The parents of gay or transgender children are not divinely discharged of their responsibility to love and care for their children. Elder Cook teaches that the family is central to God's plan and every child should be loved and included in Latter-day Saint families. From MormonsAndGays.org.

Elder Quentin L. Cook
“The hardest thing that I had when I was stake president ... [was when] the medical community first became aware of AIDS ... as a Church nobody should be more loving and compassionate. No family who has anybody who has a same-gender issue should exclude them from the family ... Having children come into our lives is a part of Heavenly Father’s plan... let us be at the forefront in terms of expressing love, compassion, and outreach to those [attracted to the same sex] and let's not have families exclude or be disrespectful of those who choose a different lifestyle as a result of their feelings about their own gender. I’m sorry, I feel very strongly about this as you can tell. I think it’s a very important principle.”

Latter-day Saints can reflect Christ's divine love for LGBTQIA family members, friends, and ward members by spending time with them. The Savior demonstrated His divine love as he spent time with those labeled, condemned, and ridiculed as sinners by many of His day. 

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"During the Savior’s ministry, the religious leaders of His day disapproved of Jesus spending time with people they had labeled 'sinners.' Perhaps to them it looked like He was tolerating or even condoning sinful behavior. Perhaps they believed that the best way to help sinners repent was by condemning, ridiculing, and shaming them. When the Savior perceived what the Pharisees and scribes were thinking, He told a story:

'What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.'

Over the centuries, this parable has traditionally been interpreted as a call to action for us to bring back the lost sheep and to reach out to those who are lost. While this is certainly appropriate and good, I wonder if there is more to it.

Is it possible that Jesus’s purpose, first and foremost, was to teach about the work of the Good Shepherd? Is it possible that He was testifying of God’s love for His wayward children? Is it possible that the Savior’s message was that God is fully aware of those who are lost—and that He will find them, that He will reach out to them, and that He will rescue them?

If that is so, what must the sheep do to qualify for this divine help? Does the sheep need to know how to use a complicated sextant to calculate its coordinates? Does it need to be able to use a GPS to define its position? Does it have to have the expertise to create an app that will call for help? Does the sheep need endorsements by a sponsor before the Good Shepherd will come to the rescue?

No. Certainly not! The sheep is worthy of divine rescue simply because it is loved by the Good Shepherd.

To me, the parable of the lost sheep is one of the most hopeful passages in all of scripture. Our Savior, the Good Shepherd, knows and loves us. He knows and loves you. He knows when you are lost, and He knows where you are. He knows your grief. Your silent pleadings. Your fears. Your tears. It matters not how you became lost—whether because of your own poor choices or because of circumstances beyond your control.

What matters is that you are His child. And He loves you. He loves His children."

As Latter-day Saints we often focus on how those attracted to the same-sex choose to respond to their feelings — but we should be more concerned with how we choose to respond to them. From MormonsAndGays.org, an official Church resource.


MormonsAndGays.org

"Jesus Christ commanded us to love our neighbors. Whether sinner or saint, rich or poor, stranger or friend, everyone in God’s world is our neighbor, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Latter-day Saints believe that our true commitment to Christian teachings is revealed by how we respond to this commandment ... We may know individuals with same-sex attraction in our workplaces, congregations and town halls. As people with hopes, fears and aspirations like everyone else, these neighbors deserve our love. But we cannot truly love the neighbors next door if we do not love the neighbors under our own roof. Family members with same-sex attraction need our love and understanding. God loves all his children alike, much more than any of us can comprehend, and expects us to follow."

Elder Dallin H. Oaks calls upon all Latter-day Saints to better love, help and encourage members who are LGBTQ and their families. Church members have a doctrinal responsibility to show love and extend help and understanding to this community which is in special need. From the October 1995 Ensign.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

"The Church and its members continue to experience misunderstandings about our positions on [same-sex attraction] ... during a television interview on this subject, I was questioned about reports that the Church taught or implied 'that these people are somehow pariahs … and these people hate themselves and that this is an attitude brought forth by the Church.' ... More significantly, we also receive such questions from faithful members. A recent letter is illustrative:

