Evergreen International

Evergreen International's first simple web page, was first captured August 1, 2001, when the organization's working names were Evergreen Family Friendship Service, and Shanxi Evergreen Service, [Archived]

The organization described itself:

Since 1993 Evergreen has been working in Shanxi Province, China, providing public service to the common people.

and lists two officers:

Patricia Mortenson - Personnel
P.O. Box 38488
Colorado Springs CO 80937-8488
United States of America
EFFS@pcisys.net [PCI Broadband--Your Hometown Internet Service Provider; 5770 Flintridge Dr. Suite 100, Colorado Springs, CO 80918]

and

Finn Torjesen
Tel: +86 (351) 353-2565
Fax: +86 (351) 353-1687
Tel: +1 (719) 575-9922
Fax:+1 (719) 575-9923
SES@public.ty.sx.cn [http://www.ty.sx.cn/lcrx/index.asp, a Chinese-language web service]

http://www.EvergreenInternational.org
currently redirects to
http://northstarlds.org/about-us/evergreen-international/
[see below]


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Evergreen International was then reconstituted as "the most complete resource for Latter-day Saints who experience same-sex attraction," on a web page first captured October 28, 2004. [Archived]

The About Us page [1st web capture Dec. 9, 2004] goes on to say:

"Evergreen is a nonprofit corporation that offers help to people who want to diminish these attractions and overcome homosexual behavior. It is also a resource to their loved ones, professional counselors, religious leaders, and friends." [Archived]

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Less than ten years after being reformated from a service organization for Chinese commoners into a reparative therapy for homosexual Mormons, it ceased operations, being subsumed into a similar national LDS-sanctioned "pro-family" effort called NorthStar, which "has a neutral position on cause and cure," but through "sponsor monitored support groups," seeks to harmonize the conflict between religious gays and their church by promoting sexless lives, and discouraging any affectional commitments between same-sex couples that could be recognized and held in regard by the church community.

January 2, 2014, The Salt Lake Tribune, Longtime support group for gay Mormons shuts down, by Peggy Fletcher Stack,

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) LDS general authority Jay E. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy gives a keynote address at the annual Evergreen Education and Resource Conference in the chapel at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Evergreen is a group of partners that reaches out to Mormons with same-sex attraction.

The first word in the title of the 943-word Salt Lake City Tribune article--"longtime"--is a rather ambitious description, considering the first web appearance of the well-funded church gay-conversion effort occurred only a few days before George W. Bush was "reelected" United States President in 2004.

The ultimate meaning of the LDS Church's decision to take a lower profile on the issue may be summed up by a comment left at the SLC Tribune article by one Agi Tater:

"This approach 'is more consistent with national positions by the American Psychological Association that change is not possible and reparative therapy is not effective,' says Richard Ferre, an adjunct psychiatry professor at the University of Utah. 'The group is still trying to provide a support for Mormon gays to maintain their connections with their religion.'"

Whatever it takes to keep the tithing coming in. But remember a couple of years ago when Boyd K. Packer reaffirmed 'God's word' that being gay is a choice? And remember the cruel aversion therapy at BYU involving porn and electric shocks to the genitals?

My, how doctrines change when revenues go down. This underlying motive is so transparent with every doctrinal change that it's hard to understand why people just can't see it.

An undated church-sponsored webpage [1st web capture Oct. 6, 2011] titled LDS Resources for Latter-day Saints dealing with homosexual attraction, says of the "BIG THREE" organizations dealing with the question of Mormonism and homosexuality, that NorthStar, which Evergreen was folded into, began about "five years ago," but the church sponsored PR also says that the Evergreen "group [is] now in the 21st year," which would make its beginnings three years earlier than Evergreen's stated founding in 1993 as a Chinese missionary cause. [The third group is Affirmation, which "was organized in 1977 and tends to support those who do gay dating or are in gay marriage." (emphasis added)]

Another article in The Salt Lake Tribune from May 31, 2012, shows how precipitous was the Mormon change of heart--or strategy perhaps. In Expert backs away from gay 'cure,' but Mormon group doesn't, Peggy Fletcher Stack reports on Robert L. Spitzer, a professor of psychiatry and psychology's public disavowal of his seminal 2001 study, which had concluded that a homosexual orientation could be reoriented to heterosexuality. In response, Focus On the Family refused to take down their citations to Spitzer's debunked scientific conclusions supporting gay conversion therapy, thus becoming, in the public eye, at least, the one thing Jesus Christ most forcefully railed against--ideological and theological hypocrites. (Mormons already stood accused of it: If anyone should not be casting stones at nontraditional marriage arrangements, it would have to be the only polygamists in Judeo-Christendom.)

