Formation | 2005 |
---|---|
Dissolved | 2014 |
Type | Research Institute (homosexuality, religion, Latter-day Saints) |
Purpose | Developing resources and conducting research supportive of LDS teachings on homosexuality |
Headquarters | Lehi, Utah, US |
Founder | Dennis V. Dahle[1] |
Founder | Shirley Cox |
Founder | A. Dean Byrd |
Parent organization | Brigham Young University |
Affiliations | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
Website | FoundationForAttractionResearch.org |
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.[2] One of the founders, A. Dean Byrd, was also in leadership of the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH).[3] 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.[4]: 192 The book advised homosexual readers to seek reparative therapy through Evergreen International and LDS Family Services.[4]: 192
FAR was founded in 2005[5] 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.[6] The board of directors also consisted of BYU English professor Doris Dant,[7] law professor William Duncan,[8] religion professor John Livingstone,[9] and retired psychology professor Gawain Wells.[9] In 2009 the organization published Understanding Same-Sex Attraction through the LDS Church's publishing arm Deseret Book.[10] It advocated therapy to change sexual attractions.[11] In 2012 FAR co-hosted the Reconciling Faith and Feelings conference with the Association of Latter-day Saint Counselors and Psychotherapists (AMCAP).[12][13]