Dear LDS Church: What Have You Done?

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by Luke Warmer:

Dear LDS Church: What Have You Done?

Even for a church that believes homosexuality is a sin, this decision is a deeply heartbreaking head-scratcher. (See article of faith #2. The one that talks about their own sins and not Adam’s transgressions.)

If I were to guess, I would assume that this decision is born out of some fear of legal action from gay parents. And as church members we are left to wonder what it means when it appears that the church has compromised the spirit of the second of its Articles of Faith in order to be better positioned in a culture war against homosexuality.

I feel a deep concern for every gay child being brought up in the church.

For me, as a person with gay marriage on both sides of my family and three boys at home (ages 7, 4, and 1), I am left to debate whether I can attend a church in good conscience knowing full-well that the likelihood of at least one of my children being gay is much higher than average.

This is a heartbreaking day for families hoping for deeper empathy around the issue of the church’s stance on homosexuality.

MMM Library: Droppin' Sh*t Bombs in the Cultural Hall

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by Luke Warmer (bio)

This post was originally published on April 15, 2011.

Pop! A week ago today, I came down from a routine jumpshot and collapsed on the cultural hall floor and cussed a mighty and bellowing cuss - the injury seemed to have momentarily deactivated my usually adroit cuss-censor. (A moment later the missionaries came out of the adjoining Relief Society room with well-trained stink-eyes and investigators in tow. Blush.)

Goodbye un-ruptured Achilles Tendon, you will be missed.

I'm thirty-three and work a desk job, but the moment I step on a court I forget all about my sedentary reality. In my head I become seventeen. My body disagrees with my head on this age issue. So my body - always the resolute arguer - settles things by completely rupturing my largest tendon. (C'mon body; we both know there were plenty of ways you could have proven your point without sending me to the DMV for a handicap parking tag.)

Like most Momos I've been having dramatic debates between my mind and body since... oh let's see... about the onset of puberty. It's probably safe to assume that my body was still angry about losing one-too-many of those hormonal arguments during my teenage years and was waiting in the wings for a chance to win a debate in melo-dramatic fashion.

Thus begin the chronicles of our hero, (referring to myself in the third person for dramatic effect) hobbling around on crutches and gearing up for a year of grueling rehab.

Has anyone else got wrecked in church-activities? Did your cuss-censors hold-up, or were they glitchy like mine? What is the most awkward place you've experienced cuss-censor failure (think Ralphy in A Christmas Story)?

The Tree Of Life ... No, Not The Lehi Version

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by Luke Warmer (bio)

I described Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life to my parents as "the temple movie meets a family drama." I don't know if that's a fair description, but it got my parents to watch with me.



At the risk of sounding like a wuss (or disclosing I am a huge wuss), I sobbed through this film the first time I saw it.

The second time I saw it, I wept quietly.

The third time I saw it, I cried again. I looked over and saw my dad, a surly old longshoreman, crying. Coming from a generation that saw crying as a sign of weakness, he's not accustomed to showing emotion. He didn't cry when my brother died six years ago, and says he hasn't cried since. If my mother cries she looks at him apologetically knowing the show of emotion disturbs him.

When the film ended. I hugged him. He surprised me. He clung to me, all of his macho collapsing, swallowing air, choking back tears, and then giving in to a deep heaving sob.

I don't remember a more meaningful moment with my father.

Guy on a Buffalo

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by Luke Warmer (bio)

1970's cinematic gold meets flawless musical narration...

On Queers and Marriage: Messieurs, I Respectfully Disagree

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by Luke Warmer (bio)

I'm mormon and I support Gay Marriage. Lots of mormons do; I don't think it makes me special. What makes me special are these fantastic gay socks that I wore today in a show of solidarity with all of the happy New Yorkers.

The second most commonly asked question I get from mormon friends who don't support same-gender marriage is, "How can you sustain the prophet and support gay marriage." I love this question because it is gorgeously complicated and messy - just like all of the best religious questions (see: Eden, Garden of*).

I'll be brief with my answer, but it ain't easy:

Firstly, the church's stance on a lot of controversial topics has evolved over the years. Think of Polygamy, Blacks and the Priesthood, etc.

But mostly, I’m one of those people, for better and worse, that needs to feel spiritual confirmation when the prophet speaks, especially on sensitive and controversial topics. And, I feel spiritually inspired to support gay marriage despite the church's official opposition.

Social Injustice - What Would You Do?

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by Luke Warmer (bio)

A friend sent me this fantastic video...



In this situation I would have been upset, and I probably would have said something. At least I feel inspired to say something now - after watching Mr. Hoop Earrings make everyone cry because he dumped gobs of pure Texas-Christian-civility all over their faces.

What about you, readers, would you have...


P.S. Texas, I've been too hard on you.

Are You a Biblical Sex Scholar?

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by Luke Warmer (bio)

Click here to take the recent New York Times "Religion and Sex Quiz." Because, after all, who couldn't use a good historical reminder on the sins of the Sodomites?

Lil Buck and Yo-Yo Ma

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by Luke Warmer (bio)

Here's a video Spike Jonze posted of Lil Buck dancing (backwards?) to Yo-Yo Ma at a fundraiser for bringing art back to schools. It was only a matter of time before the world's foremost cellist went hip-hop. The street-cred is built-in with a name like Yo-Yo Ma.

Lovely and bizarre.

Droppin' Sh** Bombs in the Cultural Hall

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by Luke Warmer (bio)

Pop! A week ago today, I came down from a routine jumpshot and collapsed on the cultural hall floor and cussed a mighty and bellowing cuss - the injury seemed to have momentarily deactivated my usually adroit cuss-censor. (A moment later the missionaries came out of the adjoining Relief Society room with well-trained stink-eyes and investigators in tow. Blush.)

Goodbye un-ruptured Achilles Tendon, you will be missed.

I'm thirty-three and work a desk job, but the moment I step on a court I forget all about my sedentary reality. In my head I become seventeen. My body disagrees with my head on this age issue. So my body - always the resolute arguer - settles things by completely rupturing my largest tendon. (C'mon body; we both know there were plenty of ways you could have proven your point without sending me to the DMV for a handicap parking tag.)

Like most Momos I've been having dramatic debates between my mind and body since... oh let's see... about the onset of puberty. It's probably safe to assume that my body was still angry about losing one-too-many of those hormonal arguments during my teenage years and was waiting in the wings for a chance to win a debate in melo-dramatic fashion.

Thus begin the chronicles of our hero, (referring to myself in the third person for dramatic effect) hobbling around on crutches and gearing up for a year of grueling rehab.

Has anyone else got wrecked in church-activities? Did your cuss-censors hold-up, or were they glitchy like mine? What is the most awkward place you've experienced cuss-censor failure (think Ralphy in A Christmas Story)?

image via gobarefooting.wordpress.com