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David Hardy, a former Mormon bishop no longer active in the LDS church, has a message for leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Stop giving kids pamphlets that promote misunderstanding about homosexuality.
At the 26th Annual Sunstone Symposium Saturday, Hardy, his wife, Carlie, and son, Judd, shared the struggle they have had with their Mormon faith since Judd told them he is gay and attempted suicide as a teen.
"I thought if I was truly religious, I would be able to get over this," Judd Hardy said. "I can't describe what kind of vicious cycle that puts in place."
Neither prayer nor reparative therapy helped Judd. Compounding the struggle, his father said, were pamphlets given to his son and countless other young Mormon men and women. They are outdated, said Hardy, and contain misinformation that adds to the anxiety felt by young LDS people who are gay or lesbian.
"In private talks with many general authorities and other church...