The Church has added a new video and story to the MormonAndGay.lds.org website. It is the story of Becky and Scott Mackintosh and their gay son Xian. It is a touching story of a family who lives together and loves each other in spite of differences.
Watch the video “The Mackintosh’s Story: A Son Comes Out and a Family Loves:”
Becky and Scott Mackintosh loved their son as he has grown up, served a mission, come out as gay, and left the faith he was raised in. The entire family has learned to love in new, more inclusive ways.
When Xian Mackintosh first came out to his parents as gay, he decided to tell them in a private Facebook message so they would have time to process it and then talk about it calmly. At first, it was difficult for his parents to accept. His mother tried to give him lots of advice. Fortunately, it was in a loving way. And that made all the difference.
His father struggled to accept it, but his reaction was what Xian needed. “My dad gave me a big hug and said, ‘I love you.’ That meant the world to me… The first thing that came out of his mouth was what I needed to hear.”
His father concluded, “I feel that our Savior allows us to have things in our lives that are going to make us stronger. I can’t help but think that that’s what the Savior feels about Xian. I can’t help but feel that the Savior loves him deeply.”
A transcript of the video is also published in the Stories section of MormonandGay.lds.org.
Read Becky’s story and Scott’s story.
Read a blog post by Becky titled “Navigating Differences in Family with Love and Trust.”
- Visit the Church’s site MormonandGay.lds.org.
- See a list of resources about same-sex attraction.
Hey Mackintosh family, great video. You and your son are wonderful people. I felt you and your son represented yourselves well. His gayness will never go away because that’s who he is. Nothing shameful there.
I sympathize with what the family is going through. This has become a very common story among the church members. One thing that really puzzled me though. Your story seems to say that living a gay life style is something that cannot be helped and that this is not a life style CHOICE. However, the church doctrine states otherwise:
The Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and homosexual behavior. People who experience same-sex attraction or identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual can make and keep covenants with God and fully and worthily participate in the Church. Identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual or experiencing same-sex attraction is not a sin and does not prohibit one from participating in the Church, holding callings, or attending the temple.
Sexual purity is an essential part of God’s plan for our happiness. Sexual relations are reserved for a man and woman who are married and promise complete loyalty to each other. Sexual relations between a man and woman who are not married, or between people of the same sex, violate one of our Father in Heaven’s most important laws and get in the way of our eternal progress. People of any sexual orientation who violate the law of chastity can be reconciled with God through repentance. As followers of Christ, we resist immoral behavior and strive to become like Him. We seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the help of the Savior, who knows how to succor us when we are tempted (see 1 Corinthians 10:13; D&C 62:1). If we give in to sexual temptations and violate the law of chastity, we can repent, be forgiven, and participate in full fellowship in the Church.