The Foundation for Attraction Research (FAR) was a Utah-based research and publishing institute with the goal of providing literature and conducting research supportive of religious teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) on homosexuality, including asserting that sexual orientation change efforts were effective.[2] One of the founders, A. Dean Byrd, was also in leadership of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).[3] FAR published a guidebook for therapists in 2009, and the LDS Church's counseling organization LDS Family Services held a conference based on the book in 2011.[4]: 192 The book advised homosexual readers to seek reparative therapy through Evergreen International and LDS Family Services.[4]: 192
FAR was founded in 2005[5] and run by mostly professors from the LDS Church's largest university, Brigham Young University (BYU). These included psychology professor Dean Byrd and social work professor Shirley Cox.[6] The board of directors also consisted of BYU English professor Doris Dant,[7] law professor William Duncan,[8] religion professor John Livingstone,[9] and retired psychology professor Gawain Wells.[9] In 2009 the organization published Understanding Same-Sex Attraction through the LDS Church's publishing arm Deseret Book.[10] It advocated therapy to change sexual attractions.[11] In 2012 FAR co-hosted the Reconciling Faith and Feelings conference with the Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP).[12][13]
Foundation for Attraction Research was founded by Dennis V. Dahle, JD; A. Dean Byrd, PhD, MBA, MPH; and Shirley E. Cox, DSW, LCSW in 2005 for the purpose of developing resources and conducting research supportive of traditional Judeo-Christian standards of morality. ... The members of the Foundation's board of directors, all of whom served as editors of Understanding Same-Sex Attraction, follow: A. Dean Byrd, PhD, MBA, MPH; Shirley E. Cox, DSW, LCSW; Dennis V. Dahle, JD; Doris R. Dant, MS, MA; William C. Duncan, JD; John P. Livingstone, EdD; M. Gawain Wells, PhD
Instead, the authors of this book assert the unpopular opinion, backed by scientific research, that same-sex attraction can be lessened or eradicated in those who desire change and are willing to try. Readers who empathize with the Church's position on homosexuality will likely find hope and useful ideas in this five-hundred-page compilation ... Here essayists recount how they emerged from homosexual lifestyles to find satisfaction in rejoining the Church mainstream, some even finding success in heterosexual marriages ... As some professional and state organizations frown on therapists who believe in reorientation therapy—seeking to ban their practice, in some cases—this book fills a void.
LGBTQ people and the Latter Day Saint movement | |
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