▁was ▁a ▁les bian ▁woman ▁who ▁joined ▁the ▁L DS ▁church ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 9 , ▁received ▁a ▁patri arch al ▁bless ing ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 2 1 , ▁and ▁later ▁entered ▁a ▁relationship ▁with ▁a ▁M orm on ▁woman ▁for ▁over ▁three ▁dec ades . ▁Her ▁study ▁sp anned ▁well ▁over ▁a ▁de cade , ▁but ▁was ▁only ▁published ▁post hum ously ▁by ▁her ▁choice . ▁▁ 1 9 4 0 s ▁▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁– ▁The ▁apost le ▁Re uben ▁Clark ▁asked ▁church ▁employee ▁Gordon ▁B urt ▁Aff le ck ▁to ▁organ ize ▁a ▁surve ill ance ▁for ▁possible ▁hom osex ual ▁activity ▁in ▁the ▁steam ▁room ▁of ▁the ▁Church ' s ▁( now - dem ol ished ) ▁Des er et ▁G ymnasium ▁at ▁Temple ▁Square . ▁The ▁Church ▁Office ▁Building ▁now ▁occup ies ▁the ▁space ▁where ▁the ▁g ym ▁was ▁located . ▁▁ 1 9 4 6 ▁▁ ▁October ▁– ▁Pres iding ▁patri arch ▁Joseph ▁Field ing ▁Smith ▁is ▁released ▁on ▁October ▁ 6 ▁after ▁serving ▁only ▁four ▁years ▁amid ▁accus ations ▁of ▁multiple ▁hom osex ual ▁affairs , ▁including ▁with ▁University ▁of ▁Ut ah ▁student ▁Nor val ▁Service , ▁a ▁man ▁named ▁Wal lace ▁A . ▁G ., ▁and ▁later ▁with ▁ 2 1 - year - old ▁U . S . ▁Navy ▁sail or ▁By ram ▁Dow ▁Brow ning ▁who ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁L atter - day ▁Saint . ▁▁ 1 9 4 7 ▁