'Another concern we have is the way in which our sons and daughters are classified as people who practice deviant and lascivious behavior. Perhaps some do, but most do not. These young men and women want only to survive, have a spiritual life, and stay close to their families and the Church. It is especially damaging when these negative references are spoken from the pulpit. We believe such talks only create more depression and a tremendous amount of guilt, shame, and lack of self-worth, which they have endured throughout their entire lives. There is sometimes a real lack of the pure love of Christ expressed to help them through their ordeals. We will all appreciate anything you can do to help with the plight of these much misunderstood children of our Father in Heaven. If some of the General Authorities could express more sensitivity to this problem, it would surely help to avoid suicides and schisms that are caused within families. Many simply cannot tolerate the fact that Church members judge them as ‘evil people,’ and they, therefore, find solace in gay-oriented lifestyles.'

These communications surely show the need for improvement in our communications with brothers and sisters who are struggling ... Each member of Christ’s church has a clear-cut doctrinal responsibility to show forth love and to extend help and understanding. Sinners, as well as those who are struggling to resist inappropriate feelings, are not people to be cast out but people to be loved and helped ... Church leaders are sometimes asked whether there is any place in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for persons with homosexual or lesbian susceptibilities or feelings. Of course there is. The degree of difficulty and the pattern necessary to forgo behavior and to control thoughts will be different with different individuals, but the message of hope and the hand of fellowship offered by the Church is the same for all who strive.

... All should understand that persons (and their family members) struggling with the burden of same-sex attraction are in special need of the love and encouragement that is a clear responsibility of Church members, who have signified by covenant their willingness 'to bear one another’s burdens' 'and so fulfill the law of Christ.'"

The Church's history should cause Latter-day Saints to be sensitive in how we treat and choose to respond to individuals who are LGBT, especially within our own families, wards and stakes. An official statement from the Church in response to "tragic deaths across the country as a result of bullying or intimidation" of LGBT youth.

MormonNewsRoom.org
"This Church has felt the bitter sting of persecution and marginalization early in our history, when we were too few in numbers to adequately protect ourselves and when society’s leaders often seemed disinclined to help. Our parents, young adults, teens and children should therefore, of all people, be especially sensitive to the vulnerable in society and be willing to speak out against bullying or intimidation whenever it occurs, including unkindness toward those who are attracted to others of the same sex. This is particularly so in our own Latter-day Saint congregations. Each Latter-day Saint family and individual should carefully consider whether their attitudes and actions toward others properly reflect Jesus Christ’s second great commandment - to love one another."
 

Latter-day Saints who are gay or transgender, and their family members, should be loved and encouraged by their friends and wards. All members have signified by covenant their willingness 'to bear one another’s burdens'. From the April 2015 General Conference of the Church.

Sister Carole M. Stephens
"I have never had to live through divorce, the pain and insecurity that comes from abandonment, or the responsibility associated with being a single mother. I have not experienced the death of a child, infertility, or same-gender attraction ... I do not completely understand your challenges. But through my personal tests and trials—the ones that have brought me to my knees—I have become well acquainted with the One who does understand, He who was 'acquainted with grief,' who experienced all and understands all.

... I have experienced all of the mortal tests that I just mentioned through the lens of a daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.  Our opportunity as covenant-keeping [children] of God is not just to learn from our own challenges; it is to unite in empathy and compassion as we support other members of the family of God in their struggles, as we have covenanted to do.

When we do so, we also come to understand and trust that the Savior knows the difficulties of the way and can guide us through whatever sorrows and disappointments may come. He is true charity, and His love 'endureth forever'—in part through us as we follow Him.  As [children] of God and disciples of Jesus Christ, we then 'act according to those sympathies which God has planted' in our hearts."

Elder Holland expresses love, admiration, and encouragement for Later-day Saints who are LGBT. Church members should love and fellowship members and non-member who are gay. From the October 2007 Ensign article Helping Those Who Struggle with Same-Gender Attraction.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
"Some with same-gender attractions have unresolved fears and are offended at church when no offense is intended. On the other hand, some members exclude from their circle of fellowship those who are different. When our actions or words discourage someone from taking full advantage of Church membership, we fail them—and the Lord. The Church is made stronger as we include every member and strengthen one another in service and love.

