Relationships Before Progress | A Conversation with Tom Christofferson, President David Checketts, and Bishop Bruce Larson

Interview Transcript Available Below Tom Christofferson is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who experiences same sex attraction. He is also the brother of Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Tom grew up in the church as a member, served a mission and married in the temple. His short marriage ended and he came out as gay and lived that lifestyle for many years. He started coming back to church with Bruce Larson as a bishop and David Checketts as his stake president. Tom's story is told in his book, That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith and Family. As leaders we can learn a lot from his experience of coming back to church and being rebaptized. Episode Highlights * 6:30 Tom's story from the beginning * 9:30 His story of excommunication * 10:50 How his family wanted their love to be perfect as they accepted him * 13:20 Bishop Bruce Larson's side of the story * 16:00 Stake President David Checkett's side of the story * 18:00 Bishop Larson and President Checketts did not know at first that he was related to Elder Christofferson * 20:30 Sharing with the ward coucnil how to make feel Tom welcome * 22:30 Response of the ward council * 24:00 Tom was welcomed and loved unconditionally * 29:00 Tom attended the ward for 5 years before wanting to come back to live the commandments * 31:45 During the 5 years how Tom felt welcome in the ward * 33:20 Everyone focused on the the relationship with Tom and not his progress * 34:30 Study sessions with Tom and President Checketts * 38:00 Meeting with Tom's partner * 42:00 President Checketts meets with Elder Christofferson about Tom * 45:00 Tom Christofferson's rebaptism * 48:00 How this experience has helped Bishop Larson to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ * 50:00 How this experience has helped President Checketts to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ Links That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith and Family Register for the North Star Leadership Session President David Checketts (far left) and the Christofferson brothers Interview Transcript LS: [00:02:30] Welcome back to the leading LDS podcast. My name is Kurt Francom and today I have the opportunity to be in beautiful downtown Salt Lake City with and really, I'm across the world and we'll explain that in just a minute. But, let's start with you, Tom. I'm in the home of Tom Christofferson. How are you? Tom: Very well, thank you. Thanks for joining us. LS: Yeah, well, I'm excited to have this opportunity. And, mainly this interview came to be as you release your book, "That We May Be One, a Gay Mormons Perspective on Faith and Family" and you've been on the interview circuit for that. Tom: It's been an interesting journey. LS: I bet it's been very fulfilling to share your faith through, through this method. Tom: It has been a unique opportunity to be able to talk about my feelings about the Savior and the journey that I feel I have been led along. LS: Yep, obviously we'll get the, the obvious things out of the way. So, your last name is Christofferson and you are Elder Christofferson's brother. Tom: And he is my brother. LS: Oh, that's right. You are becoming more and more famous through this, these interviews. Tom: So, we are a family of five sons. He is the oldest and I'm the youngest. LS: Nice. I'm the youngest too, so I can, I can empathize with that. That's right. That's right. And now,