In my high school in the early 2000s, it was commonplace to refer to something bad in a way that is derogative to same-sex attracted individuals. To my embarrassment, like seemingly everyone else, I used the same language. I did not pick that up at church but at school. I was never personally hostile to homosexual men or women. Still, partly due to several unwanted sexual encounters by men in high school and on my mission in Peru, I was undoubtedly avoidant.

That all changed for me in Pucallpa, Peru. My missionary companion and I were teaching a less active family with some unbaptized members. The aging grandmother lived in the home as well. The less active members we focused on were incredibly neglectful and rude to the grandmother. It was shameful and despicable. The only one in that home that treated the grandmother with kindness and compassion was the gay uncle. Unlike his less active Latter-day Saint sister, he was sweet and honoring of his mother. That one man humanized a group that I had been evading. I was upset that I was teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to his heterosexual and neglectful sister but avoiding him. I was called to repentance and reminded that the gospel is for all of God’s children.

In 2015, prominent church critic and podcast host John Dehlin published a dissertation through Utah State University titled “Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Identity Conflict, and Psychosocial Health Amongst Same-Sex Attracted Mormons.” In his research, he concludes that sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) by members and former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were “overwhelmingly reported to be either ineffective or damaging by participants.”¹ He derived the study’s results from 1,612 individuals who responded to an online survey.

Are those who identify as LGBTQ+ more at risk among the Latter-day Saints? Do they experience worse outcomes due to their membership in the Church?

I’ve wondered for the last ten years how damaging the Church is to the mental health of our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. From the comments of critics like John Dehlin, it really seemed like we were doing more harm than good. However, I also had personal experiences where LGBTQ+-identifying members of the Church were greatly blessed by their membership. So, which is it?

In a 2016 paper, Stephen Cranney reports on the mental and physical health among Utah Mormon LGBs and non-Mormon LGBs using a large population-based dataset. He reports, “In a surprising finding, Mormon LGBs report better mental health than non-Mormon LGBs.”² (emphasis added)

Why are LGBs' mental health better off as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Why was this finding so “surprising”?

“Surprising” LGBTQ+ Findings

The “surprising” finding listed above is increasingly less surprising.

In the 2023 report, a large representative sample (n=73,982) of Utah middle schoolers and high schoolers found that LBGTQ-identifying youth in Utah were at a much higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than heterosexual youth. However, Latter-day Saint LGBTQ-identifying youth reported lower rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than non-latter-day Saint LGBTQ-identifying youth.³

Dyer and Goodman report in a 2022 paper that Latter-day Saint LGBQ teens had lower levels of suicidality and depression than LGBQ teens of other religions or no religion.⁴

In a 2021 paper, Lefevor, Davis, Paiz, and Smack report on the relationship between religiousness and health among sexual minorities. They found that religiousness/spirituality is consistently and positively associated with better health. When isolating sexual minorities, the positive correlation between religiousness/spirituality and health still exists, though admittedly less so than the overall participants in their study.⁵

In a 2020 study in 11 Muslim countries, researchers found that “Religiosity deters suicide through its effects on attitudes towards suicide.”⁶ (emphasis added)

In an older 2002 study before the recent decade’s meteoric rise in LGBTQ+ identification (my observation), Hilton, Fellingham, and Lyon found that “higher levels of religiosity appear to be inversely associated with suicide.”⁷ (emphasis added)

• Harvard researchers calculated in a 2017 study that nearly 40% of the recent increase in the U.S. suicide rate can be attributed to the decline in religious attendance.⁸

Goodman and Dyer, in a 2019 Deseret News article, share the following from their study:

• 44% of Utah’s Latter-day Saint LGBTQ+-identify youths had seriously considered suicide compared to 47% of Utah’s LGBTQ+-identifying youths from other religions and 77% of Utah’s Atheist/Agnostic LGBTQ+-identifying youths. The national rate for LBG youth is 47.7%.⁹
• The CDC found that from 2011 through 2015, Latter-day Saint youths had a lower risk of suicide.¹⁰

Walter Schumm reports that the “2019 Utah Prevention Needs Assessment Survey” suggests that Latter-day Saint LGBQ youth had lower levels of reported depression and suicidality than nonreligious LGBQ youths.¹¹