... Not long ago I received a letter from a man in his early 30s who struggles with same-gender attraction. His struggle has not been easy ... But, he wrote, 'the Lord has helped me face my current circumstances, and I am content to do my best and leave my life in His hands.'

I weep with admiration and respect at the faith and courage of such a man who is living with a challenge I have never faced. I love him and the thousands like him, male or female, who 'fight the good fight.' I commend this attitude to all who struggle with—or who are helping others who struggle with—same-gender attraction."

Gay and lesbian Latter-day Saints should be loved and welcomed by Church members. Members may refer to themselves as being gay without necessarily meaning they are acting on those feelings. From President Gordon B. Hinckley's talk in the October 1999 Priesthood session of General Conference.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

“We believe that defending this sacred institution by working to preserve traditional marriage lies clearly within our religious and constitutional prerogatives ... Nevertheless, and I emphasize this, I wish to say that our opposition to attempts to legalize same-sex marriage should never be interpreted as justification for hatred, intolerance, or abuse of those who profess homosexual tendencies, either individually or as a group. As I said from this pulpit one year ago, our hearts reach out to those who refer to themselves as gays and lesbians. We love and honor them as sons and daughters of God. They are welcome in the Church. It is expected, however, that they follow the same God-given rules of conduct that apply to everyone else, whether single or married.”

Elder Ronald A. Rasband urges members to treat individuals who are gay or transgender with love and fairness, and to optimistically work through the social issues of our day with both sides in mind. From a devotional address given by Elder Ronald A. Rasband at BYU on September 15, 2015, shortly before his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the October General Conference. 

Elder Ronald A. Rasband
"In January of this year ... we held a press conference with three apostles and a member of the Young Women general presidency to remind our members, the community, and the state legislature that the Church favors a balanced approach that secures the rights of all people. Elder Dallin H. Oaks expressed the following at that press event:

'We call on local, state, and the federal government to serve all of their people by passing legislation that protects vital religious freedoms for individuals, families, churches, and other faith groups while also protecting the rights of our LGBT citizens in such areas as housing, employment, and public accommodation in hotels, restaurants, and ­transportation—protections which are not available in many parts of the country.'

... Try to view others through a lens of fairness. To do this requires you to first acknowledge that Heavenly Father loves all of His children equally. He has said, “Love one another; as I have loved you.” There is no choice, sin, or mistake that you or anyone else can make that will change His love for you or for them ... Being filled with this pure love will guide your thoughts and actions, especially in a political arena that can at times be very contentious ... I would encourage you to stand up for fairness if you see another's rights being impeded. Elder L. Tom Perry was a great example of someone who firmly believed in man-woman marriage, and yet he was willing to stand up for the rights of others. He left an example of ensuring that others’ rights were protected when he witnessed unfair treatment or an imbalance in our laws.

... I stand with the leaders of our Lord’s Church when I say that we need your generation’s natural understanding of compassion, respect, and fairness. We need your optimism and your determination to work through these complex social issues. We have faith that you will turn to the Savior to understand how to live a Christlike life while also showing fairness and love to others who do not share your beliefs. We know you want to be a part of something meaningful, and we know that you are resilient and collaborative. Most important, we need you to engage in dialogue regarding the complexities of this issue and find solutions for how to best extend fairness to everyone, including people of faith. These conversations need to be occurring in our schools—perhaps right here at Brigham Young University—in our homes, and in our ­relationships with friends and coworkers."

Nobody fully knows why people are attracted to members of their same sex. Members should acknowledge the complexity of this matter and be sensitive to those most impacted by it. From MormonsAndGays.org, an official Church resource. 

MormonsAndGays.org
"The experience of same-sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is ... individuals do not choose to have such attractions, [but] they do choose how to respond to them. With love and understanding, the Church reaches out to all God’s children, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.... No one fully knows the root causes of same-sex attraction. Each experience is different. Latter-day Saints recognize the enormous complexity of this matter. We simply don’t have all the answers. Attraction to those of the same sex, however, should not be viewed as a disease or illness. We must not judge anyone for the feelings they experience."

Elder Neil L. Andersen encourages Church member to reach out with kindness and love to individuals who are LGBT "and to enlarge our hearts toward all men and women" independent of their beliefs or decisions. From the talk Spiritual Whirlwinds delivered in April 2014.

