Tyler Glenn of Neon Trees controversial new video shows anger towards Mormon religion


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"Glenn came out as gay two years ago, to Rolling Stone Magazine, and has maintained his relationship with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints until recently. It's obvious watching his new video, Glenn's been hurt and in pain." http://kutv.com/news/local/tyler-glenn-explains-anger-in-his-new-video-toward-the-lds-church

 

Tyler is a return missionary and up until November 2015, a strong believer of the Church. He had a very difficult time with the LDS Church adding same-sex marriage to definition of apostasy last November, which was the beginning of his break with his Mormon faith. Before that, he felt he could be both an openly gay man and Mormon, even have children and raise them in the Church. It definitely seems to be a very difficult and painful break for him.

I was surprised with how hostile the video is towards the Church, especially Joseph Smith, who Tyler said was his hero. I would not encourage anyone to watch it, because you may take offense. I also realize this is a sensitive topic and I can't help but feel love and empathy watching this video of Tyler, as he starts to break down about losing his faith and his belief in God all in one weekend.

I understand he is feeling a lot of emotions, not just the anger of this video. I hope that he finds peace. He may change, but Gods love for him doesn't change. I hope that he feels that, that he doesn't make anger his new religion.

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I wish him the best, but I'm pretty sure gay sex has been considered a major sin in the church for a long time.

Also:

Quote

"Every time you kick 'Mormonism' you kick it upstairs; you never kick it downstairs" - Brigham Young

So kick away.

Also, he's not really angry at the church. He's angry at God for giving him commandments he doesn't like.

Edited by tesuji
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I haven't watched the video, nor have I followed this guy. I don't need more ugliness and negativity in my mind. But what I have learned here on this forum has been a valuable lesson in even barely starting to understand the complicated emotions of people who have same gender attraction. I appreciate those who have been forth coming about their struggles. The conflict beween what they have grown up believing and their powerful emotions and passions is so vast.

I don't condone same sex intimate relations in any way. And I do continue to believe that satisfactory relationships can be developed with someone of the opposite sex even if the Hollywood-like attraction isn't there. Wonderful, fulfilling eternal marriages can be had without a full-on focus on the sexual aspect of marriage.  But I do recognize the agony of having to deny oneself something they are attracted to. I feel empathy for those that believe they have to choose between one love ( the gospel) or the other "love" (following their sexual desires).  It's a tough, tough thing to have SSA. I wouldn't ever trade my own bag of life troubles for that. 

The only problem I have is with a few friends who have let anger, and cynicism and putrid rhetoric against the church become their new religion. I understand they have been hurt in the past. Things may have turned out differently for them if they'd waited 30 years to "come out". The Church is so much more knowledgeable and compassionate now than it was back then. But these gay people just can't let it go. They seem to enjoy watching the suffering of those they stab their sword of bitterness with. I have never felt so much evil from a so called "friend", as when I was the one being stabbed about a year ago. I'm struggling to forgive or forget. The whole exchange I had with these friends was simply horrible. Nightmarish. They have just gone too far and, sadly, I see this more and more in the world's response, too. That's what's souring my attitude towards the lgbt coilition in general. The few on this board are pretty civil. But my other friends I refuse to get anywhere near anymore. It's just too ugly. 

(OK- retreating back into my happy bubble. )

 

Edited by carlimac
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Guest LiterateParakeet

@carlimac I appreciated your post. I feel the same. I can't imagine what a difficult trial it is to be gay. My heat goes out to them. Still, I can't change God's law for them. I hope that Tyler I'll be able to work through his pain and anger and return to God.

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I want to feel compassion for this guy.  I do.  I know a better Christian than I am would. 

But I'm struggling.

Maybe confessing this will help... but I'm oh, so very bitter these days.  I'm so sick to death of being lectured and condemned by people who consider themselves more tolerant and loving than we are.  These are people who espouse a new morality based entirely on self-gratification and mutual enabling.  They are en entire demographic whose only defining characteristic is whom they want to have sex with.

Some of the greatest people I've ever known are LDS, with a smattering of other Christians in there.  Even if you were to absolutely, positively, indisputably convince me that God does not exist or that the Church is false, I'd STILL remain a member of the Church (to the extent that a broken testimony allows it) and support it in any way that I could, because being associated with this Church, this morality, and Christianity in general, places me in the company of the finest, most loving and generous people to be found anywhere.

Meanwhile doorknobs like this guy, whose definition of himself has more to do with his hormones than his spiritual understanding, have the chutzpah to pretend to be too good for it.  Deep down he knows better.  I hope, for his sake, that he wakes up from this culturally poisoned fugue he's going through, but as far as compassion, I'm sorry but I think I'm fresh out.   I have a close friend who's been through the same struggle and he's found the strength to remain a member of the Church in good standing, despite his attractions.  Him, I respect deeply.  This Tyler guy...  I can't.

I'm sorry I can't do better.

Edited by unixknight
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33 minutes ago, unixknight said:

I want to feel compassion for this guy. ...

