Guest Post: An Open Letter to My LGBTQ+ Siblings

by Brooke

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee… (Jeremiah 1:5). For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil…(Jeremiah 29:11).

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalms 139:14). The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. (Nahum 1:7). The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1)

You have incredible value and purpose. And while it may be, at times, that those closest to you do not have the ability to see the “whole you”, Jesus Christ always does. He sees every aspect of you fully and without prejudice.

As children of God, we encompass a myriad of identities and roles in our lives: sibling, child, person-of-faith, friend, artist, athlete, scholar, employee, companion, worker, and lover, just to name a few. All of these “parts” of our self make up our “whole self”. When one role is denied, for any reason, it can create incredible pain.

As humans, we are hardwired to form connections with others. Forming intimate bonds enables us to feel safe, loved, accepted and also allows us to do that for someone in return. This instinct is not simply a “want” or a nicety; rather, it is a need as powerful and necessary as food, water, and shelter.

My intent in sharing this with you is not to persuade you to choose a particular path over another; that is a private matter between you and your loving Heavenly Parents. Alternatively, I want you to feel validated in your struggles and trials. I desire you to know that there are people who recognize that you are on an incredibly tough path and that turning off such a fundamental part of who you are is not as simple as flipping a switch and having faith. In fact, it is akin to being asked to deny yourself water. Others do not understand that truth right now, but I believe strongly that in time they will.

In the meantime, I hope you will regularly consult with your Heavenly Family: Father, Mother, and Brother, as to what your path should be. Please ask Them for what purpose you have, as a member of the LGBTQ+ family, been brought to the LDS family. As you seek to understand why have you been placed in such seemingly contradictory roles, I believe that They will reveal these truths to you and, concurrently, succor, reaffirm, and strengthen you.

One final plea: regardless of what your journey looks like, please always choose life. If there ever comes a time that you must live your life outside of the church in order to do so, feel confident in that choice. The Holy Ghost always strives to be with us, no matter where we are. Access to the Powers of Heaven will always be available to you because that is your birthright. Your Savior will always be by your side and joy can, and will, be found in abundance.

With Much Love and Admiration,
Brooke Thompson Ramthun

Brooke is a Phoenix transplant living life outside of Boston. Her various roles include project manger, wife, mother x 3, Green Bay Packers fan, and shark enthusiast.