• Schumm shares data from Utah's Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) Statewide Survey. He states that “Latter-day Saint students generally were less likely to have considered suicide or attempted suicide, be depressed, use drugs, come from a drug-using family, or be bullied for their sexual orientation; they were more likely to come from a home with stable parents, more likely to feel safe at school, and more likely to have been bullied on account of their religion.”¹² (emphasis added)
• Schumm shares the results of a BYU study and a Bowling Green study and concludes that these studies suggest that “being a Latter-day Saint is protective against depression and suicidality, even for LGBTQ students.”¹³ (emphasis added)

Tyler Lefevor, an associate professor of clinical/counseling specialization at Utah State University, was the lead researcher for a study published in May of 2023 regarding sexuality minority Mormons.¹⁴ Lefevor, a former latter-day Saint, admitted that he was surprised by the findings. He said:

“I always think that as people become less religious, they’re going to be happier. That’s just what I expect to see every single time. And I shouldn’t expect that anymore because it’s been several years that I’ve been not finding that.”¹⁵ (emphasis added)

In this study, Lefevor found that sexual minority Latter-day Saints become less religious over time and that as people become less religious, they report less meaning in life and more depression.¹⁶ He suspects that religiousness promotes purpose, meaning, a sense of structure, and more social support and connection.¹⁷

It appears that the risk of suicidal thoughts is nearly double for those of no religion versus Latter-day Saints for both LGBQ-identifying and heterosexual students in Utah.¹⁸ Might that mean the Church of Jesus Christ may be protective somehow? Why is the risk of suicidal ideation lower for Latter-day Saint youth in Utah if they are also more likely to be bullied for their religious affiliation, according to the 2019 SHARP survey?

What if I had bought into the critics’ narratives? Now, knowing that the evidence contradicts their stereotypes?

How do the critics, in good conscience, make blanket recommendations to LGBTQ+-identifying individuals to leave the Church and their families if the likelihood for worse outcomes is higher if they do that?

Admittedly, the relationship between LGBTQ+-identifying Latter-day Saints and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is complicated. More research needs to be done. As a church, I hope we can be welcoming and compassionate toward those struggling. In the meantime, it does seem that the Church is doing a better job for LGBTQ+-identifying members than critics give us credit for.

Dangerous Precedent

Going back to the limited 2015 John Dehlin dissertation referenced earlier, this highly popular and oft-cited study from John likely suffers from both confirmation bias (uniformity amongst researchers who lead with a conclusion in mind) and sampling bias (a volunteer online survey being circulated amongst disenfranchised members and former members of the Church). John’s snowball sampling²⁰ method makes the conclusions of his study highly suspect. Jacob Hess provides a thoughtful critique of John Dehlin’s study.²¹

Why does the narrative in John Dehlin’s dissertation contradict the majority of the other scholarly research on sexual minorities in the Church?

Before 2015, was John Dehlin considered a neutral party to LGBTQ+ issues and the Church? How much ideological uniformity is there between John and his research team? Did his findings surprise him?

Are the findings from a volunteer online survey that was disseminated from John’s Mormon Stories brand reliable? Isn’t that brand critical of the Church? Doesn’t the Mormon following of that brand consist mostly of disenfranchised former and current members of the Church? Doesn’t that meet the criteria for sampling and selection bias?

My biggest concern with John Dehlin is how heavy-handed he can be with the conclusions of his admittedly limited study. What if he is just wrong?

Isn’t pressuring same-sex attracted individuals to step away from faith communities, marriages, family, and personal commitments a step in the wrong direction?

The problem for John and other critics is that most of the other reliable evidence regarding LGBTQ+-identified individuals and the Church comes to radically different conclusions than they do. That includes a Lefevor-led 2019 study that seemingly contradicts John’s findings. It says, “We found that Mormons who reject an LGBQ identity were significantly more religious and less content with their sexuality but had similar health outcomes relative to LGBQ Mormons.”²² Said differently, LBGQ-identifying members of the Church who reject the LBGQ label had similar health outcomes as members of the Church who identify as LGBQ.

I believe that John truly cares about people who identify as LGBTQ+, and I give him credit for that. In his 2013 TEDX talk, “The Ally Within,”²³ he discusses how members of the Church can support our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters, and it seems to come from the heart. However, I’m concerned that his podcast and opinions create worse outcomes for the hundreds or thousands of Latter-day Saints he is professing to help by persuading them to leave the Church. I especially worry about our LGBTQ+-identifying brothers and sisters who listen to his podcast.

If John was objectively looking at the collective research, wouldn’t he be justified in convincing sexual minorities to stay in the Church and be more religious?

