The Meaning of All Things

“ I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:17).

I first became aware of homosexuality in junior high. When I watched the evening news with my mom, I noticed a preponderance of criminals who were described as of “such-and-such age, height, and hair color” and also “homosexual.” I knew murder and theft, but homosexuality? I wasn’t familiar with this inciting offense. My mom explained that some men love other men (and the same for women).

I was aghast. Honestly, it had never occurred to me.

And so my earliest notion of homosexuality was only a brief step away from criminality.

Fear mingled with ignorance, and homophobia became my ill-excused choice for coping with differences. It worked for a long time because I was a conservative heterosexual and so was everyone I knew. I avoided anything that was different.

But my world is getting smaller. Good friends have come out as gay. There are political questions, relationships to navigate, and children to teach.

I’ve had questions and fears about homosexuality for a long time. But never have I ever sat down with a sincere heart to ask my questions to someone who identifies as LGBTQ.

Until this week.

And it. Was. Awesome.

Awesome: Sitting in a bit of a sweat to listen to someone define a world of sexuality that I disagree with.

Awesome: Seeing my own prejudices reflected in the video screen, rearranging my facial expression (and with it, my heart), and pushing through the discomfort to a genial exchange of ideas.

Awesome: Listening to an old friend share her journey of faith and reconciliation. In acknowledging her true feelings, she is finding more of herself and more of God. She is less judgmental of others. She is happy.

Awesome: Celebrating their decision to get married. Talking weddings and kids. Laughing together….You know, having the exact same conversation that I have with my heterosexual friends.

Awesome: asking hard questions and receiving sincere answers. Being graciously received despite my ignorance and perhaps even offensiveness.

*   *   *

Sexual orientation is a tricky subject, muddled by religious expectations, cultural norms, and personal opinions. But talking about it with someone who is different from me?–that wasn’t complicated at all.

On the same evening that I interviewed my gay friends,* our curly-haired 3-year old sat on her dad’s lap wearing Elsa PJs and proudly repeated this scripture verse:

“… I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things. (1 Nephi 11:17)

I can’t think of a finer conclusion. I know that God loves all of His children—generously, wholeheartedly, and without reservation.

So until that happy day when we learn the meaning of all things, I will keep loving and asking questions.

*Jo and Lauren are WONDERFUL! I’m lucky to have them as my guides. If you’re interested in hearing more of their story, you can listen to an interview with Jo at the Shut Up Meredith Podcast).

Know someone who would like this post?
Please share it!

Jenny Harris
Jenny is a star-gazing, book-clubbing mother of two. She has a Master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies, which is mildly comical (but also a boon in parenting and relationships). Her kids will attest that she’s crazy about reading aloud, time out of doors, and creative play. Her family’s goal is the “abundant life,” as prescribed by Jesus. You can read more posts by Jenny here.

Let’s connect!

Keep Reading

Share Your Thoughts

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Psst! Want all the best memory keeping secrets?

Join the VIP club to get a once-a-month newsletter full of resources, exclusive offers, and fun surprises. Also, no spam, because eww.

Looking for Our Prosaic Life?

Don’t worry, you’re in the right spot! Our Prosaic Life has merged with Jest Kept Secret. We’re excited to bring you lots more of the content you know and love!

Personally, we're big fans of good ol' chocolate chip, but we do use digital cookies to improve your experience with Jest Kept Secret and help the website function smoothly. If you continue to use this site, we'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt out at any time. For more information, please see our privacy policy.