A Letter to a BYU Professor

In my Pearl of Great Price class today, my professor spoke about two important aspects in our lives.

• Identity
• Having the ability to give up everything to receive everything

What he said in class was interesting and mind-boggling at the same time. I was wrestling with the idea of talking to him after class, but a lot of the students had questions for him and I had to go to work.

So, I wrote him the following letter (sans photos).

Brother X,

In class today, you mentioned the importance of (1) identity and (2) giving up everything to receive everything--at least, that is what I got out of your lesson today. Regardless of how I interpreted your lesson, I do have some questions that you may be able to help me with. I understand and realize that you are not my ecclesiastical leader, but your insight may be beneficial to me.

You spoke of letting go of our sins that some believe are part of our identities. For me, the part of my identity that some call a sin is being attracted to the same gender.

Now, I do not feel less of a person, and I don't feel like it is a sin. Actually, the Church does state that simply being attracted to the same gender is not a sin--only the action of doing something inappropriate makes it a sin. We also learn from the Book of Mormon that the same spirit that is in this world will go into the next world, thus making my same-gender attraction literally part of my identity.

I have accepted the fact, as has the Church, that maybe I will not be granted the role of Fatherhood in this life or maybe even the next--which is fine. I just feel as if I have to hike to Moriah every day, only to return with no answers and no fulfilled sacrifice. Could the sacrifice that God is asking me to do be one of giving up all that I have in the Church to receive something better? The thought seems preposterous, but at the same time, similar to what you discussed in class today.

On the other hand, God may be asking men and women who experience same gender attraction to give up the idea of having an earthly family, love, happiness, fulfillment, children, etc.-- only to be rewarded that much more in the next life. To me, however, a life of loneliness and no family--either heterosexual or homosexual--is equal to death.

I guess I don't necessarily have any specific questions for you about what you discussed in class today. All I am asking is for is your response to what I have presented you with today.

What about you guys? What advice or response do you have to the ideas presented here?