DiscussMormonism.com

“I still go to church every week. I still study and pray every day. I still meet with my bishop to keep myself on track. I still go to the temple,” the former full-time missionary said. “Nothing has changed other than the fact that I don’t date women.”

Archuleta says he goes out with guys in the same way he went out with women — not in a sexual way.

“Being gay doesn’t translate to sex,” he said. “It’s just who we naturally connect with and have a bond with, the same way any heterosexual, faithful Latter-day Saint would want to bond and connect with someone.”

By telling his story, Archuleta hopes others like him will know they don’t have to suffer in silence or leave the church.

“There needs to be a way of knowing you can come as you are, live life as best as you can and still follow God, even if there aren’t clear answers right now,” he said.

Unfortunately, David's attempt to live the gospel as a gay man took it's toll on him, as it does on many people in the same situation of being part of a mentally abusive relationship - in this case a relationship with an institution, the Church.

In May of last year, David Archuleta was at dinner with his then-fiancée when he froze at the table — and found himself suffering a paralyzing anxiety attack.

"I was panicking. I didn't move for 30 minutes. I was thinking about having to be her partner and being intimate," Archuleta tells PEOPLE. "She said, 'What the heck is going on?' I was like, 'All I know is I can't be around you. I need three weeks. I'm going to work really hard. I'm going too fast. I'm going to pray.'"

Archuleta grew up in Utah as a devout member of the Mormon church, which condemns same-sex relationships. But for years, the singer — who rose to fame on American Idol — had repressed feelings of same-sex attraction, which finally led to his near-breakdown with his fiancée.

"I was having anxiety attacks when I was around her because you're trying to force intimacy with someone that you're not able to experience," says Archuleta. "I didn't want to accept that I was into guys."

Soon after, Archuleta called off his engagement, and in June 2021 he revealed he's a part of the LGBTQ community. Ever since, though, he has struggled with a "faith crisis," Archuleta says, "that's pretty much rocked my world." Suppressing his sexuality had taken a toll on him, and at his lowest, he says he contemplated suicide because of the church's doctrine: "I thought it would be a better choice to just end my life."

Today, Archuleta, who now identifies as queer, is still healing.

"I'm finally learning what it's like to actually love myself," Archuleta says over a Zoom interview from his Nashville home, where his new white Siberian kitten, Frosty, is playing nearby. "I feel liberated."

"For my own mental health, I can't keep putting myself in a place where it's so conflicting where they say, 'We love you so much, but at the same time, you must change who you are. Oh, you can't? Then we're going to ignore this problem,'" says Archuleta

For my own mental health, I can't keep putting myself in a place where it's so conflicting where they say, 'We love you so much, but at the same time, you must change who you are. Oh, you can't? Then we're going to ignore this problem,'" says Archuleta

IHAQ wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 02, 2022 9:32 am

Deseret News, as yet, hasn't published this latest development in David's journey...I guess it's simply not good propaganda.

Dr Exiled wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 02, 2022 5:54 pm

I really feel for the kid. He is who he is regardless of what Oaks or the other religious pretenders want.

Rivendale wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 02, 2022 8:37 pm

Dr Exiled wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 02, 2022 5:54 pm

I really feel for the kid. He is who he is regardless of what Oaks or the other religious pretenders want.

Holland has cried hours over LGBTQ issues. Then he went to a big dinner.