Mormon from My Eyes: Bruce Bastian

Thank you Bruce, for all you are doing for the LGBT community. I don't know if you remember me, but we crossed paths back at BYU. At the time you took a full time job at SSI, I was also offered a job there. I was married at the time. I didn't take the job because I was in hardware design and didn't see much of a future for me at SSI. Big mistake, huh? But I do think it is kind of funny that Alan really knew how to pick 'em.

I've lived in Southern California for the past 26 years. My partner (now husband) and I have been together for 18 years. The Church's participation in Prop 8 has devastated our relationship with our children and grandchildren. I like you, now believe the Mormon Church is one of the most evil organizations on earth.

One of these days we'll run into each other and compare notes.

Thanks again for all you do.

Bravo, Bruce! Keep up the brilliant work. Thank you for your courage to share your story, and thank you for all of the work you do for the causes in Utah and at large. Your name is a powerful driving force in the area, but it's because of your strength as who you are.

Over the last ten-plus years, I have met hundreds like us worldwide.. gay Mormons. I lived most of those years in Utah (Provo, Park City, and SLC), even studying at BYU. Now I'm in Manhattan. I just wrote a groundbreaking book that has deeply impacted the authorities at Temple Square. They are listening more to us now and need NEED NEEEEED to hear our stories just like this. The book is "Dear Mr. Stephens: Letters of Love and of Hope" - a collection of love letters to a gay Mormon hating himself and living still under the shame. But what I found most helpful to me in writing was that I discovered an entire hidden set of clues that even the Mormon Church has overlooked. It's gotten their attention from the inside, but we need to keep sharing with them our experiences like this. It turns out that they've never stopped to consider that we really do feel love and peace and God in our devoted, caring, selfless relationships with one another. Everyone who reads these posts and feels so inclined, share your heartfelt stories of learning to love yourselves and one another with them. If you do or if you don't, thank you anyway for being exactly who you are. Never be ashamed of Love; it changes everything.

Way to go Bruce! Thanks for your well written contribution. I too, followed all the teachings,jumped through all the hoops, resulting in the same self-loathing and lack of authenticity. Accepting and loving myself more than the Mormon church, has allowed me and my partner of 35 years to experience happiness I never believed existed. I only prey other young Mormon men and women will find the courage and have the faith to do the same.

Sounds to me that you are better off without the Mormon church. Sorry to hear that your family is still involved in its stronghold. I was not raised in the Mormon church but was raised in a nondenominational christian home. Like you I was required to attend church every week and sometimes mid week for meetings . I too got married as it was expected of me thinking that it would suppress the feelings I had towards men it did for a while and I started seeing guys on the side without my wife knowing Eventually she found out and I stayed with her until her death from cancer in 2002. after that I felt free to follow my desires and I haven't looked back. One thing though is that I haven't told my family yet and not sure how to for fear of being shunned by them.I agree also with you that "Following God" should be a personal relationship with Him and nobody else. the church should be there as a guide not tell you how to live or not live your life.

Bruce, Thank you for your courage, your example and your willingness to speak out. As a mother who raised two gay children under the confines of the Mormon church, who now has broken free, I am extremely grateful for people like you who lead the way to better understanding and light.

I see your constant 'good works' and feel of your heart and spirit and I completely agree, "Following “God” is more about personal honesty, respect, kindness, and unconditional love.

Those values I learned much more from my parents than from my church."

Sorry, I'm gay, but I've heard way too many sick stories involved with this guy. Sex with boys under 18 is illegal and I hope you someday get arrested for it.

This is cool that people are able to receive the business loans moreover, that opens up new possibilities.

Bruce, I am very sorry you feel that way about the LDS church. That is not what church leaders teach, even though you felt that way. They have expressly told members the opposite, that they are NOT to hate or berate anyone because they do not live what we believe to be true. You yourself said you cast yourself out. Please don't call us evil because of our beliefs. We don't call you evil. Don't you remember the testimony meetings with Cougar Band? They were real. They were not made up. Nobody is perfect, and the challenges we each face are different for each one of us. Only God knows why we have the struggles we do. Unconditional love is part of the gospel of Christ. That is what the LDS church teaches. I know it is true.

The LDS Church has taken a political stand against illegal immigration through publicly supporting the so called "Utah Compact" with illegal immigrants. The Compact forbids state and local law enforcement from helping the Feds identify and deport those in the State of Utah illegally. Melvin Ballard, a leading Church official and Apostle, lobbied the Utah State legislature personally, not only for the Compact, but to make sure that illegals also qualified for state welfare benefits!

i wanna be a gay but am too broke