GAY LATTER-DAY SAINT CROSSROADS

Evan Smith believed the anti-gay messages he heard in church during his childhood, which contributed to some negative views he held toward LGBTQ people. Later, as a bishop and then a counselor in a stake presidency, his heart softened as church members came to him seeking guidance about feeling attracted to others of the same gender. Evan's investigating and study became personal when his own son came out as gay. In this topically navigable book, Evan tackles the issues with a lawyer's mind and a penetrating analysis of scriptures and church doctrine. He addresses such questions as these: "What insights apply from the end of polygamy and the race-based priesthood/temple ban?" "Why do I stay in the church?" and, most importantly, "What words are hurtful/helpful to LGBTQ people and their families?"

Evan Smith believed the anti-gay messages he heard in church during his childhood, which contributed to some negative views he held toward LGBTQ people. Later, as a bishop and then a counselor in a stake presidency, his heart softened as church members came to him seeking guidance about feeling attracted to others of the same gender. Evan's investigating and study became personal when his own son came out as gay. In this topically navigable book, Evan tackles the issues with a lawyer's mind and a penetrating analysis of scriptures and church doctrine. He addresses such questions as these: "What insights apply from the end of polygamy and the race-based priesthood/temple ban?" "Why do I stay in the church?" and, most importantly, "What words are hurtful/helpful to LGBTQ people and their families?"

Evan Smith is an active Latter-day Saint. He was born in the church and grew up in Murray, Utah. He served a full-time mission in California from 1994-1996 and then married his wife, Cheryl, a year later. They received their undergraduate degrees together from Brigham Young University in 2000, and Evan later received his law degree from the University of Toronto in 2003. He has been a practicing corporate attorney in Boston ever since. He and Cheryl have four children and call a small town 35 miles south of Boston home. Evan has served in the church as a stake institute teacher, high councilor, branch president, bishop, early-morning seminary teacher, and counselor in a stake presidency. He loves backcountry snow skiing and can still (sometimes) land a backflip behind a boat on a wakeboard. He is a first-time writer.