http://northstarlds.org/newsroom/leading-same-sex-attraction-ministry-organizations-for-latter-day-saints-to-unite-under-north-star-umbrella/

All I can say is that at least there is one fewer organization in the world that is creating false hope and damaging lives for gay men in the LDS church.

For any of you that have ever been affiliated with either of these organizations, I feel for you.

And yes...I know they are not officially a part of the LDS church, but they sure act like they are and did absolutely nothing to help me overcome my sexuality. In fact, the only thing they did for me was to make me feel even more guilt-ridden and full of self-hate than I already was.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2014 04:24PM by wendell.

When did Mormons start using "ministry" like your average Protestant?

When they are trying to hide their ties to one of their offshoots.

I thought you were talking about the airline....LOL

Thanks for the update. Evergreen has done untold damage for so many years. I just want all these programs gone to never hurt another kid out there again.

They say that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, but sometimes it just kills.

I don't like to talk about my time at Evergreen/Northstar, but I do have to ask one question:

How could an organization charged with helping gay men overcome those feelings believe that holding games of tackle rugby for their clients would be beneficial in accomplishing their stated goal? It is very counterproductive if you ask me and I don't see how any thinking person could possibly disagree.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2014 04:36PM by wendell.

Co-ed contact sports would make more sense. Co-ed showers afterward would make even more sense.

I'm certain nothing was going to help, but telling me it's okay to for me to tackle a hot sweaty gay man was certainly not the answer.

LMAO It really sounds more like a gay dating sight sometimes, doesn't it?

I can't tell you how many men met their significant others at Evergreen/Northstar, but it's not a small number.

Ha ha. I guess some people do make lemonade when handed lemons. Just warms my heart to think there was an upside to it all.

Although, it mostly just caused more pain, heartache, guilt, and self-loathing for guys who were already dealing with all of those things.

Seriously, the rugby scrum is one of the gayest things in team sports.

Jenna Fischer (Pam from "The Office") once said that (American) football is pretty gay, and that it might be easier for men to have sex with another man just once a year and get it out all at once instead of prolonged over 5 months.

Whatever doesn't kill you sometimes leaves a permanent scar.

Wendell, I came awful close to ending up at Evergreen, but lucked out. I really feel for you having to go through that. From what I have read, they pushed doing "manly things" as a way to turn you straight. It is so "dark ages" I can't even believe it.

What I do know from what I have read was that it just twisted the Mormon knife that was already in everybody's' back. Nothing will turn you straight apparently like playing football or shooting a deer. Maybe if they would have at least let the guys have a beer. That's manly. Stephen Lee's book, I forget the title, was a really good look into it.

I hope your story is out there somewhere wendell. They are all important.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/2014 04:44PM by blueorchid.

I can't say much right now, but my story is going to be out there pretty soon. And yes...they are all important.

Um … yeah. If these two organizations are not an extension of the LDS Church (in reality, if not legally), then why does the North Star press release read, in part:

"Since its founding more than 20 years ago as a support organization for the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Evergreen’s mission has always been similar to North Star’s in its desire to assist those who experience same-sex attraction and who desire to live in harmony with their spiritual and religious values. This move will create the largest single faith-based ministry organization for Latter- day Saints who experience same-sex attraction or gender identity incongruence and will also provide increased access to resources for Church leaders, parents, family and friends."

All I know is that they are both destructive and ineffective.

In the 1990s, my father was released from the stake high council and given a "special calling" as Evergreen moderator. I don't see how they can claim now that it's not a church organization just because it is set up legally as a separate organization. It operates as a church organization.

I watched it years ago when I was still a TBM but laughed and cried through it any way. Your description of the activities at Evergreen seem to line up rather well with what I saw in that film.

Just watched it myself after seeing it mentioned here. I have to say it really struck a chord with me.

Pretty good movie

Eddie Cibrian is hawt in that movie.

I hope this is a sign that the demand for the "services" these organizations provide dropping so much that they had to merge into one to survive. Hopefully it will not be too much longer before the LDS can not even support one.

It makes my blood boil when I read about these types of organizations. I think gay conversion therapy should be banned in all 50 states.

Can anyone tell me why no one has gone after the professional licenses of the so-called "clinical" leadership of these groups? Why hasn't the APA or AAMFT or other professional groups shut down these unethical and damaging businesses for good?

Can nobody sue these organisations? They must have caused a lot of human misery and suffering amongst the gay community.

Let's hope the day comes that LDS, Inc. adds this organization to it's list of things they totally disavow having anything to do with. I'm hoping they see the shame in what they did and prove it by stating they never had anything to do with Northstar. Their lies prove what is true. Then there will be another exodus by those who realize they have been lied to continuously by Mormonism.

My shelf cracked when, after being told there could never, never, never, EVER! be polyandry in the Mormon church, I learned that Joseph Smith did it. My brain did a back flip and thus began my journey towards Exodus.

and I really like what he wrote about it.

From my perspective, I thought (stupid me) that when dealing with the church over gay issues, they'd have some REAL answers. I couldn't believe the answers that they gave me, let alone what I found out Evergreen's answers were. Things like working on cars.

Well, my "ex" can fix ANY car. I can't believe he keeps our old cars running for the kids. My dad taught agricultural mechanics and he was amazed at what my "ex" can do. He put on our metal roof. He just installed a water softener in the house. He hasn't a decorating bone in his body--let alone fashion sense. Of course, he can't play sports for the life of him either, but he CANNOT dance either.

But--what I ran into in terms of "answers" for gays in the lds church is what drove me away. Let alone their families.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/03/2014 11:57AM by cl2.

Yes, isn't all that "modern day revelation" working wonders for Mormonism? NOT! Any four year old has more insight into human nature than the leadership running LDS, Inc.