It is no wonder that a year-and-a-half later common sense dictated a collapse of their most extreme public measures. [ The 1,385 Comments, which follow the Tribune article, indicate to me a forced confrontation is taking place between the church and the issue.]

It is still a question why the Church of Latter-day Saints, with its immense financial savvy and might, would recycle a not-for-profit corporation tasked with overseas missionary work, into the controversial role of reconciling gay existence inside the Mormon church family, rather than simply incorporating a fresh 501(c)(3) entity. What became of the spiritual and material needs of the non-billionaire population of Shanxi Province, China? Did officials use an existing structure that had corporate traces, if not an actual track record, in order to give the impression their work with gays had not been a spur-of-the-moment cultural reaction to facts they could no longer deny? This seems to be the case, since the Mormon public relations machine overstated the lifespan of Evergreen by more than one-hundred percent.

We also have the Mormon re-revelation that took place in 1978 concerning the subordinate position African-Americans took in the hierarchies of heaven and earth, as a further example, if nothing else, of divine Latter-day flip-flopping.





May 9, 2001, Washington Post - AP, Study: Some Gays Can Go Straight, by Malcolm Ritter, AP Science Writer,

October 2003, Archives of Sexual Behavior, Vol. 32, No. 5, pp. 403–417, Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation? 200 Participants Reporting a Change from Homosexual to Heterosexual Orientation, by Robert L. Spitzer, M.D.

January 3, 2005, The New Yorker, The Dictionary of Disorder; How one man revolutionized psychiatry, by Alix Spiegel,
August 16, 2005, Washington Post, Vowing to Set the World Straight, by Sandra G. Boodman,

[1st web capture Oct. 6, 2011] LDS Resources for Latter-day Saints dealing with homosexual attraction,
December 7, 2011, WDCW-TV News, Greg Quinlan Full Interview,

April 11, 2012, The American Prospect, My So-Called Ex-Gay Life, by Gabriel Arana,
April 11, 2012, Truth Wins Out, Big News: Dr. Robert Spitzer Renounces Infamous 'Ex-Gay' Study, by Wayne Besen,
April 25, 2012, Truth Wins Out, Exclusive: Dr. Robert Spitzer Apologizes to Gay Community for Infamous 'Ex-Gay' Study, by John M. Becker,
May 18, 2012, New York Times, Psychiatry Giant Sorry for Backing Gay 'Cure', by Benedict Carey,
[Read All Comments (620)]
May 31, 2012, The Salt Lake Tribune, Expert backs away from gay 'cure,' but Mormon group doesn't, by Peggy Fletcher Stack, [1385 Comments follow]

March 11, 2014, nebula.wsimg.com, Analysis of Dr. Spitzer's Study of Reparative Therapy

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Keeping busy, I have updated the links list from the Wikipedia page on Focus On the Family, which was rank with Link Rot. Focus On the Family web pages have a penchant for a robots.txt obstructionism almost as bad as the Washington Post.


July 9, 1998, Salon, God's own ZIP Code, by Christopher Ott, page 1 Archived, page 2 Archived,

April 23, 2000, Denver Post, page F-7, Fun is the focus Three-story slide gives kids a thrill, by Claire Martin, "Focus on the Family's sprawling headquarters four buildings on 47 acres of land [...]" Archived,

February 5, 2002, The Denver Post, Adoption plan stirs controversy Gays applaud doctors' stance; Focus on Family denounces it, by Virginia Culver,

June 27, 2002, Focus On the Family, Focus on the Family Defends Parents' Right to Discipline, Archived,

May 17, 2003, Reading Eagle, page A9, James Dobson no longer a manager, just an orator,

August 17, 2003, Washington Post, Family Values Groups Gear Up for Battle Over Gay Marriage, by Evelyn Nieves, Archived,
"Focus on the Family, which Dobson...began 25 years ago to strengthen and promote the traditional family unit using conservative Christian interpretations of scripture."

September 2003, Newsletter Archive. Focus on the Family Southern Africa, Marriage on the Ropes, by James Dobson, Reposted at Catholic Family Catalog.com, Archived

July 15, 2004, Center for Science and Culture, Unlocking the Mystery of Life, by Stephen C. Meyer and W. Peter Allen, Archived,

October 16, 2004, New York Times, page 12, The 2004 Campaign: Same-Sex Marriage; Rally Against Gay Marriage Draws Thousands to Capital, by David D. KirkPatrick, Archived,

January 2005, Christianity Today, Dobson on the Gay Marriage Battle, by Kathleen K. Rutledge, Archived,

February 2, 2005, The New York Times, Church Groups Turn to Sonogram to Turn Women From Abortions, by Neela Banerjee, Archived,

February 25, 2005, Baptist Press (Southern Baptist Convention), Hodel retiring as president of Focus, succeeded by James Daly, Archived,

Spring 2005, Southern Poverty Law Center, Intelligence Report, Issue No. 117, A dozen major groups help drive the religious right's anti-gay crusade, Archived,

April 28, 2005, San Francisco Chronicle, page B.3, Coalition seeks male-female marriage definition / New ballot push for constitutional amendment, by John M. Hubbell, Archived,

September 2005, The American Prospect Online, Inferior Design, by Chris Mooney, Archived,

February 2006, Internal Revenue Service, Election Year Activities and the Prohibition on Political Campaign Intervention for Section 501(c)(3) Organizations,
"Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. ... Political campaign intervention includes any and all activities that favor or oppose one or more candidates for public office. The prohibition [includes and] extends beyond candidate endorsements."

