When a Child Leaves the Church

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."