The Outreach Firesides are contiuing on a monthly basis at 1788 W. 11400 S in South Jordan. The last fireside was held on April 15 with Dr. Bill Bradshaw from BYU as the featured speaker. There were 84 in attendance. The next fireside will be on May 20 at 7 pm. All are invited to attend and encouraged to bring potluck for an hour of visiting in the cultural hall after the speaker.
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.
