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NOTE: This post might contain sensitive subject matters for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church for short).
In November 6th of 2015, as a response of the legalization of same-sex marriage, the LDS church updated its policies (via divine revelation) regarding those in legal same-sex unions, stating that such couples are apostates from the church; these policies also barred such couples' children (either adopted or biological) from being baptized, confirmed, ordained, or participating in mission service until reaching adulthood and obtaining permission from the First Presidency (the Governing body of the LDS Church). Although the policy was reversed less than four years later, after intense backlash and an unknown but large number of members leaving the church, it still left an impact on those practicing members who were either LGBT or allies... today we will analyze the response to one of those members, one with a larger than usual platform and lot of anger: Tyler Glenn, lead singer of the American pop rock band Neon Trees.
SOME BACKGROUND
Neon Tress is a pop rock band from Provo, Utah you might recognize from their early 2010's big hits Animal and Everybody Talks, which peaked at #13 and #6, respectively, at the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and both were covered on Glee. Lead singer Tyler Glenn was, at the time, a practicing member of the LDS Church (like the rest of the band members) and even served a mission in Nebraska. Regarding his LDS faith, Glenn stated in a 2012 interview: "The way I was raised and being a questioner, and getting a lot of my curiosities out early with drugs and alcohol, I think it’s helped me maintain a more even keel where I’m not out of control", as it was well-known that the band did not participated on any activity that could break the Word of Wisdom (no drugs, alcohol, etc.) and other activities like premarital sex.
In [the April 10, 2014, issue of Rolling Ston
... keep reading on reddit ➡This album hits real hard 😅 and is entirely about leaving TSCC. If you haven't I'd highly recommend checking it out.
I know they are from the most disliked movies of the serie,but i kind want to see them back,atleast Glenn
https://www.nhl.com/news/flames-provide-qualifying-offers/c-325807902
Sent with @NHL
Tyler spit on the portrait of Joe Smith in a video among other things. If it was the true church and not correlated to money he would be exed but no it's all about public relations and Money Money Money.
I couldn’t have predicted, like much of us, that 2020 would look and feel like this, but I’m proud to release a new body of work amidst unprecedented times, because it was written and created from isolation, loneliness and an innate desire to overcome and move on, a place many of us are now in. I came out after my band's 3rd record, had a faith crisis and abandoned much of my belief system on my solo record, and here we are, the 4th album by my band, my 5th studio record as a recording artist and the FIRST album I’ve written from a completely new perspective, without any personal limitations, or a creative ceiling on where I can go. I'm so excited to bring people into this new era of Neon Trees, and even more so into the world of this record. It’s not an album written from a place of enlightenment, but written from the place of going through it, uncertain of where you’re headed, but determined to not go back to where you were.New Album 'I Can Feel You Forgetting Me' Out Now:https://neontrees.ffm.to/icfyfmProof: https://i.redd.it/2z21zl9fyoc51.png
I think will all carry that pain the rest of our lives
I am absolutely loving their new song together. I watched just the beginning of Tyler and Paul's newest interview with John Dehlin and after Tyler said his first bit, I had to pause it and go listen to their song. It's so incredibly validating to hear people write music about this experience we are all going through. I hate that others have had to feel this, but it's just really helpful and comforting to know that I'm not going through this alone. I'm not sure if Tyler or Paul will see this, but I just wanted to put it out there how grateful I am for this song. Thanks for your hard work! <3
An influential leader for LGBTQ rights. Link
I sincerely don't wish excommunication on anyone, but does anyone find it odd/inconsistent/suspicious that....
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I was excommunicated for Mormon Stories Podcast, supporting same-sex marriage, Ordain Women, and publicly expressing doubts,
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Several people like @Marisa Marisa Pond Calderwood, Carson Calderwood, Alan Rock Waterman, Amy Robinson Malouf, Jake Malouf, Clay Christiansen, Kate Kelly, Jeremy Runnells, etc. have been threatened and/or excommunicated for things as trivial as expressing public questions/doubts on blogs/Facebook posts,
and yet...
- Tyler Glenn has not yet been excommunicated in spite of being openly gay, publicly denouncing the LDS church's truth claims and the authority of modern prophets (including spitting on a picture of Joseph Smith and tying up and licking an LDS General Authority in his latest video), and publicly revealing temple signs/tokens?
Granted - Tyler is doing these things in the context of thoughtful, artistic expression...but still!
I love Tyler. He is clearly one of my closest and dearest friends. And I don't want to see anyone hurt or excommunicated. But what does this inconsistency say about the LDS church and its policies around church discipline?
To me, what this inconsistency reveals is that LDS Church discipline/excommunication is not about fairness, doctrine, or policy...it is not in any way rooted in Christ's teachings ("Go thy way and sin no more!")....and it certainly is not about the spiritual or temporal welfare of the subject of the disciplinary council.
From what I can gather, excommunication is primarily about:
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Defending the corporate assets of the church, along with the insecurely held, faux authority of church leaders, and
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Cowardly hiding behind the mirage of "local decision making" and the anti-Christian excuse of cutting off the "one" in a condescending and superficial effort to paternalistically "protect" the ninety-nine.
Excommunication is unfair/unjust/barbaric/medieval at its core, is mainly a corporate/political action, and is a true miscarriage of Christianity.
My 2 cents. :)
❤️👊❌
I just wanted to write a post showing an appreciation for Tyler Glenn. For reference, I was inspired to write this post because Tyler Glenn wrote the main theme song that's played in Love, Victor and is also the lead singer for Neon Trees. But here I wanted to talk about his solo work.
His album Excommunication is super important to me and many others who have struggled with being gay and what that means in terms of religion. I myself am non-religious now but at certain times in my life I felt very, very similarly to Tyler Glenn. I still do from time to time. The album is about the statements made by the LDS church in 2015 and was released in October 2016. It is also about a breakup. Hence the name 'Excommunication' as in communication with your ex, and being excommunicated from a church. Sonically, it's a blend of new wave/80s inspirations while also having a sense of modernity. The songs are perfectly balanced with catchiness and heartbreak. Anyway...suffice to say I was really happy to hear he did a song for the show and thought I'd write this up.
I hope this belongs here and isn't a strange post or anything. Let me know what you all think! Hope you give his solo work a listen.
Has anyone else here discovered this record? Tyler Glenn is the lead singer of Neon Trees, and came out as gay in 2014. He was also raised Mormon. The record deals with his feelings and experiences as he came out and left the church. I was not a Mormon, but I can relate with SO much of what he’s putting out here. It’s also catchy as hell. 10/10 definitely recommend.
https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flames-provide-qualifying-offers/c-319363366
