OPEN LETTER TO MORMON GAY COMMUNITY

In the past when young Mormon men (some returned missionaries who slept with their companions for two years) came to me with grave questions about their sexual orientation within the framework of the church, I lacked the real concern for their cause to the degree of that which had troubled me for years about the Black priesthood ban. While sympathetic to them I could offer no comfort probably due to limbic conditioning which affects all of us about different causes to which we have simply fallen in line with the prevailing thinking (tolerating but not accepting). I often have said that homosexuality is a phenomenon I do not understand and therefore cannot judge.

After the November 4th 2008 passing of Proposition 8 in California and observing the arrogance of Mormon thought about it and the church interference in the process, it became significantly apparent to me that equal rights of same sex couples is an issue within the church of far greater magnitude than Black priesthood denial ever was before its abandonment. I have waited thirty years to envision my next mission which as it now turns out was there all the time! All of which goes to show that prejudice, no matter how slight, can blind one to the realities of life and deprive one of purpose!

This issue came forcefully to me recently as I observed the strong spiritual bond between two men I have known for well over thirty years.  I knew they were "gay" but never confronted them. I was in fact grateful and indebted to them at the time for the help they rendered to me( and others) in breaking the Black priesthood ban. They were and had become experts on the issue of Mormon Church criminal interference in the life of Howard Hughes in which his estate was skimmed by the notorious "Mormon Mafia" who effectively held Hughes a house prisoner for many years before his death.

It was that information which I published in the March-April 1978 issue of The Millennial Messenger*** that caused the church to reverse itself on its Black priesthood position less than two months later on June 9th 1978! So in reality we had a gay couple giving assistance in the course correction on the historical error of unequal rights for Black men in the church. Unfortunately the course correction was not the product of genuine repentance on the part of the leaders but a ruse to escape criminal oversight. Unfortunately that generation has almost completely passed only Thomas Monson remains.

Minimal contact was kept up with these two gay men over the years but recently my eyes welled with tears when I looked at a picture of them exchanging rings while taking advantage of the recent California Supreme Court ruling granting equal marriage rights to same sex couples. Spiritually connected, bonded and loyally committed to one another for thirty three years demonstrates a union rarely seen these days even in the heterosexual world!

Who can deny they are spiritually bonded? Who can deny them the right to be spiritually joined by civil marriage as a public civil acceptance of that bonding? God is first in line to accept their relationship for it is God who created spirituality by which they are connected and it is time Mormon Church leaders got in step with God on this issue in the same manner as they belatedly got in line with God on the issue of Black priesthood rights thirty years ago (even if they were less than honest as to the why)! what God has joined together, let no man put asunder!

I expect the California Supreme Court to rule that Proposition 8 was an inappropriate effort to revise the state Constitution which can only be amended by a process which involves the state legislature. Also, that any amendment to it may not target (directly or indirectly) the civil rights of a minority group.

However, in the meantime, I would like the gay community within "Mormonism" to know that the war against them by the church hierarchy will soon come to an end and that in the process there will be many surprises. I base this prediction on the rightness of my past mission which is well understood by church authorities (they ultimately complied!) and they should be trembling in their shoes for the consequences of their sinful conduct.

Happy Thanksgiving

Douglas Alexander Wallace, J.D.

P.S. There are more issues yet to come

 *** A few original souvenir copies of the Messenger are available from Byron Marchant moisoiusa@nc.rr.com

 1  |  2