Hall of Fame quarterback, Steve Young, and his wife, Barb, both members of the Church of Jesus Christ LDS, were the keynote speakers at the 32nd annual Affirmation Conference for the Mormon lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Salt Lake City.
The conference, which revolved around a theme of spiritual healing and reconciliation for those who identify as being LGBT or same-sex attracted, began Friday night, Sept. 13, with Benji Schwimmer, a gay Mormon, national swing dance champion and winner of the reality TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Steve and his wife Barb spoke on Saturday night.
Young and his wife said in a statement that they are happy to be part of 2013 Affirmation Conference, “where they hope to lend their voices to the healing work of making our families, our society and our church more welcoming places for our LGBT brothers and sisters.
“I consider you my friends,” Young told the group of approximately 400 who were in the audience. I want “to build bridges with my gay brothers and sisters. We need to see each other as Jesus sees us.”
“Throwing without knowing is pure faith,” Steve said. Faith, he said, is “fundamental fuel for the human experience. If the experience is to return to our Heavenly Father, faith is the fuel from beginning to end.”
Watch video of Steve Young speaking at LGBT Affirmation Conference
Steve Young played college football for Brigham Young University, he played in the NFL for Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers. Young was named the Most Valuable Player of the NFL in 1992 and 1994, and the MVP of Super Bowl XXIX. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If you would like to book football speakers or NFL stars like Steve Young for a speaking engagement, autograph signing, appearance, endorsement, Super Bowl party, charity fundraiser or special event, contact Steve Young’s agent for speaker and appearance fees or call 800.966.1380.