Upload Your Story by https://padlet.com/sexcommunicatedtherapist/Bookmarks Use the + icon below to add your story! You can do this in a variety of ways, including text, video, audio recording and more! en-us 2022-04-18 19:51:16 UTC 2022-09-27 18:47:59 UTC hello@padlet.com Seeing Sexuality in a Healthier Way sexcommunicatedtherapist https://padlet.com/sexcommunicatedtherapist/Bookmarks/wish/2316178183 I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for my entire life. I currently hold a temple recommend and serve in the primary of my ward. My husband and I were married in the temple in 2004. My husband currently serves as a member of our ward's bishopric. 

My husband and I have had many struggles in our marriage, especially with regards to our sexuality and the expectations that we have been taught by our church. It is only recently that we have learned from therapists, like Sister Helfer, how to see our sexuality in a healthy way. We have learned that masturbation is not a sin and that the church does not label it as such in the handbook. Learning to use masturbation as a tool to better understand our own sexuality has led to greater intimacy in our marriage. 

As the mother of an LGBTQIA+ youth I have worked very hard to educate myself on their issues. I have come to learn that those identities are not choices that individuals make in this life. I believe that our Heavenly Parents love their children more than we can comprehend. There was a  parable in this week’s Come Follow Me lesson that helps illustrate my feelings. Doctrine and Covenants 38:26 ”For what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto the one: Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other: Be thou clothed in rags and sit thou there-and looketh upon his sons and saith I am just?” I believe our Heavenly Parents are perfectly just and that they want all their children to enjoy the blessings of marriage. 

Sincerely, 
Anonymous

]]> 2022-09-27 18:44:28 UTC https://padlet.com/sexcommunicatedtherapist/Bookmarks/wish/2316178183 sexcommunicatedtherapist https://padlet.com/sexcommunicatedtherapist/Bookmarks/wish/2316183500 I grew up as a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was excommunicated in January 2019. Due to the fact I married the man of my dreams. To be honest, we were gay men attending church together. Our bishop was very supportive and welcomed us into the ward. One of our old bishops in the previous ward we were in called our stake president and told him he should get to know us....that is when the process started. It was very emotional for me and I felt my heart break. I felt that I lost something. Even though I felt my Heavenly Father gave me permission to marry my husband.  A few months later after the proposition was lifted he called and apologized....I’m not here to share my story but spread the word.

I graduated in social work and that field is my dream job because I know that I can make a difference in someone's life.
- Anonymous
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