SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) - Ed Smart, prominent Utahn and advocate for missing children, publicly revealed Thursday that he is gay.

Smart, who is 64, says he wrote a letter explaining his sexual orientation to his family and friends, but declined to share the letter with 2News on Thursday.

He told 2News that he spent a lot of time putting together the letter, and that he's "struggled with this for most of his life."

Smart and his wife, Lois, are parents to Elizabeth Smart, who famously survived after being kidnapped from the family's Salt Lake City home in 2002.

Smart said his children, including Elizabeth, have been supportive of the revelation.

Ed, along with his daughter, became active advocates for the rights of sex abuse and kidnapping survivors after Elizabeth escaped kidnappers who held her captive for nine months. The two founded the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, an organization that endeavors to prevent child abuse and empower survivors.

Court records indicate Lois Smart filed for divorce from her husband on July 5.

Ed Smart said he feels badly for his wife, and that the decision to live as a gay man "uproots everything he's done so far in life." He also feels for others who've struggled to publicly come out.

Smart will continue his work with the Elizabeth Smart Foundation.

He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and told 2News he is still in good standing with the Church.

It's important to show tolerance and love for one another, Smart said.

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