Elder Neil L. Andersen
"Of special concern to us should be those who struggle with same-sex attraction. It is a whirlwind of enormous velocity. I want to express my love and admiration for those who courageously confront this trial of faith and stay true to the commandments of God! But everyone, independent of his or her decisions and beliefs, deserves our kindness and consideration. The Savior taught us to love not only our friends but also those who disagree with us—and even those who repudiate us. He said: 'For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? … And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?' The Prophet Joseph Smith warned us to 'beware of self-righteousness' and to enlarge our hearts toward all men and women until we feel 'to take them upon our shoulders.' In the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no place for ridicule, bullying, or bigotry."

Many members of the Church are unaware of the people around them, even in their own family or ward, who are gay or transgender. It is important to discard stereotypes and develop compassion, even if you do not think you know someone who is gay. From the September, 2004 Liahona article Compassion for Those Who Struggle.

Compassion for Those Who Struggle

"It is not often that Saints with same-sex attraction make their challenge known to others ... Ours is often a hidden conflict for fear of being seen as 'deviants' who have chosen these attractions. For most Latter-day Saints who struggle with this challenge, nothing could be further from the truth ... This is a fight that can forge a profound closeness with Heavenly Father and the Savior because victory hinges on our ability to rely on Them completely.

 ... I am blessed to associate with people who view me by my true character, not by superficial stereotypes. In doing so they follow the Savior’s example: 'The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart'

Regardless of the nature of our temptations, everyone must rely upon the Savior’s Atonement to build the bridge that takes us back to our Father in Heaven. No one can do it alone." 

LGBT Latter-day Saints need love and hope from those around them. Sister Neill F. Marriott teaches that we can build the kingdom of God by encouraging the hopeless, the rejected, the discriminated against.

Sister Neill F. Marriott:
"We build the kingdom when we nurture others ... Mothers literally make room in their bodies to nurture an unborn baby—and hopefully a place in their hearts as they raise them—but nurturing is not limited to bearing children. Eve was called a “mother” before she had children. I believe that “to mother” means “to give life.” Think of the many ways you give life. It could mean giving emotional life to the hopeless or spiritual life to the doubter. With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can create an emotionally healing place for the discriminated against, the rejected, and the stranger. In these tender yet powerful ways, we build the kingdom of God."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland affirms God's love for gay and lesbian Latter-day Saints. Members should acknowledge, love, and encourage those who are attracted to the same sex. From the October 2007 Ensign.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"I love you. My Brethren among the General Authorities love you. I’m reminded of a comment President Boyd K. Packer made in speaking to those with same-gender attraction. ‘… We cannot reject you, for you are the sons and daughters of God. We will not reject you, because we love you.’


... I affirm that God loves all His children and acknowledge that many questions, including some related to same-gender attraction, must await a future answer, perhaps in the next life. Unfortunately, some people believe they have all the answers now and declare their opinions far and wide. Fortunately, such people do not speak for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although I believe members are eager to extend compassion to those different from themselves, it is human nature that when confronted with a situation we don’t understand, we tend to withdraw. This is particularly true of same-gender attraction. We have so little reliable information about it that those wanting to help are left feeling a bit unsteady.


... As fellow Church members, families, and friends, we need to recognize that those attracted to the same gender face some unique restrictions regarding expression of their feelings ... let me make it clear that attractions alone, troublesome as they may be, do not make one unworthy. The First Presidency has stated, “There is a distinction between immoral thoughts and feelings and participating in either immoral heterosexual or any homosexual behavior.” If you do not act on temptations, you have not transgressed. The failure to see that distinction sometimes leads to despair ... No one who lives the gospel should despair."

Do our words and actions, including on social media, help to untie these knots or merely to pull them tighter? From In a Game of Total Victory We All Lose, published March 2015 on MormonNewsRoom.org following the passing of Church supported legislation protecting members of the LGBT community from workplace and housing discrimination in Utah.