I hope John can be more measured in his statements and recommendations to LGBTQ+-identifying individuals.

LGBTQ+ Concluding Thoughts

Unfortunately, data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that LGBQ individuals have higher rates of suicidality in every city and state in the country.²⁴

Regarding sexual orientation, as the Church Handbook says: “The Church encourages families and members to reach out with sensitivity, love, and respect to persons who are attracted to others of the same sex. The Church also promotes understanding in society at large that reflects its teachings about kindness, inclusiveness, love for others, and respect for all human beings.”²⁵ (emphasis added)

Regarding transgenderism, the Handbook says: “Transgender individuals face complex challenges. Members and nonmembers who identify as transgender — and their family and friends — should be treated with sensitivity, kindness, compassion, and an abundance of Christlike love. All are welcome to attend sacrament meeting, other Sunday meetings, and social events of the Church.”²⁶ (emphasis added)

The Church teaches that each soul's value is infinite in God's sight. In 2007, I learned that lesson myself. I’m sorry it took me that long. Since then, I have been blessed for my association with our LGBTQ+-identifying brothers and sisters in and out of the Church.

Footnotes

1. Dehlin, John. "Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Identity Conflict, and Psychosocial Health Amongst Same-Sex Attracted Mormons" (2015). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 4251, https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/4251 ↩

2. Cranney S. “The LGB Mormon Paradox: Mental, Physical, and Self-Rated Health Among Mormon and Non-Mormon LGB Individuals in the Utah Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.” J Homosex. 2017;64(6):731-744. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2016.1236570. Epub 2016 Sep 15. PMID: 27633316. Accessed on April 25, 2024 from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27633316/ ↩

3. McGraw, J. S., Docherty, M., Chinn, J. R., & Mahoney, A. ”Family, faith, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among LGBTQ youth in Utah.” Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2023, 10(2), 257–268. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000517 ↩

4. Dyer, W. and Goodman, M., “Religious Affiliation’s Association with Suicidality across Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities”, Religions 2022, 13(10), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel13100932 ↩

5. Lefevor, G. T., Davis, E. B., Paiz, J. Y., & Smack, A. C. P. “The relationship between religiousness and health among sexual minorities: A meta-analysis.” Psychological Bulletin, 2021, 147(7), 647–66. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000321 ↩

6. Mehmet Eskin, Nazlı Baydar, Mayssah El-Nayal, Nargis Asad, Isa Multazam Noor, Mohsen Rezaeian, Ahmed M. Abdel-Khalek, Fadia Al Buhairan, Hacer Harlak, Motasem Hamdan, Anwar Mechri, Ulker Isayeva, Yousef Khader, Aqeel Khan, Alaa Al Sayyari, Albaraa Khader, Bahareh Behzadi, Cennet Şafak Öztürk, Hazem Agha, Laifa Annisa Hendarmin, Murad Moosa Khan, “Associations of religiosity, attitudes towards suicide and religious coping with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in 11 muslim countries”, Social Science & Medicine, Volume 265, 2020,

   113390, ISSN 0277-9536, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113390. ↩

7. Hilton SC, Fellingham GW, Lyon JL. “Suicide rates and religious commitment in young adult males in Utah.” Am J Epidemiol. 2002 Mar 1;155(5):413-9. doi: 10.1093/aje/155.5.413. PMID: 11867352. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11867352/ ↩

8. VanderWeele TJ, Li S, Kawachi I. “Religious Service Attendance and Suicide Rates—Reply.” JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(2):197–198. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2780, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2589160?casa_token=98YdJ_n-9fgAAAAA:XOke-7jeb_IypLB-YTXJPjtsm-3hpJRPK3locPlN5HCqW6XdwzrzCxRFDCQl8yReu8LL1Pk6Fg ↩

9. Goodman, Michael and Dyer, Justin. “Guest opinion: The church and LGBT youth suicide: Inaccurate claims may do more harm than good.” Deseret News, May 7, 2019, https://www.deseret.com/2019/5/7/20672662/guest-opinion-the-church-and-lgbt-youth-suicide-inaccurate-claims-may-do-more-harm-than-good/ ↩

10. Goodman, Michael and Dyer, Justin. “Guest opinion: The church and LGBT youth suicide: Inaccurate claims may do more harm than good.” Deseret News, May 7, 2019, https://www.deseret.com/2019/5/7/20672662/guest-opinion-the-church-and-lgbt-youth-suicide-inaccurate-claims-may-do-more-harm-than-good/ ↩

