And behold, ye shall meet together oft;

and ye shall not forbid any man from coming unto you when ye shall meet together, but suffer them that they may come unto you and forbid them not;

But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out; and if it so be that they come unto you oft ye shall pray for them unto the Father, in my name.

Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.

Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.

And ye see that I have commanded that none of you should go away, but rather have commanded that ye should come unto me, that ye might feel and see; even so shall ye do unto the world;

and whosoever breaketh this commandment suffereth himself to be led into temptation.

3 Nephi 18:22-25

Jesus’ love includes everyone. He died for everyone. He reaches out to everyone. He has made a place for everyone. In his God’s house are many rooms and mansions of divine connection. There is a place in heaven for everyone who desires to be there. There is a reserved place at the table for each of God’s children. All of humanity will be resurrected by Christ’s power and received into a rainbow of heavenly glories. Love is about ever greater inclusion and connection. It is not about exclusion. Jesus calls us to be One. To worship is to come together.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 14:1-3

Jesus calls us to be more inclusive. He called a very diverse set of disciples to all come together into one group. He included them all in his ministry of love. All of them are valued by him. When Jesus created the earth, he created beautiful diversity. The creation is ongoing! He didn’t just create a binary day and night. Jesus continues to create sunrises and sunsets. He creates gradations of sunlight, moonlight, and starlight. He created foggy mornings and snowy nights. He creates rainbows where sunshine and rain meet. He created both stationary stars as well as the wandering stars that we call planets. He created comets that are seen for several nights and also calls new shooting stars to streak across the sky in an instant. Jesus didn’t just create a binary dry land and sea. He continues to create beaches that are reformed each day with the tides. He put islands in the sea and lakes on the land. He continues to reform them and recreate them with erosion, tectonic movements, and volcanos. He continues to reshape marshes, swamps, rivers, canyons, valleys, sand dunes, hills, and mountains. The creation story is not about a one time event. It is not about either-or, black-and-white, opposite binaries. It is an ongoing story involving great variation and diversity. The creation story continues. The creation is not finished. The earth, humanity, and each of us are still changing. The earth and each of us will eventually die and be recreated. Adam and Eve were created as humans in Jesus’ image. Not just them though. Each of us was born as a new variation of humanity made in Jesus’ image. Like everything else in creation, Jesus made and continues to make people in a wide variety of colors, sizes, sexes, genders, orientations, talents, gifts, and so on. The creation of humanity and each of us is not finished. Someday, our bodies will be reformed and reshaped. The rainbow of humanity will be remade again with new colors and variations while all being in the image of Jesus’ resurrected and immortal body.

When speaking to his disciples about marriage, Jesus also spoke about people who were outside the mold of traditional marriage. Some of these were considered “less than” and were sexual minorities within the ancient society. I have inserted my interpretation and commentary within the verses.

But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.

[These verses don’t apply to everyone. Not all of his disciples will understand this teaching. ]

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb

[I think it is interesting that this is the first type that Jesus mentions. If we follow the example of Nephi and liken the scriptures to our day, then we can apply this to LGBTQIA+ individuals who may not fit into the binary male and female mold or who do not fall into the mold of traditional marriage relationships.]

and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men

[I think this includes various types of emotional, physical, or psychological abuse that prevent the formation of loving marriage relationships or which prevent a person from having children. Anciently this also included slaves who were castrated]:

and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake

[I think that celibate young missionaries who postpone marital relationships so that they can focus on serving the Lord during a mission rather than starting a family fall into this category. This may also apply to single members who chose to remain celibate until marriage in order to honor their covenants and Christ].

He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

[again this teaching isn’t for everyone]

Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

[I see a parallel in the disciples turning away little children and the ancient society viewing eunuchs as lesser individuals. Note that it is the disciples rather than outsiders who were excluding the children who were brought to Jesus.]

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

[I see a parallel here of Jesus reaching out to his LGBTQIA+ children who may have been rejected by society or even by his errant disciples. The two passages of scripture one right after the other are connected in my view. In both cases, the eunuchs and little children were minorities within the socio-religious hierarchy that Jesus was dismantling. He has a place and a work for them to do in his kingdom. They are not excluded by Jesus, but are purposefully included.]

Matthew 19:11-14

In ancient Israel, eunuchs were not allowed to participate in temple rituals because they were considered ceremonially un-whole. This reminds me of the disciples trying to prevent the children from coming to Jesus. In ancient Israel society there was more than only two sexes. Ancient Jews recognized at least six categories of sex. Judaism has recognized nonbinary persons for millennia. Some eunuchs were regarded as a quasi in-between category that were neither fully male nor female. There is an oft quoted scripture mastery verse in Isaiah that has taken on a new meaning for me as I consider God’s many LGBTQI+ children. However, most disciples have unfortunately not taken the time to read it within its broader context.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

Below is my commentary around this verse leading up to a grand finale about God’s promises to righteous persons who may be excluded or treated as a “lesser than” minority within the socio-religious community hierarchy.

Isaiah chapter 55:1-5 is a call for everyone to come to Jesus. Jesus invites everyone to come to him to partake of the gospel of his body and atoning sacrifice. His bread and wine is better than any other. Jacob quotes this scripture and discusses it in 2 Nephi 9:49-51 with an invitation to come to Jesus.

Isaiah 55:6-7 is a call for repentance. It is a call to seek the Lord, talk with him, forsake our sins, and change our thoughts and hearts. The Lord will have mercy on us.