MormonNewsRoom.org
"Our society’s information environment steers the public to view conflicts as just a part of a bigger culture war, a battle of winner-takes-all in which there is only ever one right and one wrong, and where the only answer to any question is either 'yes' or 'no.' Such polarizing only hardens our hearts and coarsens our reason. The aim of the Church is to help untie this knot. But doing so requires trust and good will from both sides. It is simply a fact that we live in a pluralistic society, and different viewpoints must find a way to contend without defeating one another. These two goods — protecting the conscience of religious people and affirming the right of LGBT people to lead a dignified life — can be compatible. Security lies in reciprocity.

Balance between competing interests, not a war pitting one absolute against another, is a more sure way for our pluralistic democracy. Rights work best when sought and shared by everyone. And since we all live and breathe and move in the same public space, there is no acceptable alternative to working out our differences." 

Many youth, including those who are LGBTQIA, have been bullied, excluded, and made to feel unloved. Sometimes this has been unintentional, but too often it is those closest who inflict the deepest emotional wounds. From the talk Protect the Children given in the October 2012 General Conference.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
"Parents or other caregivers or teachers or peers who demean, bully, or humiliate children or youth can inflict harm more permanent than physical injury. Making a child or youth feel worthless, unloved, or unwanted can inflict serious and long-lasting injury on his or her emotional well-being and development. Young people struggling with any exceptional condition, including same-gender attraction, are particularly vulnerable and need loving understanding—not bullying or ostracism. With the help of the Lord, we can repent and change and be more loving and helpful to children—our own and those around us."

If an LGBT family member leaves the Church parents and others should continue to love them and exercise faith. "Sometimes we believe that the end of the story has already been written, when in reality, we are only in the middle chapters." From the February, 2016 Ensign article When a Child Leaves the Church

When a Child Leaves the Church
"We must remember that we simply do not know what will happen to our loved ones ... President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, suggests that sometimes we believe that the end of the story has already been written, when in reality, we are only in the middle chapters. God’s reckoning of time is vastly different from ours, and we do not know how each person’s story will end.

If we knew that our family members would eventually return, would that change how we act in our stories today? I believe we might live with a much greater degree of peace, love, and acceptance. As we work to make our story turn out well, it helps to remember that we can choose to approach loved ones from a place of peace and love rather than anger and fear ... As Elder Carmack urges: 'Never give up. If you cannot seem to reach your daughter or son now, you can at least keep trying and keep loving them … Do not give in to paralyzing feelings of guilt and hopelessness. Seek spiritual help and peace. Be strong and courageous. You will see it through.'"

In the same article, the story of a women who left the church when she was young illustrates how one family member thoughtfully considered how to continue to include and make her feel loved and welcome in their family.

Her grandmother kept photographs of all the family members who served missions on a wall in the living room. "It was 'the epicenter of our family’s universe'" the women explains, adding that she believed that "no matter what good she did in the world, she would never earn [a place on her grandmother's wall]."

When she was thirty, she traveled to the island of Madagascar and devoted herself to serving others. "Partway through her experience, she learned that her grandmother had included her photo on the wall." Upon returning home, "grandmother and granddaughter embraced and shed tears. 'Service is service,' her grandmother explained. Whether or not we have a missionary wall in our homes, there are still plenty of ways we can show all our family members they are loved and valued."

Latter-day Saints should show sincere love for LGBT friends, family and ward members. Genuine love and friendship are not compromises of faith, rather they are found at the foundations of Charity. From a Facebook post following his devotional address at BYU on September 15, 2015, shortly before Elder Rasband's call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the October General Conference.

Elder Ronald A. Rasband
"During the devotional I asked for your experiences ... Some of you wrote of the conflict that you’ve felt in showing #Fairness4All, especially with individuals who see life differently from you. You expressed worry that such friendships might betray your beliefs. I want to reiterate that the Savior is the perfect example of reaching out in love and support. His interest in others was always motivated by a pure love for them. Sometimes we approach relationships with the intent to change the other person. We follow our Savior best when we base our relationships on principles of love.

Others posted comments about the struggle they experience in trying to understand and love family members who are gay. I commend you for seeking to follow the Savior’s example and pray for His love and understanding. You will be blessed in your efforts to treat your family members with fairness and kindness."