Maybe if you imagined what it would be like if you couldn't marry or be with someone you really wanted to. And had to live a celibate life.

Don't get me wrong - I completely support our LDS leaders on all the LGBT issues. But I'm not sure if I can imagine how hard it must be for some of these folks.

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6 minutes ago, tesuji said:

Maybe if you imagined what it would be like if you couldn't marry or be with someone you really wanted to. And had to live a celibate life.

Don't get me wrong - I completely support our LDS leaders on all the LGBT issues. But I'm not sure if I can imagine how hard it must be for some of these folks.

I understand what you're saying, but we all have our own burdens and challenges.  Do I have the strength to live a celibate life if I were called upon to do so?  I admit I probably wouldn't but that's my failing.  I don't get to spew hate on others for my own trials and weaknesses.

At the end of the day, guys like this vomit their hate on the Church for one reason only:  The Church refuses to validate them for their desires, and in today's political climate it's safe - even encouraged - to react in this way. 

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Folks have all sorts of problems these days that didn't use to exist.  Like this person, from a random facebook depression support page:

Yeah worse when I'm not quite politically correct about things and don't follow what's considered transgender. I consider myself a guy mentally, but physically a girl. My gender expression is mostly masculine, but I love being girly. I consider myself a female to male genderfluid two-spirit. Because I'm not politically correct about terms and stuff I get called transphobic even if the context isn't done in a transphobic way. Then I get called a fake and get death threats. The page Hiki the Transgender Demon ended up attacking me for being transphobic and after I called them out on being a bigot because they were banning everyone for having opposing opinions, they called me a bigot for calling them out on the harassment and then started slandering my name. In which everyone agreed with them. Then they posted my full name on their page...so now I feel like I'm not safe in the community and that I don't fit in.

 

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30 minutes ago, unixknight said:

I think anybody who takes their moral cues from a source with a name like "Hiki the Transgender Demon" is dealing with much more severe issues than are at first apparent.

Nope.  I'd say they're pretty darn apparent as soon as that card is on the table.

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22 hours ago, Heather said:

Before that, he felt he could be both an openly gay man and Mormon, even have children and raise them in the Church.

I just don't get this; does anyone think they could openly promote, say, random heterosexual fornication and still be a good Mormon?

I mean, really; I quite enjoyed variety before I was married.  (And long before I joined the Church, for whoever's looking up my bishop's number right now.  He's well aware of it already.)  Doesn't make it right.  

However, I also didn't promote the practice any more than was necessary to do it.  (Got to promote it to somebody or it's a different practice altogether.)  I certainly didn't hold myself out publicly as an example of some noble ideal because of it.

If I did the same now, yes, I'd expect some action from the Church.  Possibly severe, but not likely to be excommunication, even if I was privately unrepentant.  If I did it and told everybody else who would listen that it's just fine and they should try it too?  Put myself out there as an example of how others should live?  Excommunication for apostasy, without a doubt.

I really think Matt Walsh's article should be required reading before baptism at any church.

http://www.theblaze.com/contributions/christians-we-cannot-adjust-our-faith-to-make-room-for-our-favorite-sins/

Quote

But there is still repentance, of course. You can commit evil acts and be saved. You can be a former abortionist/gay porn star/Democrat and still enter into Heaven, provided you repent and come to Christ. More to the point, you can have these sins in your past and still be Christian, but you cannot say they are not sins and still be a Christian. Because if you say they are not sins, then you are denying the authority of God and attempting to discredit the path to salvation that He laid out for you. How can you be a Christian who says God is fallible, sins aren’t sins, you don’t need forgiveness, and you don’t need to act with justice or righteousness?

 

Edited by NightSG
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9 minutes ago, NightSG said:
Quote

But there is still repentance, of course. You can commit evil acts and be saved. You can be a former abortionist/gay porn star/Democrat and still enter into Heaven, provided you repent and come to Christ. More to the point, you can have these sins in your past and still be Christian, but you cannot say they are not sins and still be a Christian. Because if you say they are not sins, then you are denying the authority of God and attempting to discredit the path to salvation that He laid out for you. How can you be a Christian who says God is fallible, sins aren’t sins, you don’t need forgiveness, and you don’t need to act with justice or righteousness?

 

HEY!  Where does Matt get the idea that Democrats can still enter into heaven?  Oh!  Bad Carb!  Bad Carb!

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Fixed it:

Quote

You can be a former abortionist/gay porn star/Republican and still enter into Heaven, 

God is very forgiving to those that repent :D

Actually, my point is that I think it's funny that Democrats are often automatically by Mormons lumped in with vile evil sinners.

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Just now, tesuji said:

my point is that I think it's funny that Democrats are often automatically by Mormons lumped in with vile evil sinners.

Not "Democrats", per se, but those who espouse the majority of the Democrat platform: abortion, welfare, encouraging single motherhood, demanding that people pay for others' sinful activities, homosexuality and transgenderism as superior to traditional morality, pulling any mention of God or religion (aside from Islam) from the public square, and that's just for starters.

