Lauren: Being Gay and Being Raised in the Church—A Story of Hope: Ricks Family Part III

With remarkable wisdom and courage, Lauren gives us a raw and rare glimpse of what it’s like for an LDS adolescent to realize that he or she is gay. It is a privilege to listen to her describe how she survived a suicide attempt and was able to rebuild not only her life, but her relationship with her parents. We encourage both parents of LGBTQ children and members of the LGBTQ community to listen to Lauren’s advice about how to maintain both faith and supportive relationships.

Further Reading in Faith Is Not Blind:

“In times when my heart has broken open with tenderness for Him, there have been moments when He has allowed me to feel His tears falling with mine. My faith flows from such moments and assures me that with Him—because of Him—our barren wildernesses can be turned into watered gardens.”

(Faith Is Not Blind, Epilogue, “Descending to Ascend,” p. 131)