Evan Smith rose through the ranks of Mormon leadership ultimately becoming a Stake Presidency member. While serving as an LDS Bishop, Evan struggled with the Church’s positions on LGBTQ+ issues and later found out that his son Weston was gay. Even after coming out, Weston decided to serve an LDS Mission as an openly gay man, leading him to high levels of depression and heartbreaking experiences during and after coming back early from his mission.
Evan became an advocate for LGBTQ people in the Church. His position as a Stake Presidency Counselor led him to a few confrontations/discussions with General Authorities and a later meeting at Church Headquarters where they discussed Evan’s progressive beliefs on LGBTQ matters. Join John and Gerardo as they interview Evan and his son Weston about their fascinating Mormon Story.
Evan Smith’s Book: Gay Latter-day Saint Crossroads
Weston Smith’s Book: This Body of Water: Surviving Mormonism as a Queer Man
1666: Becoming a Progressive Mormon Bishop – Evan and Wes Smith Pt 1
In Part 2 of 3, we start off where we left with Weston’s story growing up as a gay Mormon kid, discovering his sexuality, his suicidal ideation, and his decision to serve a mission as an “out” gay Mormon. Upon experiencing suicidality again on his mission Weston has a “spiritual experience” which leads to his resolve to leave the church and live a happy life. Meanwhile, Evan gets a call to become a 1st counselor in the Stake Presidency.
1667: Coming Out as the Gay Son of a Mormon Bishop, Serving a Mission – Evan and Weston Smith Pt.2
Trigger Warning: Suicidal Ideation
In Part 2 of 3, we start off where we left with Weston’s story growing up as a gay Mormon kid, discovering his sexuality, suicidal ideation, decides to serve a mission as an “out” gay Mormon but upon suicidality in mission he gets a “spiritual” experience resolving to leave the church and live a happy life. Evan gets a call to become a 1st counselor in the Stake Presidency.
1668: Mormon Stake Presidency Counselor Confronts General Authorities – Evan and Weston Smith Pt. 3
Content Warning: Suicidal Ideation
In Part 3 of 3, Evan describes getting called as a Stake Counselor, his attempts to be an ally for LGBTQ individuals and his subsequent faith crisis. Evan has a few debates/confrontations with Area Seventy Elder McCune (higher than Stake Presidency in Mormon leadership) over his gay son. Evan emails Apostles and other leaders on how the Church can change to be more loving and accepting of LGBTQ members resulting in a meeting with General Authority Allen D. Haynie. Evan continues faith deconstruction when his wife begins her faith crisis, and they both come to see the issues with sexism in the Church, biblical scholarship opening up new issues ,and the family’s ultimate decision to leave the Church.
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Show Notes:
Part 1
- Radio Free Mormon Episode Adam-God Theory
- Rough Stone Rolling – Richard Bushman
- Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism – Richard Bushman
- Shaken Faith Syndrome – Michael Ash
- 1366: Whiteness Theology and the Evolution of Mormon Racial Teachings – Matt Harris
- The Biological Basis of Homosexuality – Bill Bradshaw
- The ally within | John Dehlin | TEDxUSU
- Dialogue Journal: Towards a Post-heterosexual Theology – Taylor Petrey
- Latter Gay Stories Interview with Evan
Part 2
- 518-519: Clark Johnsen – From BYU to Broadway’s Book of Mormon Musical
- Dialogue Journal: Mormonism’s Negro Doctrine, An Historical Overview – Lester Bush
- A Case for the Book of Mormon by Tad Callister
- Radio Free Mormon: Review of Tad Callister’s “A Case for the Book of Mormon” w/ Bill Reel
Part 3
- Mormon LGBTQ Questions – Bryce Cook
- The CES Letter
- Mormon Think
- LDS Discussions Website
- 1082-1083: How the Book of Mormon was Created, by John Hamer
- Mormon Expression – How to build a transoceanic vessel
- Elder John A. McCune
- Richard Ostler – Live, Learn, & Love, Episode 291
- Allen D. Haynie
- Kyle Ashworth’s “On the Record”
- Facebook Group “I’ll Walk With You” – LDS Parents of LGBTQ kids
- Affirmation.org
- 1013-1016: David Bokovoy – Bible Scholar, Former CES Employee
- 1019-1022: David Bokovoy; Applying Higher Criticism to Mormon Scripture
- 904: Dr. Bart Ehrman – New Testament Scholar
- Bart Ehrman’s Book List
- Dan Vogel Mormon Stories Episodes
- 1051-1053: Dan Vogel – Preeminent Joseph Smith Historian
- 1054-1055: Joseph Smith’s Treasure Digging – Dan Vogel
- 1056-1058: How the Book of Mormon was Created – Dan Vogel
- 1066-1067: Dan Vogel – Theories of Book of Mormon Authorship
- 1068-1069: Dan Vogel – The Book of Mormon as “Revelation” Instead of “Translation”
- 1070-1071: Dan Vogel – The Book of Mormon Witnesses and the Magical Worldview
- 1519: Joseph Smith’s Egyptian Grammar and Alphabet – Dan Vogel
- Marcus Borg – Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time
- “Coming Out Mormon: An Examination of Religious Orientation, Spiritual Trauma, and PTSD Among Mormon and Ex-Mormon LGBTQQA Adults” by Brian William Simmons
8 Responses
The audio-only for part 3 doesn’t seem to be working.
Timmy Tim – It should be fixed now. Sorry about that!
I knew your dad, sorry to hear about his passing.
I served in leadership before getting married in 1997 when he was bishop of our singles ward. He was a nice guy and I got to know him really well. I heard from him back in 2007 after buying a house in one of his development/partnerships with a builder. Glad to hear your out of the manipulation machine they call a church.
I really enjoyed this three part story, especially the last section. I sincerely appreciate their courage the Smiths had to challenge the leadership as well as going public with their story. Thanks so much to JD and the Smiths.
One point that I believe is worth emphasizing is that the Q15’s policy to allow local leaders handle LGBT members through their own lens is designed to minimize damage to the Church. By allowing the conservative demographic of its membership to marginalize LGBT members while at the same time allow the progressive areas to be more accepting to their LGBT members is all about maximizing membership, activation, and tithe paying.
Parts 2&3 won’t load or download
Bishop Bill – It should be fixed now. Sorry about that!
Evan and his family are sadly a fulfillment of ancient and modern prophecies that even the very elect will be deceived
How so? Did you listen to what happened to their family? Would it have been better if his son died? What do you think about the General Authorities who say things will change for LGBTQ members privately to hurting families, but keep the harmful rhetoric for the public?