“I Give Unto You Weakness” | An Interview with Jim Kasen

Jim Kasen has degrees in Organ Performance and Interpersonal
Communications from Brigham Young University, a Master of Social
Work from the University of Utah, and a Masters in Choral
Conducting from BYU. He is a licensed social worker, recently
retired as Director of University Relations at BYU, and is the
author of the book To Belong to Him. Jim first served as a branch
president in the Philippines Manila Mission, and has served in
branch presidencies at the Provo Missionary Training Center, in
elders quorum presidencies, in a bishopric, four times as a high
councilor, and as a music director, choir director, and organist
many times on the ward and stake levels. He has also served on the
Church Music Committee, as a guest organist at Temple Square, a
member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, and in many other
assignments such as directing choirs for general conference and on
the hymnal submission review sub-committee. Links To Belong to Him
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14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights 2:10
Introduction to Jim Kasen and his story 8:15 Moving forward with
his struggles with same sex attraction and faith. Jim felt like he
couldn’t abandon his faith. However, he did feel like he had to
abandon his sexuality. 12:00 Weakness is a state being. God only
gives us good things. Things to help us learn, grow, and stay close
to Him. 17:30 Jim gives his advice to church leaders as a person
that struggles with same sex attraction, anxiety, and has been
single his whole life. 25:00 You don’t want to be administered to,
you want to be ministered to. 27:40 The individuals you are leading
belong to Jesus Christ not the church. Church leaders don’t always
handle things how God wants but the Atonement of Jesus Christ
covers those mistakes. 34:00 The church is the vehicle to get me
where we need to be. We choose to get in the car and Jesus is the
driver. We might not agree with everything that the church does but
we can give it to Jesus. 39:30 See the church for what it is and be
ok if people need to unplug from the church for a bit. Some people
need to step away in order to reset. The truth is that the church
does cause hurt sometimes. 42:15 We’ve become immune and
disenchanted with the word repentance. What we need to ask
ourselves is if we are willing to change. There is a lot of agency
in being born here and being born again and we need to respect
that. 43:20 Leadership and pride. A leader should never say been
there, done that. 47:00 Jim reads a letter written to him by a
friend about learning from life’s lessons. 49:30 Jim’s book is
about his journey. It’s not a standard or formula for others to
live by. It gives us lessons on weakness and mortality. 51:15 What
Jim would say to someone that says it’s not worth it to stay in the
church and that he should have explored his sexuality 56:30 Jim’s
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