June 19, 2006, Canada Press, B.C. researcher says American group distorting her research on teen suicide, by Beth Gorham, Archived,

August 17, 2006, Washington Post, Gay Rights Group: Dobson Manipulated Data, by Steven K. Paulson, Archived,
"A Focus on the Family official denied the allegation... Focus on the Family spokesman Glenn Stanton cited other research including an article co-authored by Mary Parke, a policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy, that shows that children need a mother and a father, regardless of the parents' sexual orientation. "We haven't said anything about sexual orientation," he said."

September 2006, Americans United for Separation of Church & State, Dobson's FOF Distorts Research, Says NYU Sociology Professor, Archived,

December 14, 2006, Truth Wins Out, James Dobson Slammed By Professor For Distorting Her Research In Time Magazine Article On Mary Cheney's Pregnancy, Archived,
"[A] letter to Dobson, obtained exclusively by Truth Wins Out,"

December 15, 2006, Edge Boston, James Dobson Slammed for Distorting Facts on Gay Families in Time Magazine, Archived,

December 28, 2006, San Francisco Bay Times, Science Strikes Back, by Wayne Besen, Archived,

February 12, 2007, New Haven Register, Yale expert says group misused his words, by Mary E. O' Leary, Archived,

May 17, 2007, Focus on the Family, Lobby group offers help through smacking mess, Scoop, Archived,

October 7, 2007, The Gainesville Sun, Coaching character, by Suzy A. Richardson, Archived from the original on November 9, 2012,

May 1, 2008, Citizenlink.org, Dr. Dobson's Broadcast Nominated to Radio Hall of Fame, by Devon Williams, Archived,

May 2, 2008, The Minnesota Independent, Minnesota researcher claims Focus on the Family misrepresented his work, by Andy Birkey, Archived,

May 17, 2008, London Daily Telegraph, Christian fundamentalists fighting spiritual battle in Parliament, by David Modell, Archived,

July 9, 2008, Truth Wins Out, TWO Launches Drive to Keep James Dobson Out of the Radio Hall of Fame, by Wayne Besen, Archived,

July 11, 2008, Citizenlink.org, Dr. Dobson Blasted by Gay Activist, Archived,

July 21, 2008, The Colorado Springs Gazette, Dobson garners hall of fame honor, by Mark Barna, Archived,

July 20, 2008, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, FCC commissioner wants more concessions in satellite merger, by Tim Cuprisin, Archived from the original on July 25, 2008.

October 25, 2008, Newsweek - AP, Christian right intensifies attacks on Obama; Christian right spins doomsday scenarios about Obama as final election nears, by Eric Gorski and Rachel Zoll, AP Religion Writers, Archived,

October 28, 2008, USA Today, Christian right's mailings depict disastrous future under Obama, by Eric Gorski and Rachel Zoll, Archived,

November 17, 2008, Colorado Springs Gazette, Focus on the Family eliminating 202 jobs, by Bill Reed, Archived,

December 3, 2008, The Colorado Independent. Chambliss got help from Focus on the Family, as well as Musgrave, Archived,

February 27, 2009, The Washington Times, Dobson steps down as FOF chairman, Archived,

July 31, 2009, Christianity Today, Restless, Reformed, and Single, Archived,

December 28, 2009, The Times-Picayune [New Orleans] Tim Tebow uses eye black to convey messages of victory off the field, by Ted Lewis, Archived,

January 27, 2010, Los Angeles Times, CBS defends decision to run politically sensitive Tim Tebow ad during Super Bowl, Archived,

January 28, 2010, Salon, The truth behind Tebow’s tale, by Tracy Clark-Flory, Archived,

January 30, 2010, Center for Reproductive Rights, Center for Reproductive Rights Raises Questions to CBS about Tebow Story, College Football Star Featured in Super Bowl Ad,

January 30, 2010, Los Angeles Times, A Super Bowl ad we can do without, by Tim Rutten, Archived,

February 3, 2010, Christian Science Monitor, Top 5 Tim Tebow eye black biblical verses, by Patrik Jonsson, Staff writer,

