Foundation for Attraction Research

{{Infobox organization

| name = Foundation for Attraction Research (FAR)

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| formation = 2005

| dissolved = 2014

| type = Research Institute (homosexuality, religion, Latter-day Saints)

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| purpose = Developing resources and conducting research supportive of LDS teachings on homosexuality

| headquarters = Lehi, Utah, US

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| leader_title = Founder

| leader_name = Dennis V. Dahle{{Cite news |last=Dahle |first=Dennis V. |date=February 25, 2011 |title=Religion, science and same-sex attraction |newspaper=Salt Lake Tribune |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=50873408&itype=CMSID |access-date=2023-05-19}}

| leader_title2 = Founder

| leader_name2 = Shirley Cox

| leader_title3 = Founder

| leader_name3 = A. Dean Byrd

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| parent_organization = Brigham Young University

| affiliations = The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20140518125918/http://www.foundationforattractionresearch.org/ FoundationForAttractionResearch.org]

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The Foundation for Attraction Research (FAR) was a Utah-based research and publishing institute with the goal of providing literature and conducting research supportive of religious teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) on homosexuality, including asserting that sexual orientation change efforts were effective. One of the founders, A. Dean Byrd, was also in leadership of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).{{Cite magazine |last=Staff |date=April 8, 2012 |title=Ex-gay movement leader A. Dean Byrd dies |url=https://www.qsaltlake.com/news/2012/04/08/ex-gay-movement-leader-a-dean-byrd-dies/ |magazine=QSaltLake}} FAR published a guidebook for therapists in 2009, and the LDS Church's counseling organization LDS Family Services held a conference based on the book in 2011.{{cite book |last1=Petrey |first1=Taylor G. |author-link=Taylor G. Petrey|title=Tabernacles of Clay: Sexuality and Gender in Modern Mormonism |date=June 15, 2020 |publisher=University of North Carolina Press |location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina |isbn=978-1469656212 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cvXGDwAAQBAJ}}{{rp|192}} The book advised homosexual readers to seek reparative therapy through Evergreen International and LDS Family Services.{{rp|192}}

