Questions and Answers For Individuals

Does God love me if I experience same-sex attraction or identify as gay?

Yes, God loves you completely.

When the Book of Mormon prophet Nephi was faced with a question he didn’t know the answer to, he held on to a truth that he knew with full confidence: “I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” (1 Nephi 11:17). We can have the same confidence that God loves us fully and completely.

President Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “The first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength—that’s the first great commandment. But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength” (“Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 127).

God loves all of us. He loves those of different faiths and those without any faith. He loves those who suffer. He loves the rich and poor alike. He loves people of every race and culture, those who are married or single, and those who experience same-sex attraction or who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Even when we may not feel that love, we can trust that it is still there.

“God loves you because you are His spirit daughter [or son],” said Elder Dale G. Renlund. “Sometimes we may not feel His love, but it is always there. God’s love is perfect. Our ability to sense that love is not” (“Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny,” Liahona, May 2022, 70).

Heavenly Father gave His Son, Jesus Christ, for you.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Nothing more fully demonstrates how much God loves you than His willingness to sacrifice His Son, Jesus Christ, so that you—and all of His children—could overcome sin and death and return to live with Him again.

Nothing better expresses the love of Jesus Christ than His willingness to experience the pains and afflictions of all mankind, to give His life to atone for our sins, and to break the bands of death for all (see Alma 7:11–13).