EMMAUS
Emmaus fosters and supports ministry to and with LGBTQ+ individuals and their families in and adjacent to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
OUR VISION
Emmaus is a community of heterosexual/cisgender and LGBTQ+ Latter-day Saints who are called to ministry for the safety, well-being and happiness of LGBTQ+ people in and adjacent to The Church of Jesus Christ.
We envision communities, congregations and families where LGBTQ+ individuals know they are cherished, where they are free from discrimination and inequality, where they are fully heard, understood and protected, and where their agency is respected.
We feel driven to do this work by our testimonies of the Gospel. We know there is a place in Christ’s Church and in our Heavenly Parents’ plan for every single one of us, and our hearts ache for the anguish caused by misunderstanding and lack of knowledge.
We believe that the way forward lies through relationship, connection and listening. We honor LGBTQ+ individuals’ courage, discernment process, and agency, and we are working for their nurture and support in every congregation, community and family. We want members and leaders of the Church to know LGBTQ+ individuals and to hear their stories. We want every LGBTQ+ individual to know that their contributions are indispensable, and to experience love in their church and in their families that is truly unconditional.
We recognize that real change takes time and requires patience. We know from experience the power of relationship to transform understanding. We are committed to a process that fosters connection, communication, learning, and empathy.
