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Evergreen Conference Experiences

Comments from Attendees

Comment from an attendee at the September 2008 conference:

The Evergreen Conference has concluded and the dust has settled. How is my life any different today than it was a week ago? The following conclusions come to mind:

I'm no longer tied. I no longer am bound with shame and guilt because of SSA feelings. I can acknowledge them but don't have to act on them.
I have hope. I can date, marry and build successful intimate relationships with women.
Freedom from fear. It is not the problem itself but my perception of the problem that has held me back. Fear is one of the Adversary's greatest tools.
Increased faith. With the Lord's help, these challenges can be worked through successfully. There are examples who have done so who attended the Conference. These have all helped build my testimony and reaffirm my belief in God.

Comments from Rick:

I was petrified when I went to my first Evergreen conference. I was so sure that I was going to be "outed." I went early to get there and find a seat so that I wouldn't be there when the crowd arrived.

When I got there, a young lady was doing some room preparation. She was someone that I had attended an entirely different workshop with. My thought was that she was serving as a volunteer for a school project but she definitely would know why I was there. As people arrived one-by-one, I started seeing people who knew me from all kinds of places. I quit counting at number thirteen: the guy who lived across the hall from me at Ricks, a client from my work, and two guys from my former singles ward. My high school seminary teacher was a presenter!

The young lady that I thought was a presenter bore her testimony about her struggle with SSA. I never had a clue about her.

Yes, there were people that knew me. I felt uncomfortable, but at the same time there was this incredible feeling of peace in the room. All of these incredible men and women who shared the same struggle as I do. Parents, bishops, counselors, and brothers and sisters all united together.

The subjects of the workshops were meaningful to me. They were so timely and so needed by me. When I went to the chapel to hear the general authority speak, I was in awe of how I felt being in this group. I thought about all those years that I had sat in church feeling all alone and that I was the only person in the world that felt this way. I looked at the beautiful men and women around me and for the first time felt like I was among God's special spirits.

I will never forget the closing fireside my first year. A choir sang "The Spirit of God" like I had never heard it before. A feeling of oneness came over me. I met so many wonderful friends that will be my friends forever.

What was fear has turned to faith: a greater faith in God, faith in church leaders that are assisting us, and faith in myself that I can live with and overcome my struggles.

The evil one loves to plant fear in us: fear of people finding about about our "secret", fear of going on with our lives, fear of feeling like we cannot overcome this struggle. Cast aside your fear and walk into this with faith!

I have attended three conferences now and will continue to attend. I will take my place sitting next to my brothers and sisters. I will continue to be a part of this royal army and I will see you at the Evergreen conference!

Comments from Rob:

This was my first Evergreen Conference and it was a life-changer in every sense of the word. I was told by everyone who knew how wonderful your conferences were but their enthusiasm didn't capture the true wonder that I experienced. Thank-you all so much for conducting such a marvelous two days full of answers, direction, information, and powerful inspiration. I can't convey the magnitude of my gratitude for all of you at Evergreen who strive so mightily in faith and pure love to bring hope to those of us who struggle with SSA.

I found amongst those with whom I cried great courage, heroic faith, testimony, kindness, commitment and dedication, devotion, love, a gentle manner, a friendly face. To what greater traits of manhood can one aspire! Such faith! Such courage! It was an honor and a privilege to be amongst such men of God. I honor and revere them and hope I may more successfully emulate them. This was the first of many conferences I plan on attending.

Thank-you again.

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