Why Study?by Jason Park |
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The Lord tells us, "And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118). One of your biggest challenges in resolving homosexual problems is to overcome your confusion by getting good, true information. Many men report that this helps them make sense of their feelings and see things in a more enlightened perspective. As one man commented, "I received the [Elizabeth] Moberly and [Jeff] Konrad books from a gentleman in Evergreen. For two or three days I read them continually until I got through them. And I had an experience reading those books like some people have when they read The Book of Mormon, where they just become totally absorbed in it and it rings true and they say, ‘This is the true religion!’"1 Another man said, "[I]t was a tremendous experience to read these books and agree with them and say ‘Aha! This is what’s been going on!’"2 A number of good books can help you understand your situation. I found it helpful to read books about different psychological theories of homosexuality, as well as those that gave practical suggestions of things I could do. They didn’t all fit my personal situation, but in every one I found some elements that gave me a perspective that helped me understand and come to terms with my feelings. It is critical to increase your understanding of basic Gospel principles. Although you may think you already know the gospel, gaining a more in-depth understanding of the atonement, faith, repentance, and forgiveness will be at least as beneficial to you as gaining an understanding of the emotional aspects of your homosexual attractions. It seems that those who have the most success in understanding their feelings and controlling their behavior are those who read the most. The more you study, the more you are exposed to ideas that may help. Good information from books, manuals, audio cassettes, videos, newsletters, and other educational resources can help offset the demoralizing confusion you hear in the media at large. In the section Selected Readings, I list publications that were helpful to me. The description that follows each book can help you decide if it is a book that may be helpful to you. Beware of books—some even written by LDS authors—that do not adhere carefully to gospel fundamentals. In a review of one such book, Scott Peterson explains that "rather than adjusting their behavior to accommodate the values of their religion, they adjust their own religious values to accommodate their behavior. What they seek is not explanation, but rationalization."3 I recommend that you subscribe to newsletters. You can get from Exodus International a list of the ministries that publish newsletters and for a small donation of $5 or $10 a year, you can receive regular newsletters that have valuable insights. I found the following newsletters to be particularly helpful:
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