From the October 2014 General Conference. Viewing conflicts as part of a larger culture war, a battle of winner-takes-all with only ever one right and one wrong, where the only answer to any question is either 'yes' or 'no' only hardens our hearts and coarsens our reason (read more).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
"In public, what religious persons say and do involves other considerations. The free exercise of religion covers most public actions, but it is subject to qualifications necessary to accommodate the beliefs and practices of others ... Followers of Christ should be examples of civility. We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs. Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. Our stands and communications on controversial topics should not be contentious. We should be wise in explaining and pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence. In doing so, we ask that others not be offended by our sincere religious beliefs and the free exercise of our religion. We encourage all of us to practice the Savior’s Golden Rule: 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.'

When our positions do not prevail, we should accept unfavorable results graciously and practice civility ... In any event, we should be persons of goodwill toward all, rejecting persecution of any kind, including persecution based on race, ethnicity, religious belief or nonbelief, and differences in sexual orientation.

... We challenge all youth to avoid bullying, insults, or language and practices that deliberately inflict pain on others. All of these violate the Savior’s command to love one another. The Savior taught that contention is a tool of the devil. That surely teaches against some of the current language and practices of politics. Living with policy differences is essential to politics, but policy differences need not involve personal attacks that poison the process of government and punish participants. All of us should banish hateful communications and practice civility for differences of opinion. The most important setting to forgo contention and practice respect for differences is in our homes and family relationships ... as followers of Christ we should live peacefully with others who do not share our values or accept the teachings upon which they are based."

Family, friends, and especially the parents of Latter-day Saints who are gay should express pure love for them through words and actions. Meet them with generous compassion. From the October, 2007 Ensign article Helping Those Who Struggle with Same-Gender Attraction by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
"Although I believe members are eager to extend compassion to those different from themselves, it is human nature that when confronted with a situation we don’t understand, we tend to withdraw. This is particularly true of same-gender attraction. We have so little reliable information about it that those wanting to help are left feeling a bit unsteady. Admitting my own inadequacy in this regard but wanting to assist, let me offer some suggestions to help those who have loved ones or friends who are attracted to the same gender.

... Let’s assume you are the family member or friend of someone with same-gender attraction who comes to you for help. What do you say? What do you do?
I would begin by recognizing the courage that brought your son, daughter, sibling, or friend to you. I’d recognize the trust that person has extended. Discussing the issue with someone of trust is a healthy first step to dealing with confusing feelings, and it is imperative that these first steps be met with compassion.

Next, if you are a parent of one with same-gender attraction, do not assume you are the reason for those feelings. No one, including the one struggling, should try to shoulder blame. Nor should anyone place blame on another—including God. Walk by faith, and help your loved one deal the best he or she can with this challenge ... Above all, keep your lines of communication open. Open communication between parents and children is a clear expression of love, and pure love, generously expressed, can transform family ties."

LGBT members should be welcomed, loved, and fellowshiped. Bishop Gérald Caussé, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, advises Church members how they can better follow the Savior by showing kindness to everyone. This is not our church, it is The Church of Jesus Christ. 

Bishop Gérald Caussé:

"During His earthly ministry, Jesus was an example of one who went far beyond the simple obligation of hospitality and tolerance. Those who were excluded from society, those who were rejected and considered to be impure by the self-righteous, were given His compassion and respect. They received an equal part of His teachings and ministry.

For example, the Savior went against the established customs of His time to address the woman of Samaria, asking her for some water. He sat down to eat with publicans and tax collectors. He didn’t hesitate to approach the leper, to touch him and heal him.

... In this Church there are no strangers and no outcasts. There are only brothers and sisters. The knowledge that we have of an Eternal Father helps us be more sensitive to the brotherhood and sisterhood that should exist among all men and women upon the earth. ... In this Church our wards and our quorums do not belong to us. They belong to Jesus Christ. Whoever enters our meetinghouses should feel at home. The responsibility to welcome everyone has growing importance.

...We all need to work together to build spiritual unity within our wards and branches ... Unity is not achieved by ignoring and isolating members who seem to be different or weaker and only associating with people who are like us. On the contrary, unity is gained by welcoming and serving those who are new and who have particular needs. These members are a blessing for the Church and provide us with opportunities to serve our neighbors and thus purify our own hearts.