February 4, 2010, The New Yorker, The Tebow Defense, by Amy Davidson, Archived,

February 4, 2010, USA Today, Planned Parenthood responds to Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad, by Michael McCarthy, Archived,

February 8, 2010, Los Angeles Times, Tebow ad falls short of the hype, by Robin Abcarian, Archived,

March 3, 2010 [Updated] Focus on the Family, What is the square footage of your buildings?, Archived,

March 31, 2010, Huffington Post, Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad May Be Based On Falsehood, Lawyer Claims, by Whitney Snyder, Archived,

May 15, 2010, Colorado Springs Gazette, Focus on Family gives foster kids a day at ballpark, Archived,

September 24, 2010, Wall Street Journal, Adoption Season for Evangelicals: A Biblical Mandate to Help Children, Especially Those in Foster Care, by Naomi S. Riley, Archived,

November 11, 2010, Colorado Springs Gazette, Focus to sponsor anti-gay observance for students, by Mark Barna, Archived,

February 13, 2011, KOAA News, Focus on the Family welcomes unlikely ally, by Jeannette Hynes, Archived,

June 7, 2011, The Denver Post, Focus: Donations of ultrasound equipment stopped 100,000 abortions since 2004, Archived,

July 20, 2011, Southern Poverty Law Center, U.S. Senator Catches Anti-Gay Testifier Misrepresenting Study, by Robert Steinbeck, Archived,
"It was the latest in a relentless campaign of misrepresentations, half-truths and outright lies in recent years that have defined anti-gay Christian right organizations intent on opposing equal rights and common dignity for LGBT people."

September 16, 2011, The Denver Post, Focus on the Family announces more layoffs, by Electa Draper, Archived,

October 4, 2011, Focus On the Family, Wait No More Conference Encourages PA Families To Adopt Waiting Kids, Archived,

October 23, 2011, Los Angeles Times, Michele Bachmann's misstatements may be catching up to her, Archived,

November 9, 2011, Colorado Springs Gazette, 17-year-old beats the odds and finds a home, by R. Scott Rappold, Archived,

January 7, 2012, CNN, Belief, Is God going to hook me up online? Assessing Christian Mingle and 'soul mates', by Thom Patterson, Archived,

January 14, 2012, Focus on the Family, John 3:16, Archived,

January 17, 2012, New York Post, Tebow-Brady tiff sets soft ratings record, Archived,

January 24, 2012, The Denver Post, Focus on the Family unveils John 3:16 ad during Broncos game, by Electra Draper, Archived,

January 24, 2012, USA Today, Focus on Family has another Tebow-related commercial, by Cathy Grossman, Archived,

February 6th, 2012, American Independent, Ongoing study shows ultrasounds do not have direct impact on abortion decision, by Sofia Resnick, Archived,

August 28, 2013 [Updated] Focus on the Family, How do I contact Focus on the Family?, Archived,

Wikipedia- Focus on the Family

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage.aspx,

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting.aspx,

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/about_us.aspx,

"Focus on the Family's Foundational Values". Focus on the Family. Retrieved 2010-02-08.

"FY 2011 IRS Form 990 Federal Tax Return". GuideStar. Retrieved October 11, 2012,

Focus of the Family Form 990s tax filing. Eri-nonprofit-salaries.com. Retrieved May 21, 2012,

Focus of the Family Action Form 990s tax filing. Eri-nonprofit-salaries.com. Retrieved May 21, 2012,

Focus on the Family Defends Parents' Right to Discipline Archived May 1, 2004 at the Wayback Machine


http://www.focusonthefamily.com/socialissues/social-issues.aspx,

Feature Articles, Focus On Social Issues - Origins. CitizenLink, Focus on the Family

Recommended Reading List, Focus On Social Issues - Origins. CitizenLink, Focus on the Family,

n.d., Screwtape.com, Official audio drama website, C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, Retrieved March 11, 2014, Archived,

"I am sorry". Retrieved 2013-06-20.

Adventures in Odyssey online". Retrieved 2007-10-11.

http://www.boundlessline.org/2011/09/behind-the-scenes-of-online-dating-episode-189.html]

National Day of Prayer Task Force website - FAQs. Nationaldayofprayer.org. Retrieved May 21, 2012.

National Day of Prayer Task Force website - Shirley Dobson bio. Nationaldayofprayer.org. Retrieved May 21, 2012.

Sanctity of Human Life. Heartlink.org. Retrieved May 21, 2012.

Expert Witness Report Barbara Forrest. Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. (PDF file)

CNN.com Video". CNN. Retrieved 2010-05-02., Very obstreperous link.

Southern Poverty Law Center: LGBT Rights",

"Religion News in Brief". Associated Press. 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2008-07-25. [dead link]