Doctrine and Covenant 134:1~2 is official doctrine and canonized scripture:

 

Quote

1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.  We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

The majority of the Democrat platform conflicts with these minimal requirements.

Lehi

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25 minutes ago, LeSellers said:

Not "Democrats", per se, but those who espouse the majority of the Democrat platform: abortion, welfare, encouraging single motherhood, demanding that people pay for others' sinful activities, homosexuality and transgenderism as superior to traditional morality, pulling any mention of God or religion (aside from Islam) from the public square, and that's just for starters.

Doctrine and Covenant 134:1~2 is official doctrine and canonized scripture:

 

The majority of the Democrat platform conflicts with these minimal requirements.

Lehi

I agree.

However, I think Mormons who are Democrat could list many things where Republicans are also very wrong.

I'm an independent (socially conservative, left-learning on most other things). I see great folly and error in both US parties.

[add]

I love that 134:1~2. I think Democrats could take every point in those two verses and hit Republicans over the head with them, because of the way they would interpret it, and especially because of the emphasis they would put on certain things there.

Edited by tesuji
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13 minutes ago, tesuji said:

Fixed it:

God is very forgiving to those that repent :D

Actually, my point is that I think it's funny that Democrats are often automatically by Mormons lumped in with vile evil sinners.

Well, I don't know how many Republicans are abortionist/gay porn stars.

But, yes, we know there are plenty of good, God-fearing people who are Democrats.

To praphrase Steve Martin again:

Quote

The Academy is so diverse.  We come from every walk of life.

We can be black, we can be white.
We can be male, we can be female.
We can be fat, we can be skinny.
We can be tall, we can be short.
We can be Democrats... 
...
Or we can be skinny.

 

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17 minutes ago, tesuji said:

I'm an independent (socially conservative, left-learning on most other things).

Wait, so you're socially conservative and fiscally liberal?  Are you sure you said that right?  Other posts you gave seemed to indicate that you are socially liberal.  So, you'd just be liberal.

Socially conservative and fiscally liberal is, uhm... ... ...

We love you, Tesuji.

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Just now, Carborendum said:

Wait, so you're socially conservative and fiscally liberal?  Are you sure you said that right?  Other posts you gave seemed to indicate that you are socially liberal.  So, you'd just be liberal.

Socially conservative and fiscally liberal is, uhm... ... ...

We love you, Tesuji.

I could explain myself better, but I'm really trying to stay out of politics here, people. Quit poking me with sticks :D ;-D

Even though I know it's partly my fault this time. Because of poking, you know...

 

But, in a nutshell: The gospel over worldly politics. That's my motto.

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24 minutes ago, tesuji said:

I think Mormons who are Democrat could list many things where Republicans are also very wrong.

Which is why I am not a Republican and rarely vote for the GOP candidate.

Lehi

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On 5/2/2016 at 5:22 PM, carlimac said:

And I do continue to believe that satisfactory relationships can be developed with someone of the opposite sex even if the Hollywood-like attraction isn't there. Wonderful, fulfilling eternal marriages can be had without a full-on focus on the sexual aspect of marriage.  But I do recognize the agony of having to deny oneself something they are attracted to. I feel empathy for those that believe they have to choose between one love ( the gospel) or the other "love" (following their sexual desires).

These statements really hit home to me. After years in a sexless marriage, these ideas resonate. I, too, recognize the agony of denying oneself something I am attracted to -- needing to choose between one love (the gospel and eternal marriage) and following sexual desires. It is a difficult row to hoe.

Perhaps we need more discussion about how to build eternal, platonic marriages. I'm sure they are "possible", but they also seem to be statistically unlikely. What is the role and nature of sexuality in marriage relationships? I am reminded of something in the Church's response to the SCOTUS decision on gay marriage last summer. They said, "Homosexual behavior ... is contrary to the purposes of human sexuality...." As I see all of the pain and difficulty around sexuality, I often reflect and wonder exactly what are the purposes of human sexuality? I wish I understood it better.

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10 minutes ago, MrShorty said:

These statements really hit home to me. After years in a sexless marriage, these ideas resonate. I, too, recognize the agony of denying oneself something I am attracted to -- needing to choose between one love (the gospel and eternal marriage) and following sexual desires. It is a difficult row to hoe.

Perhaps we need more discussion about how to build eternal, platonic marriages. I'm sure they are "possible", but they also seem to be statistically unlikely. What is the role and nature of sexuality in marriage relationships? I am reminded of something in the Church's response to the SCOTUS decision on gay marriage last summer. They said, "Homosexual behavior ... is contrary to the purposes of human sexuality...." As I see all of the pain and difficulty around sexuality, I often reflect and wonder exactly what are the purposes of human sexuality? I wish I understood it better.

I am sorry to hear about your challenges.

I see that you are LDS. Marriage and sex in marriage are very important to God's plan. It's a core thing in our doctrine.

https://www.lds.org/topics/marriage?lang=eng

Or maybe I didn't understand what you were saying?

 

Edited by tesuji
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