Northern Lights

As we try to better serve our community with online discussion groups that are supportive of efforts to live in harmony with the teachings of the Lord’s living prophets and apostles, we have two broad categories of groups: 1) broad-spectrum groups that cater to general demographics such as men, women, and friends and family, and 2) specialized groups that cater to individuals desiring more focused discussion or those within a more narrow demographic.

We would like to periodically take the opportunity to feature one of these specialized groups and invite interested and applicable individuals to participate.One group we’ve created is for Prospective Missionaries. As many men and women who experience same-gender attraction are aware, there are a variety of concerns that arise as they consider the possibility of serving a full-time mission:

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Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, Stephen Burnett was called on a mission to preach in any of the four directions. In the revelation as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants Section 80, the Lord makes reference to a desire of Stephen Burnett to have a companion. The Lord said:

…inasmuch as you desire a companion, I will give unto you my servant Eden Smith (D&C 80:2).

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Dear North Star community and supporters,

We are in the process of creating several videos and podcasts that will be available on our North Star website addressing issues that many of us, as believing Latter-day Saints, face with regard to same-gender attraction or other issues related to sexuality and gender. The purpose of the videos and podcasts is to provide help and hope to those personally dealing with these issues, as well as to friends, family, and priesthood/auxiliary leaders.

We need your input on both topics to be addressed and the content of each specific video and/or podcast. We will feature real people and their personal experiences. We hope that putting faces and voices with the issues we face will help others to understand that it is not only possible to remain true to the gospel, but it is the surest way to experience lasting peace and happiness.

Please address your responses to Steven Frei at luckynowandthen@gmail.com.

Thank you in advance for your help.

North Star Executive Committee
Jeff Bennion
Ty Mansfield
Dian Bretones
Tyler Moore

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MEMORANDUM FOR ALL MARRIAGES AND ENGAGEMENT

CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET

IN RE: Couples’ summit 2010

MISSION: Possible

High command forecasts continuing assaults on every side. The Enemy’s stratagem was substantially hindered as a result of the previous base command training stint. Therefore, all veteran platoons are to re-enlist and new units are to also come join the ranks. The purpose of the training is to provide and upgrade defenses against a number of the opposition’s key deceptions. The training will occur on SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2010. The training will begin at 8:30 A.M. and last through the day, concluding between 8:00 and 9:00 P.M.

A link with enlistment details will be available shortly on North Star’s homepage, please register at northstarlds.org. The cost of the training is $100.00 per couple, payment can also be made online. Base command needs your papers by July 28th, to ensure your security clearance.

These are dangerous times, and this training is not for the faint of heart. Questions regarding this mission can be directed to Tyler Moore at lostbyuguy@gmail.com.

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I live in Virginia and subscribe to a variety of local news RSS feeds. This week there was the usual mix of regional events and political gossip, but one article, in particular, caught my eye: Gay-to-straight camp run by local man praised, panned. The article, if you care to follow the link, describes how a Virginia man (who also happens to be LDS) has operated an organization for men seeking support for unwanted gay feelings. 

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NOTE: In addition to activities and events sponsored by North Star, we provide a calendar of events sponsored by other individuals or groups we have reason to believe to be in general harmony with the mission of North Star and the values and standards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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Finding Joy in the Journey

An evening of education and hope for individuals who experience same-gender attraction, their families, friends, and priesthood leaders

Date: Sunday June 27th, 2010
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 PM
Location: Idaho Falls North Stake Memorial Building (Next to the Temple)

In harmony with efforts by the First Presidency to approach the challenge of same-gender attraction with a new level of compassion and understanding, everyone is invited to participate in this unique fireside to strengthen their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. You are welcome whether you experience these feelings personally, know someone who does, or just want to understand the issue better

This special fireside will include instruction and encouragement for Priesthood leaders, for those who experience same-gender attraction, and for friends and family. Presenters will include Priesthood leaders and mental health professionals. We are also honored to announce that Ty Mansfield, co-author of In Quiet Desperation, will be our feature speaker.

For more information contact:
Kevin Lindley at (208) 201-8306 or idahofalls.ssa@gmail.com

The following is an excerpt from a letter sent out to 60 Stakes in Southeast Idaho:

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For over a year, the founder of LDS-SSA.org and some North Star leaders have been in discussions about merging. North Star’s ambition is to be the premiere destination for faithful discussion around same-sex attraction for Latter-day Saints, so I was very excited at the possibility of bringing one of the oldest, and most important, online resources for people affected by same sex attraction in the Church, into the North Star fold. A few weeks ago we began experimentally moving the LDS-SSA.org discussion boards over onto the North Star site, and I think we’ve ironed out most of the major kinks, though there is still a fair amount of work to do.

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I don’t often drop into the lds-ssa blogging community (aka mohoblogosphere), but I felt inspired to write a post today. I recently caught up on a few lds-ssa bloggers whose blogs I’ve read in the past. There’s the usual mix of experiences, opinions, faith, and love. And there’s plenty of drama, despair, and angst. It’s for that last part that I’m not a regular participant in the community - I have enough excitement and stress in my own life that I feel it best to distance myself from the intimate details of bloggers’ lives.

But that’s the same reason why I felt I needed to blog today.

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