This past Sunday, September 11, Fred and Marilyn Matis spoke to a large group of 60+ in an LDS Chapel in South Jordan, Utah. Fred and Marilyn reflected on their years of organizing the Matis Firesides in Lehi at their home and at their ward chapel.
With Fred and Marilyn stepping back, a new committee has been formed with June and Tom Kerby as Chairs and the Firesides are going forward in the Kerby’s stake in South Jordan. This new committee honored Fred and Marilyn for their years of service and laid out plans for the continuation of the firesides in this new venue.
The Mission Statement for the firesides is as follows:
“Outreach Firesides seek to uplift and encourage Latter-day Saints who are attracted to the same gender or who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, or transgender. Friends and family are also welcome.”
In addition to the Matis speakers, Brent Kerby (on the piano) and Jared Ripplinger (on the viola) played a beautiful original arrangement of “If You Could Hie to Kolob.” Refreshments were potluck in the cultural hall and there was socializing at the conclusion of the meeting.
The Outreach Firesides will continue on the second Sunday of each month.
The next one will be Oct 9th. Speakers have been arranged for Oct and Nov and in December the Fireside will return to Lehi for the traditional music fireside as held in years past with the Matis Firesides.
The Oct and Nov firesides will be held at the chapel located at 1988 West 11400 South,
South Jordan, UT on the second Sunday of each month. Sunday dress is encouraged and all are welcome.
About Ron S
Ron Schow splits his time between residences in both Pocatello, Idaho and Salt Lake City. He is Professor Emeritus at Idaho State University (ISU) where he has taught since 1975. Although semi-retired he continues to teach some in the School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences in the Division of Health Sciences. A fifth generation Latter-day Saint with ancestors from Denmark and England, Ron grew up in Preston, Idaho. He served a mission for the LDS Church in the Central Atlantic States Mission (Virginia/N. Carolina--1961-63). Later he graduated in Biology at Utah State University and then earned a Ph.D. in Audiology from Northwestern University in 1974. Before coming to ISU, he taught at Illinois State University (1972-75). Ron is the author of numerous books and journal articles and was one of the editors of "Peculiar People: Mormons and Same Sex Orientation" (Signature Books, 1991). He had a close association with his nephew, Brad, who was gay and died of AIDS in 1986. That gave him a desire to study all the implications from professional and Church perspectives. Ron has served in numerous church callings, including high council, bishopric, and as stake mission president. Currently, he serves as home evening chairman in a small branch for elderly members. He is the father of 5 children and 19 grandchildren. In addition to participating in his branch and stake in Idaho he is currently attending an LDS ward in Salt Lake City where sometimes there are half a dozen gay men attending. There he is in a supportive role to encourage the Bishop and other leaders of the Inner City Mission to make the ward a welcoming place for MOHOs who continue to be or who might be encouraged toward activity in the Church. He regularly attends LDS Reconciliation meetings in Salt Lake City, and Family Fellowship Forums in Salt Lake/Provo. These are groups that he helped organize. LDS Reconciliation was formed in Idaho Falls in 1991 and continues to meet each Sunday night in Salt Lake City. Family Fellowship was formed in Salt Lake City in 1993. Many members of these groups are active in the Church and their meetings involve prayer, singing hymns and gospel discussion (Reconciliation) or scientific discussion (Family Fellowship) in a format which encourages wholeness and spirituality similarly to the way these goals are fostered by the Gay Mormon Forum. Ron also participates on the North Star Friends and Family discussion group.
