Peace Giving thoughts

My friend asked me what she could do to help her LGBTQ daughter who is trying to come back to church. She loves her daughter. She admires her daughter. But she has no answers.

I don’t have answers.

Here are the ideas I hold on to while I wait for answers:

I love my child.

I know Heavenly Father loves my child.

I know God has a plan for and a place for my child. Even though it isn’t clear what that plan is, I have faith that it will be glorious and joyful

Our church believes in continuing revelation, and I pray for that more revelation for how my LGBTQ+ family and friends fit into the Plan of Salvation,

At the same time I try not to get my hopes pinned on that revelation being a certain thing or within a certain timing.

In addition to those ideas,

I remind myself that my job is not to make things turn out right. That is Jesus’s job. My job is to love others and repent for myself.

While we don’t get to know as much as we want, it is good to pray and ask, “What is my next step?” and then do our best to do what seems right.

I read the scriptures and feel peace.

When the captain and I went to Gather, it was so good to feel that we were not alone. I had not realized how much I needed to hear someone else say their daughter uses all the pronouns. I’ve struggled with that, and it was such a relief to know I’m not the only one. Gather was a positive and loving atmosphere.

Loving is the most important thing. Our LGBTQ family members experience so much social un-safety. Because of this, they always fear rejection, so they need us to be obvious with our expressions of love and acceptance.

They need places where they feel safe both in church and out of church, so it is good to encourage them as they attempt to find those places (both in and out of church.)

❤️ GlowWorm