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Tom Christofferson is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who experiences same sex attraction. He is also the brother of Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Tom grew up in the Church as a member, served a mission and married in the temple. His short marriage ended and he came out as gay and lived that lifestyle for many years. He started coming back to church with Bruce Larson as a bishop and David Checketts as his stake president. Tom’s story is told in his book, That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith and Family. As leaders we can learn a lot from his experience of coming back to church and being rebaptized.
President David Checketts (far left) and the Christofferson brothers
Episode Highlights
- 6:30 Tom’s story from the beginning
- 9:30 His story of excommunication
- 10:50 How his family wanted their love to be perfect as they accepted him
- 13:20 Bishop Bruce Larson’s side of the story
- 16:00 Stake President David Checkett’s side of the story
- 18:00 Bishop Larson and President Checketts did not know at first that he was related to Elder Christofferson
- 20:30 Sharing with the ward council how to make feel Tom welcome
- 22:30 Response of the ward council
- 24:00 Tom was welcomed and loved unconditionally
- 29:00 Tom attended the ward for 5 years before wanting to come back to live the commandments
- 31:45 During the 5 years how Tom felt welcome in the ward
- 33:20 Everyone focused on the the relationship with Tom and not his progress
- 34:30 Study sessions with Tom and President Checketts
- 38:00 Meeting with Tom’s partner
- 42:00 President Checketts meets with Elder Christofferson about Tom
- 45:00 Tom Christofferson’s rebaptism
- 48:00 How this experience has helped Bishop Larson to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ
- 50:00 How this experience has helped President Checketts to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ
Links
That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith and Family Read the TRANSCRIPT for this episode
This was an AMAZING tri-interview. Wow. Kurt, I can tell you worked hard to put this interview together. It was a joy to listen to. It was amazing to hear Brother Christoffersons story and his long road back to baptism. It’s certainly a story of courage. Not only for Tom, but for his partner too. Had I been his partner, it would have been a very difficult pill to swallow. I can totally understand his frustration and even anger.
But it’s also a story of humility, love, courage and more love. Thanks to all three of these great men for who they are and for doing this interview (and congratulations President Checketts on your new mission call!
Most incredible.