Isaiah 55:8-9 is a declaration that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our ways. The “our” in this verse is the believers who would read and study this verse. God’s ways are higher than the ways of those who call themselves disciples.

Isaiah 55:10-13 is an explanation that God creates life within the earth. God waters the earth and causes the plants to grow. Likewise, God’s words have the power of life. This parallels Alma 32 which states that if we plant the word of God in our hearts, it will grow within us into a tree of everlasting life. The Joy of God’s word will cause the mountains to sing, the trees to clap, and all of creation to rejoice. Jesus will replace thorns with good plants and trees. The goodness of Jesus is an everlasting sign that will not be “cut off” which alludes to tyrant nations who made their slaves eunuchs. Jesus the great creator of heaven, earth, and humanity will cause the eunuchs who are unable to have children to flourish and flower with eternal life. He is the giver of life to every person and to the whole earth.

Isaiah 56:1-2 is the preamble for Jesus explaining the blessings that he will give to those that the religious community treats as “lesser than” and marginalizes. This includes new converts to the community (son of strangers) and also eunuchs. Jesus admonishes Israel to do justice for his salvation is come. His righteousness is revealed in the following quoted verses for those who are marginalized but still keep his sabbaths and worship him. His thoughts are higher than ours. The following verses cover Isaiah 56:3-8.

Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

[Jesus is about inclusion. He doesn’t want those who are marginalized by the religious community to internalize their rejection. He doesn’t reject them! His ways are higher and holier. Those who have converted and joined the community should not feel that they don’t belong. Jesus accepts them. Those who cannot have children are not a dry tree that bears no fruit. Jesus has the power of creation within himself and can cause the flowers to bloom just as he caused Aaron’s rod to bud. Being marginalized by a religious community who is supposed to be following God is extremely painful. When those who are supposed to be the most loving reject you, it hurts so much more. Jesus was acquainted with this pain and betrayal. The religious leaders in his day who should have welcomed him were those who ultimately sought his death. Their rejection of Jesus from the community was out of fear rather than love. They deceived themselves as they sought to be the sword of God’s justice not knowing that they were acting against God’s will. Jesus taught that we are to have mercy and extend love. We are to leave the justice and enforcement of God’s laws to him. Whenever we attempt to enforce God’s justice on others, we actually go against his will and condemn ourselves. God is able to serve justice against his own laws and doesn’t need our help. Those who are unrighteously marginalized by the religious community are not marginalized by God. Jesus understands the pain that they feel.]

For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

[The eunuchs were excluded from participating in temple rituals. Yet, Jesus has a place for them in his Father’s house. The eunuchs could not fully participate in the Abrahamic covenant because they did not have children as an inheritance who would remember their name for generations. A posterity is an important part of the Abrahamic promises. Cutting off a man’s posterity is cutting off his genetic blood line that persists after he dies. However, Jesus states that he will give faithful eunuchs a name better than sons or daughters. He will give them an everlasting name that can’t be “cut off” or taken away. Their inheritance from God will be better than a posterity who remembers their name. In addition, eunuchs were not considered fully male nor female within the ancient society. For some nonbinary persons who don’t identify as cisgender male or female, the thought of receiving a name from God that is better than the name of son or daughter may have additional special meaning to them.

Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

[Jesus invites everyone. Unfortunately, some new converts may be treated differently by some members who act unrighteously. They may be viewed as not being as faithful, not as blessed, or not as worthy because they weren’t born into the covenant or born into the community. This is wrong. Jesus doesn’t want new converts treated this way and doesn’t want new converts to think this way. Even if some righteous people are marginalized or excluded from fully participating in religious rites by the community, God accepts their offerings. Heavenly Father’s heavenly mansion will be a house of prayer for all of God’s children.]

The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.

[The gathering of Israel is ongoing and is being expanded! It is extended to those that are marginalized or outcast from the community. The gathering will expand across the entire earth and will grow until it spans all of humanity. All who desire to join themselves to Jesus will be gathered. In Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast in Luke 14, those who were originally invited come up with excuses for not attending. The Lord’s servants then go and gather anyone they can to the wedding feast. Those who were originally invited do not taste of the Lord’s supper. If the religious community cannot learn to become more loving and learn to stop marginalizing others, then they will be limited in their ability to taste of Jesus’ love at the feast. They will have excluded themselves.]

Isaiah 56:9-12 is a call against religious leaders who do not understand the Lord’s ways and who marginalize portions of the community. These types of leaders and watchmen are blind and ignorant. They cannot really speak God’s true words to the people. They are shepherds that cannot understand and look to their own way and their own interests. Their ways and their thoughts are beneath the Lord’s ways and the Lord’s thoughts. They call to the community to come and drink of their teachings, but their water is not at the source of Jesus and is intermingled with their own biases and personal philosophies.

Jesus is about radical inclusion to the extent that he seeks the one sheep out of the ninety and nine. The work of the gathering includes all of humanity. This is why we perform temple ordinances for all of humanity. God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and ways. He sees the heart. He knows the end from the beginning. He is the creator of life. He calls for greater inclusivity and warns against exclusion. He created all of humanity and loves all of humanity. He has prepared a place in his mansions of glory for all those that will humbly come to him. As part of the great commandment, he calls us to love not only him, but each other. We show our love to God by serving and loving each other. Jesus loves everyone and if we are to be true disciples, we must do the same. God loves the world (yes the world) so much that he sent Jesus to suffer and die for everyone. If we do not adopt his ways, we risk temptation and being excluded from the wedding feast. If we judge and exclude others, we ultimately end up judging and excluding ourselves.