... it is your duty to reach out to anyone who appears at the doors of your Church buildings. Welcome them with gratitude and without prejudice. If people you do not know walk into one of your meetings, greet them warmly and invite them to sit with you. Please make the first move to help them feel welcome and loved, rather than waiting for them to come to you.

... I pray that when the Lord gathers His sheep at the last day, He may say to each one of us, 'I was a stranger, and ye took me in.' Then we will say to Him, 'When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?' And He will answer us, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.'"

Individuals who are gay should be loved and welcomed by ward members. Sister Wixom Illustrates what can be done to love and encourage everyone in the Gospel. From the talk Returning to Faith by Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, given in the April 2015 General Conference. 
 

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom:

"In a recent Sunday Relief Society meeting, I listened to a young mother share part of her journey of conversion. She had grown up in the Church, with parents who taught her the gospel. She attended Primary, Young Women, and seminary. She loved to learn and discover truths ... With the spirit of inquiry, this mother continued to ask questions. But as the questions grew harder, so did the answers. And sometimes there were no answers—or no answers that brought peace. Eventually, as she sought to find answers, more and more questions arose, and she began to question some of the very foundations of her faith.

During this confusing time, some of those around her said, 'Just lean on my faith.' But she thought, 'I can’t. You don’t understand; you’re not grappling with these issues.' She explained, “I was willing to extend courtesy to those without doubts if they would extend courtesy to me.” And many did.

She said, 'My parents knew my heart and allowed me space. They chose to love me while I was trying to figure it out for myself.' Likewise, [her] bishop often met with her and spoke of his confidence in her.

Ward members also did not hesitate to give love, and she felt included. Her ward was not a place to put on a perfect face; it was a place of nurture.

... In spite of her substantial support system, she became less active. She said, 'I did not separate myself from the Church because of bad behavior, spiritual apathy, looking for an excuse not to live the commandments, or searching for an easy out. I felt I needed the answer to the question ‘What do I really believe?’'

... As she reflected back, she said, 'My testimony had become like a pile of ashes. It had all burned down. All that remained was Jesus Christ.' She continued, 'But He does not leave you when you have questions. When anyone tries to keep the commandments, the door is wide open. Prayer and scripture study became incredibly important.'

Her first step to rebuild her faith was to start with basic gospel truths. She bought a Primary songbook and began reading the words of the songs. They were treasures to her. She prayed for faith to lift the heaviness she felt.

She learned that when she came up against a statement that caused her to doubt, she 'could stop, look at the whole picture, and make the gospel personal' ... Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has said, 'Humility, faith, and the influence of the Holy Spirit [will] always be elements of every quest for truth.'

... About this time a call came to serve as Primary pianist. 'It was safe,' she said. 'I wanted to have my children in Primary, and now I could be with them. And I wasn’t ready to teach yet.' As she served, she continued to feel from those around her the invitation 'Come; we want you, whatever stage you are at, and we will meet you there. Give us whatever you have to offer.'

Playing the Primary songs, she often thought to herself, 'Here are truths I love. I can still bear testimony. I will just say those things that I know and trust. It may not be a perfect offering of knowledge, but it will be my offering. What I focus on expands inside of me. It is beautiful to get back to the essence of the gospel and feel clarity.'

On that Sunday morning, as I listened to this young sister share the story of her journey, I was reminded that “it is upon the rock of our Redeemer” that we all must build our foundation. I was also reminded of the counsel of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: “Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes.” 

During her lesson, I came to know more fervently that answers to our sincere questions come when we earnestly seek and when we live the commandments. I was reminded that our faith can reach beyond the limits of current reason.

And, oh, how I want to be like those who surrounded this [woman], loving and supporting her. As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said: 'We are all pilgrims seeking God’s light as we journey on the path of discipleship. We do not condemn others for the amount of light they may or may not have; rather, we nourish and encourage all light until it grows clear, bright, and true.'"

All Latter-day Saints should remember to be sensitive to this topic as they interact with others, including on social media. MormonsAndGays.org is an official Church resource.

MormonsAndGays.org
"Few topics are as emotionally charged or require more sensitivity than same-sex attraction. This complex matter touches on the things we care about most: our basic humanity, our relationship to family, our identity and potential as children of God, how we treat each other, and what it means to be disciples of Christ."