History

FAR was founded in 2005{{cite web|title=About Us|url= http://www.foundationforattractionresearch.org:80/about|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021053909/http://www.foundationforattractionresearch.org/about|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 21, 2011| website= foundationforattractionresearch.org |publisher=Foundation for Attraction Research|quote=Foundation for Attraction Research was founded by Dennis V. Dahle, JD; A. Dean Byrd, PhD, MBA, MPH; and Shirley E. Cox, DSW, LCSW in 2005 for the purpose of developing resources and conducting research supportive of traditional Judeo-Christian standards of morality. ... The members of the Foundation's board of directors, all of whom served as editors of Understanding Same-Sex Attraction, follow: A. Dean Byrd, PhD, MBA, MPH; Shirley E. Cox, DSW, LCSW; Dennis V. Dahle, JD; Doris R. Dant, MS, MA; William C. Duncan, JD; John P. Livingstone, EdD; M. Gawain Wells, PhD|access-date=June 15, 2019}} and run by mostly professors from the LDS Church's largest university, Brigham Young University (BYU). These included psychology professor Dean Byrd and social work professor Shirley Cox.{{cite web|title=Brigham Young University's School of Social Work Annual Newsletter 2015–2016|url=http://socialwork.byu.edu/Content/Documents/Documents/Newsletters/Winter%202016%20Newsletter.pdf |website= socialwork.byu.edu |publisher=BYU|page=7|access-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223042611/http://socialwork.byu.edu/Content/Documents/Documents/Newsletters/Winter%202016%20Newsletter.pdf|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=dead}} The board of directors also consisted of BYU English professor Doris Dant,{{cite news|title='Glory' author to speak at BYU|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/681923/Glory-author-to-speak-at-BYU.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171217235449/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/681923/Glory-author-to-speak-at-BYU.com|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 17, 2017|work=Deseret News|publisher=LDS Church|date=February 23, 1999|via=Internet Archive}} law professor William Duncan,{{cite web|last1=Duncan|first1=William|title=William C. Duncan|url=https://www.fairmormon.org/testimonies/scholars/william-c-duncan|website=fairmormon.org|publisher=FAIR Mormon|date=July 2010}} religion professor John Livingstone,{{cite news|last1=Dahle |first1=Dennis|last2=Livingstone|first2=John|last3=Wells|first3=Gawain|title=Religion, science and same-sex attraction|url=http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=50873408&itype=CMSID|work=Salt Lake Tribune|date=February 25, 2011}} and retired psychology professor Gawain Wells. In 2009 the organization published Understanding Same-Sex Attraction through the LDS Church's publishing arm Deseret Book.{{cite web|title=Understanding Same-Sex Attraction: Where to Turn and How to Help (LDS Edition)|url=https://deseretbook.com/p/understanding-same-sex-attraction-where-turn-how-help-lds-edition-various-70458?variant_id=29431-paperback|website=Deseret Book |publisher=LDS Church}} It advocated therapy to change sexual attractions.{{cite journal |last1=Reid |first1=Kimberly W. |title=Review: Understanding Same-Sex Attraction: Where to Turn and How to Help |journal=BYU Studies Quarterly |date=2010 |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=189–190 |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/file/9818/download?token=JF9zBOb0 |quote=Instead, the authors of this book assert the unpopular opinion, backed by scientific research, that same-sex attraction can be lessened or eradicated in those who desire change and are willing to try. Readers who empathize with the Church's position on homosexuality will likely find hope and useful ideas in this five-hundred-page compilation ... Here essayists recount how they emerged from homosexual lifestyles to find satisfaction in rejoining the Church mainstream, some even finding success in heterosexual marriages ... As some professional and state organizations frown on therapists who believe in reorientation therapy—seeking to ban their practice, in some cases—this book fills a void. |access-date=May 19, 2023 |archive-date=November 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109061545/https://byustudies.byu.edu/file/9818/download?token=JF9zBOb0 |url-status=dead }} In 2012 FAR co-hosted the Reconciling Faith and Feelings conference with the Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP).{{cite web|title=Video for AMCAP/FAR conference addressing same-sex attraction now available online|url=http://ldslights.org/video-for-amcapfar-conference-addressing-same-sex-attraction-now-available/|website=ldslights.org|publisher=North Star |date=March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915155120/https://ldslights.org/video-for-amcapfar-conference-addressing-same-sex-attraction-now-available/| archive-date= September 15, 2018 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |title=Reconciling Faith and Feelings Conference 2012 Highlights |url=https://ldsamcap.org/reconciling-faith-and-feelings-conference-2012-highlights/ |access-date=2023-05-19 |publisher=Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychotherapists |date=2012}}

Publications

Understanding Same-Sex Attraction: Where to Turn and How to Help (2009){{Cite book |last1=Livingstone |first1=John |last2=Cox |first2=Shirley |last3=Duncan |first3=William |last4=Wells |first4=M. Gawain |last5=Reid |first5=Kimberly |last6=Dahle |first6=Dennis |last7=Byrd |first7=A. Dean |last8=Dant |first8=Doris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_oCrXwAACAAJ |title=Understanding Same-sex Attraction: Where to Turn and How to Help |date=2009 |publisher=Foundation for Attraction Research |isbn=978-1-932597-69-1 |access-date=2023-05-20 |url-access=limited |via=Google Books}}{{Cite magazine |last=Dahle |first=Dennis V. |date=October 30, 2012 |title=An Invitation to Take a Stance with Faith, Hope, and Charity |url=https://issuu.com/sftfjournal/docs/finalweb |magazine= Stance for the Family |page=9 |access-date=2023-05-19 |via=Issuu}}{{Cite journal |author= |date=January 1, 2010 |title=Understanding Same-Sex Attraction: Where to Turn and How to Help |url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/understanding-same-sex-attraction-where-to-turn-and-how-to-help/ |journal=BYU Studies Quarterly |volume=49 |issue=1 |issn=2167-8472|pages=189–190}}