If you had the opportunity to discover how to better understand the heart of someone in your congregation who is confused about their worth and their place in Father’s kingdom…would you give up 3 hours of your time?

If you had parents in your ward who were faced with a devastating challenge with one of their children and you had a resource that could help them navigate this treacherous path…would you reach out in love and guidance?

Have you worried that one of the youth in your flock may be considering suicide and you don’t know how to best love and support them?

Be Still and Know

Then consider this your personal invitation to attend the FREE Saturday morning session of 2020 North Star Conference, Be Still and Know, in Salt Lake City on March 7, 2020.

While you are there, you will have the opportunity to explore the LBGT experience within the context of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You will learn how to help all of Father’s children discover their worth and specifically His LBGT children. You will have resources for family members of LBGT individuals and be able to bring hope, understanding and encouragement to them.

It’s Personal and Tender

Several years ago one of our sons shared with us that he experienced same gender attraction. He had finally come to grips with this, he wanted to remain faithful to his covenants and he was ready to share with family and friends. Shortly after his disclosure he left on a mission to continue his journey to better serving Father and discovering his place in Father’s plan for him.

While he was on his mission, I wanted to better understand what my son was going through and find ways to best support and encourage him. I learned of a wonderful non-profit, North Star. Their mission wrapped itself around my heart:

“North Star is a faith-affirming resource for Latter-day Saints addressing sexual orientation and gender identity, and who desire to live in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the doctrines and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

I made plans to attend my first North Star Conference in Utah and went with high hopes and a bit of trepidation. I discovered a community of saints who had lives filled with hope, faith and desires to return to Father…just like me.

As I attended a variety of classes and panels, I was able to discern the things I needed to do better and ways to “educate” others about how our LBGT brothers and sisters face their life experience.

I’m so grateful for the North Star community and their commitment to uplift and educate. Their purpose is profound and powerful:

“The purpose of North Star is to be a spiritually uplifting resource for individuals and families dealing with these complex issues. It is also to empower individuals to help educate themselves, their family, friends, and Church leaders as they strive to become integrated more fully and lovingly into the Church community. We hope you will find something here that will be meaningful for your life—that it will be a place where you can connect with others, share your experiences, and learn from the experiences of others. The resources provided here are intended to be spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and socially supportive. You are not alone in your desire to find balance, knowledge, and support.”

Please Clear Your Calendar

Thanks to this non-profit, you, as leaders in Father’s kingdom, have the opportunity to attend the Saturday morning session for FREE. Please, please, do whatever you can to clear your calendar for at least those 3 hours but also consider taking advantage of the discounted rate to attend the whole conference on Friday and Saturday.

Once you’ve claimed your free ticket, will you please invite your ward council to attend Saturday morning with you? I am confident that following this conference, your ward council will be motivated and prepared to council on ways to move forward in serving Fathers children who experience same gender attraction and more.

Conclusion

On the “welcome” page of North Star they conclude with what resonates with my heart:

“Despite our differences, we feel united in our faith and commitment to live true to the commandments of the Lord. Wherever you fall in this spectrum of experience or in your journey on the path of discipleship, you’ll find a safe place here.”