11. Schumm, Walter. “Opinion: Latter-day Saint LGBTQ youths may have lower suicide risk, two new studies suggest”, Deseret News, October 13, 2021, https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2021/10/13/22672169/are-latter-day-saint-lgbtq-youths-less-suicidal-a-new-study-asks-the-question-mormon/ ↩

12. Schumm, Walter. “Opinion: Latter-day Saint LGBTQ youths may have lower suicide risk, two new studies suggest”, Deseret News, October 13, 2021, https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2021/10/13/22672169/are-latter-day-saint-lgbtq-youths-less-suicidal-a-new-study-asks-the-question-mormon/ ↩

13. Schumm, Walter. “Opinion: Latter-day Saint LGBTQ youths may have lower suicide risk, two new studies suggest”, Deseret News, October 13, 2021, https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2021/10/13/22672169/are-latter-day-saint-lgbtq-youths-less-suicidal-a-new-study-asks-the-question-mormon/ ↩

14. Lefevor, G. T., Skidmore, S. J., Huynh, K. D., & McGraw, J. S. “The Impact of Changes in Religion on Health Among Sexual Minority Mormons.” The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 2023, 33(3), 214–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2023.2214032 ↩

15. Religion News Service. “Religion can help LGBTQ Mormons' mental health, especially if they're out of the closet”, Religion News Services, June 8, 2023, https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/religion-can-help-lgbtq-mormons-mental-health-especially-if-they-re-out-of-the-closet/ar-AA1ciNaz?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=1788222ac4a04f5d90d8ab4b944fa0a4&ei=11 ↩

16. Lefevor, G. T., Skidmore, S. J., Huynh, K. D., & McGraw, J. S. “The Impact of Changes in Religion on Health Among Sexual Minority Mormons.” The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 2023, 33(3), 214–229. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508619.2023.2214032 ↩

17. “Religion can help LGBTQ Mormons' mental health, especially if they're out of the closet”, Religion News Services, June 8, 2023. Accessed on April 25, 2024 from https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/religion-can-help-lgbtq-mormons-mental-health-especially-if-they-re-out-of-the-closet/ar-AA1ciNaz?ocid=winp2fptaskbar&cvid=1788222ac4a04f5d90d8ab4b944fa0a4&ei=11 ↩

18. Goodman, Michael and Mansfield, Ty. “Perspective: The importance of healthy dialogue around religion and our LGBTQ friends”, Deseret News, November 27, 2023, https://www.deseret.com/faith/2023/11/27/23973324/lgbtq-religion-research-mental-health/ ↩

19. Interestingly, this comment comes out of the blue, at the conclusion of a video discussing the golden plates. Shortly after the 2:00 mark.

    “Golden Plates and the Book of Mormon Ep. 1583 | LDS Discussions Ep. 02,” YouTube, Mormon Stories Podcast, April 27,2022, https://www.youtube.com/live/SpACeC3i85Q?si=fSiQhWk0BFSX_LT6 ↩

20. Dovetail Editorial Team. “What is snowball sampling?” Dovetail, February 5, 2023, https://dovetail.com/research/snowball-sampling/#:~:text=There%20is%20an%20increased%20risk,not%20fully%20represent%20the%20population. ↩

21. Hess, Jacob. “How scientific research can become weaponized (despite intentions otherwise)”, FlirtingwithCuriosity.org, accessed on April 25, 2024 from https://www.flirtingwithcuriosity.org/?p=1734 ↩

22. Lefevor, G. T., Sorrell, S. A., Kappers, G., Plunk, A., Schow, R. L., Rosik, C. H., & Beckstead, A. L. “Same-Sex Attracted, Not LGBQ: The Associations of Sexual Identity Labeling on Religiousness, Sexuality, and Health Among Mormons.” Journal of Homosexuality, 2020, 67(7), 940–964. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2018.1564006 ↩

23. YouTube, TEDxUSU, November 20, 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MxCXjfAunk ↩

24. Dyer, W. and Goodman, M. “Perspective: Faith is a factor in good mental health. Why are so many people unable to see this?”, Deseret News, February 16, 2023, https://www.deseret.com/2023/2/16/23589985/faith-mental-health-perception-lgbtq-teens/ ↩

25. General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 38.6.15, Gospel Library. ↩

26. General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 38.6.23, Gospel Library. ↩