Author Archives: Mark

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About Mark

As a child, Mark was your typical SSA boy: he played with dolls, was the only boy invited to girls’ birthday parties, and was pleasant and polite. As a teenager, Mark realized that all of his talents and interests marked him as a typical SSA teen. In an effort to avert attention from himself, he attempted to remove all traces of SSA -ness from his personality. As a result, he lost those positive qualities of the SSA stereotype (gentle, friendly, creative, and a good eye for fashion) and ended up adopting a bunch of undesirable traits instead (such as grumpy, rude, and dull). As an adult, Mark has learned to come to terms with his SSA, and is a much happier person. His wife might even state that he’s not nearly as rude as he used to be, though his students would claim that he is almost just as grumpy. However, he is still dull.

BSA: Implications for LDS SSA men?

For the most part, I tend to stay out of political debates, including those that revolve around issues of homosexuality. I usually do my best to stay informed and to understand the many points of view about an issue, but … Continue reading


Categorized under: LDS Newsroom, Local Church Leaders, Men, Same-sex attraction
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From the other side of a glass darkly

Many who experience same-sex attraction also report feelings and thoughts typically associated with depression, and it is possible that this correlation is even higher among conservative, religious people, such as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. … Continue reading


Categorized under: Community, Depression, Eternal Perspective, Hope, Love, Scripture

Scripture Power

Some time ago, I heard a challenge: read the scriptures every morning and then share some aspect of that scripture with someone you meet each day. Although I have not always been diligent in pursuing this advice, I know it … Continue reading


Categorized under: Holy Ghost, Hope, Scripture

Receiving the Prophet’s message

Recently, as my son and I were reading a scripture story book about ancient prophets, I was struck by the harsh responses many of these prophets received from the public. Many Old Testament prophets were rejected by the people, Book … Continue reading


Categorized under: General Conference, Prophets

Reasons to Write

Prior to joining the Northern Lights team back in 2008, I had blogged for several years about my life as a globe-trotting, single, twenty-something. Although my posts never dealt with issues of homosexuality, the process of recording my thoughts and … Continue reading


Categorized under: Blogs, Communication, Community, Happiness, Healing, Journaling, Loneliness, Media

In which I face my own hypocrisy

As a young adult, I contemplated pursuing a long-term relationship with another man. In pondering that decision, my heart was filled with sadness to think that it was almost certain that my family would not accept me and my partner. … Continue reading


Categorized under: Covenants, Eternal Family, Eternal Perspective, Faithfulness, Marriage & Family, Repentance