I’m Still Here: A Gay Mormon’s Path to Belonging

John Gustav-Wrathall is the author of Take the Young Stranger by the Hand: Same-sex Relations and the YMCA. He has spoken in churches, community forums, on university campuses and in religious assemblies and conferences about the issues affecting LGBTQ people in communities of faith. Though excommunicated from the LDS Church, John has been active in his Minneapolis ward since 2005. He currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his husband of over twenty years with whom he has foster parented three sons.

This is an excerpt from a docuseries called An Inconvenient Faith coming out later this year.

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[Audreynff]

This testimony is powerful and truly speaks to me! I am feeling the Spirit so much, brother, thank you for sharing this and for living your courageous journey of love in the face of so much hardship!

[rmj]

Loved it! Now as church members we need welcome and embrace any visitors and members of LGBTQ community. I wish he mentioned how church policies affected him, and, his views on the recent changes to the church handbook

[sharonchild]

44 years ago when I married, my gay sister-in-law was the best man at my (temple wedding) reception. LOVE is what JESUS WANTS US TO DO.. It’s NOT HARD… YOU are ALL LOVED….thank you for sharing your story. 😊

[sharonchild]

I LOVE YOUI BROTHER!!!! Thank you for staying on the path….God has a wonderful reward for us all!!!!

[Audreynff]

WE ARE THE CHURCH, exactly!! ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🩹❤️

[mellienorz]

Amazing testimony!! Thank you for sharing!

[jessegriffin]

Thank you for sharing your experience!!! I love you!!!

[chunghc]

I admire your courage to be still in the true church.

[ad]

Foxes have holes but Jesus has no where to lay his head. I think your story is the story of Christ. To not belong, to be rejected but to be loyal and give all, as loyal as a marriage to this church that doesn't even know itself. You are blessed you get to know Jesus and to know that you are a child of God in the special way you do. May we all stop abandoning the things we can't reconcile. May we all listen and love and persist.

[andrewreed]

Its a good an honest experience... the the lds church doesn't work like that here in Australia, sadly.

[BecomingMoreWithSarah]

Thank you. I love how Elder Uchtdorf reminds us that we all sin differently and to be careful how we judge. Some have conflicts with different points of the gospel, just because we didn't understand doesn't mean we walk away. We won't understand everything in this lifetime. We aren't supposed to. I'm so grateful you shared your testimony with us and your story of doing your best in the circumstances you are in. I love you. I'm glad you're here.

[jerry_phillips]

Wow what an amazing story. What amazing resolve. I'm sure it will be a tough road but please be patient with us. We love you and need you to help us understand better and be more Christlike to all of God's children.

[eloiselovesdevi]

Such a beautiful testimony thanks for sharing!! And thanks for being true to the light within you. There’s so much we still don’t understand about the role of LGBTQ in the kingdom of God, and I pray more will be revealed regarding this. I love when you say we all are the church and we all have the responsibility to help everyone feel loved and accepted.

[elliek]

What a brave and strong soul.
But I'm equally supportive of all those in similar circumstances who don't have understanding and welcoming local leaders or congregations, and who leave to live a fulfilled and peaceful without the church and the need to fight for their place in the "telestial" or whatever kingdom.

[judybulsiewicz]

My Brother in Christ... Thank you for sharing your sweet testimony! Thank you for sharing your love with us! Your presence makes the church and the world an infinitely better place!

[BramptonAnglican]

We love our LGBTQ Mormon siblings. There’s many of us in the Anglican Church of Canada also. We love you.

[bonjodie]

Thank you John! What beautiful, inspiring faith.

[questioningcat]

The spirit is within you the spirit has always been with you. You don’t need an organization or system of policies or a separate white building you must pay money to go into to reach heaven. You are loved, you are worthy and God does love you and you will be with him again.

[stillbill]

Remarkable.
My faith has been magnified by you!

[fatheroften]

What a beautiful testimony and witness. You are inspiring individual and I pray God's choicest blessings upon you.