edwin E. Gantt, “Agentic Sexuality: How a Latter-day Saint Perspective Can Rescue Humanity from the Tyranny of the Abstract” appeared first on FAIR.
This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is from our 2021 conference held in August. If you would like to watch the presentations from the conference, you can still purchase the video streaming. Carl Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual […]
The post FAIR Conference Podcast #63 – Carl Trueman, “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution” appeared first on FAIR.
These three presentations are important to families and Church leaders of all faiths. We hope you will watch them and share them with your Latter-day Saint, and non-Latter-day Saint, friends. Jeffrey Thayne – “Worldview Apologetics: Revealing the Waters in Which We Swim” (transcript) Carl Trueman – “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, […]
The post Three Important FAIR Conference Presentations to Help Parents, Leaders, and Other Teachers of Children and Youth appeared first on FAIR.
Valerie M. Hudson is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the George H.W. Bush Chair at The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, where she directs the Program on Women, Peace, and Security. She has previously taught at Brigham Young, Northwestern, and Rutgers universities. Her research foci include foreign policy […]
The post FAIR Voice Podcast #28: Valerie Hudson on Women and the Priesthood appeared first on FAIR.
FairMormon has a service where questions can be submitted and they are answered by volunteers. If you have a question, you can submit it at http://www.fairmormon.org/contact. We will occasionally publish answers here for questions that are commonly asked, or are on topics that are receiving a lot of attention. (The names used in the answer have […]
The post FairMormon Questions: How should we respond when we feel men and women are unequal at church? appeared first on FAIR.
This podcast series features past FairMormon Conference presentations. This presentation is from our 2019 conference held in August. If you would like to watch the presentations from our 2019 conference, you can still purchase the video streaming. Wendy Ulrich, Women, Men, and Priesthood Power Transcript available here. Wendy Ulrich, Ph.D., M.B.A., has been a psychologist […]
The post FairMormon Conference Podcast #45 – Wendy Ulrich, “Women, Men, and Priesthood Power” appeared first on FAIR.
Editor’s Note: The transcript of Daniel Peterson’s 2019 FairMormon Conference presentation is now available. by Jeffrey Thayne At the 2019 FAIR Mormon conference, Dr. Daniel Peterson gave an illuminating presentation that — among other things — summarized the history of women serving as formal witnesses. He explored how female witnesses were considered less reliable than […]
The post Women as Witnesses appeared first on FAIR.
This podcast series features past FairMormon Conference presentations. Please join us for the 2019 FairMormon Conference coming up August 7-9! You can attend in person or purchase the video streaming. Lynne Hilton Wilson, Peter and Paul’s Paradoxical Passages on Women Transcript available here. Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson lives in Palo Alto, California, with her husband […]
The post FairMormon Conference Podcast #32 – Lynne Hilton Wilson, “Peter and Paul’s Paradoxical Passages on Women” appeared first on FAIR.
There have been some General Conference talks in recent years about the priesthood that have really stuck out for me, such as “Healing the Sick” by Dallin H. Oaks in April 2010, and “The Price of Priesthood Power” by Russell M. Nelson in April 2016. As an elder in the Melchizedek Priesthood, they have been […]
The post Book Review: The Melchizedek Priesthood: Understanding the Doctrine, Living the Principles appeared first on FAIR.
In the prologue of A Reason for Faith, the editor, Laura Hales, lays out the purpose of the book. Members of the church sometimes come across new information in an unfriendly setting that damages their faith. This book is a compilation of articles about many of the topics that are not often discussed in a church or family […]
The post Book Review: A Reason for Faith: Navigating LDS Doctrine & Church History appeared first on FAIR.
This is the first publication from The Church Historian’s Press other than the Joseph Smith Papers. It is a collection of documents brought together for the first time that cover the first fifty years of the Relief Society, starting in Nauvoo, restarting in Utah, and then spreading throughout LDS settlements as far away as Canada. […]
The post Book Review: The First Fifty Years of Relief Society: Key Documents in Latter-day Saint Women’s History appeared first on FAIR.
Dealing with gender dysphoria: Finding inner peace through Christ – An interview with Kyle and Amy Merkley. To read Kyle’s story and be introduced to the Journey’s of Faith Project from NorthStarLDS, click here. Kyle is the oldest of five children. He grew up in an amazing family and he’s grateful for the strength his […]
The post RiseUp Podcast: Dealing with gender dysphoria – Finding inner peace through Christ appeared first on FAIR.
[This post originally appeared at Virtuous Society and is reposted here with the author’s permission.] Written by Tom Stringham Do young Latter-day Saints, and especially gay youth, commit suicide at a higher rate than other youth in the US? The short answer: with the data we have, we don’t know. So what do we know […]
The post Re-examining gay Mormon youth and suicide: What does the data say? appeared first on FAIR.
[The following is an excerpt from Neylan McBaine’s new book Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women’s Local Impact. It is reposted here with permission of the author and Greg Kofford Books.] In my August 2012 FairMormon conference talk, one of the most challenging points that I made is that I feel we do ourselves a disservice […]
The post Disconnect between Doctrine and Practice of Equality appeared first on FAIR.
Neylan McBaine grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) in New York City and attended Yale University. She has been published in Newsweek, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Segullah, Meridian Magazine, and the Washington Post to name a few. Neylan is the founder and editor-in-chief of The […]
The post Mormon FairCast Book Review: Women At Church by Neylan McBaine appeared first on FAIR.
At the recent 2014 FairMormon Conference, I picked up a pre-release copy of Neylan McBaine’s new book “Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women’s Local Impact”, which is being released publically today. I started reading it on the airplane ride home on Saturday and couldn’t put it down and I finished it the next day after […]
The post Continuing the conversation begun by Neylan McBaine’s “Women at Church” appeared first on FAIR.
Neylan McBaine is one of several notable and thoughtful participants in the conversation that has been taking place about the roles and situation of women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her soon-to-be-released book, Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women’s Local Impact, is both a tremendous […]
The post Book Review: “Women at Church: Magnifying LDS Women’s Local Impact” appeared first on FAIR.
Sharon Eubank’s presentation, given on August 8 at the 2014 FairMormon Conference, received the rare honor of a standing ovation. The transcript can be viewed here. You can purchase access to the rest of the conference videos at the FairMormon Bookstore. Sharon Eubank was born in Redding, California, to Mark and Jean Eubank. She received […]
The post “This is a Woman’s Church” appeared first on FAIR.
Martin Tanner who is the host of “Religion Today” on KSL FM 102.7 and AM 1160 interviews Steve Densley who is the executive vice-president of FairMormon and Daniel Peterson, Ph.D. who is a prominent Mormon apologist and professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University about the upcoming FairMormon conference that will be held […]
The post Mormon Fair-cast 244: FairMormon Conference 2014 appeared first on FAIR.
[This is a guest post from Deborah Rowley, a Latter-day Saint woman sharing her perspective on the subject of women and the priesthood. These comments are Deborah’s alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official position of FairMormon or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints..] I am a woman. I am also a member of […]
The post What is God Thinking? Reflections on Mormon Women and the Priesthood appeared first on FAIR.
Dr. Valerie Hudson joined the faculty of Texas A&M University at the Bush School in 2012 as the George Bush Chair. She is considered an expert on international security and foreign policy analysis, she received her PhD in political science at The Ohio State University. Prior to going to Texas A&M she taught at Brigham […]
The post Articles of Faith 4: Valerie Hudson on the Current Discourse on Women and the Priesthood by Ballard, Dew, and Oaks appeared first on FAIR.