"In an effort to encourage understanding and civil conversation about same-sex attraction, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has launched the website “Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction” (www.mormonsandgays.org). It features a number of videos from people who share real experiences from their own perspectives on a sensitive and sometimes emotionally charged topic."
Read the entire press release HERE.
Video: New Church Website on Same-Sex Attraction
From the website on where the LDS Church officially stands on homosexuality:
"The experience of same-sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is. Even though individuals do not choose to have such attractions, they do choose how to respond to them. With love and understanding, the Church reaches out to all God's children, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters."
Personally, I am thrilled that the Church has taken on, so boldly, the topic of same-sex attraction and how we as members can better reach out to those who have been given this extraordinary challenge. Even the fact that in their official statement they have used the terms "gay" and "lesbian" to refer to members with same-sex attraction, I think, is huge.
I look forward to exploring this new website and to having future discussions that will emanate from what is presented. Too often members, myself included, are awkward in how we discuss homosexuality amongst ourselves and with those challenged. My sincere prayer is that this wonderful effort will provide much needed guidance to help all of us better understand how to embrace one another and strengthen our individual capacity to become more like the Savior and follow His teachings.
How do you see this new website helping members to better understand those with same-sex attraction and helping them to feel more comfortable remaining active in the Church?
tDMg
Kathryn Skaggs
Visit new website: Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction
LDS Media Talk: Explaining Mormon Beliefs: Same-Sex Attraction & Same-Sex Marriage
I totally expect this to open the conversation more readily with a wider member audience. I'm hoping that it will lead to positive changes in how we friendship with people in general and homosexuals in particular.
ReplyDeleteI think the most important statement is "the feelings of attraction are not a sin, acting on them is." Which is to say that the Law of Chastity applies to EVERYONE. Ask any unmarried person if she/he has feelings of attraction to a righteous man/woman. Yes, but she/he doesn't act upon it because to have sex outside of marriage is a sin. Not every heterosexual is able to get married either, but the Law of Chastity applies to them too. The Savior's Atonement covers all the sorrows and pains we feel in mortality including loneliness and anguish over not being able to marry, not being able to have children, loss of a loved one, etc. I believe that the blatant media of the last days needs the counter-balance of truth regarding issues like this.
ReplyDeleteI've been through the whole site MormonsAndGays.org and LOVE it. It is very positive and informative.
ReplyDeleteI think that learning about same-sex attraction is healthy for all of us. Even if you don’t have a close friend or relative who is attracted to the same gender, there are lessons you can learn that apply to other issues in life. For example, the section of the website about Perspective explains the importance of keeping an eternal perspective in dealing with same-sex attraction. However, that principle holds true in approaching any challenge in life.
I recommend you set aside an hour and watch the various videos on the site. You will have a powerful spiritual experience that will broaden your understanding and deepen your appreciation for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. (If you can only spend a half hour on the site, I’d recommend you start with the overview by Elder Christofferson, then watch the personal stories of Ty, Judy, and Ted.)
I agree whole heartedly. I have also spent the last few hours reading and watching most all of the videos and have been so deeply touched -- having felt the Spirit so strong in this project! Thanks for your recommendation, Larry.
DeleteThanks for bringing this to my attention -- a great resource and you always do a great job on your blog posts!
ReplyDeleteI like the Mormon's strong teaching that homosexuality and lesbianism are sins, however I strongly recommend that more must be done not to compromise.
ReplyDeleteWhen LDS says that "the attraction to same sex" is not a sin but the act is a sin, then we contradict the Word of God.
Sin starts in the heart and that is why adultery, lust and evil desires are all sins despite the fact that the act may not necessarily be done.
Lust starts in the heart and homosexual lust is no different, it is a sin of heart. Attraction is a sugarcoated lust.
Matt 5:28
28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
(NIV)
It is possible to lust in the heart and sin without doing the act. Looking at a woman lustfully is the same as looking at a fellow same sex lustfully.
This is where i recommend action from LDS.
thanks Kathryn
My apologies, Shana Moses, for taking so long to respond to your comment. I went out of town for the weekend with my family. However, I've decided to leave the very same response here, as I left you over on Google Plus. Frankly, I don't really believe that anything else I might have to say would really satisfy you anyway and also because I think this answer should be sufficient for all Christians who accept the Atonement of Jesus Christ:
DeleteFrankly, you could apply that same principle to every single sin and condemn us all; as all voluntary action is predicated on our thoughts. Sin is sin. No unclean thing can enter into the Kingdom of God. Let's not start deciding which sin is worse; homosexuality, adultery, stealing, pornography, abuse, pedophilia, abortion, lying, chastity, judging, etc... Shall I go on???
Jesus also said that we should bridle our passions and that if we love Him we are to keep His commandments. Right? That's the standard: Keep His Commandments. No matter your weakness, do your best to follow me and do my will and then my grace is sufficient -- I will make up the difference!
So, if an individual who is attracted to their same gender loves Him and strives diligently to do these things, certainly God's Love, Grace, Mercy and Perfection have the POWER to SAVE such a soul as this???
I seem to recall a garden named Gethsemane, and a Cross on a hill, called Calvary...
So Shana, why is it that you seem to feel God is more favorable toward yours and others sins and not the homosexual? I see nothing Biblical that sets the homosexual act apart from all other sexual sins, other than the judgement of mortal men. It is my belief that sin is sin -- that all sin is unclean, in need of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Therefore, I see no reason to debate this any further.
I think the point being made by the church is that everyone experiences temptation. To experience temptation is not a sin. To experience same-sex attraction is to experience temptation. To "fan the flame" mentally by fantasizing, lusting, or to actually act on the attraction with another person, these are sins. It is the same for heterosexuals--to experience a temptation is not a sin, but to dwell on it mentally, for example, as David did with Bathsheba, leading to the actual act of adultery, these are sins.
ReplyDeleteI think the point is to provide hope and to help those who experience this temptation know that there is not something inherently wrong with them, that there is no temptation save that which is common to man (1 Cor. 10:13) and God is faithful, and always provides a way to avoid the sin.
I think Shana was pointing out that mentally cultivating and strengthening those desires is the beginning of sin, and that if we are to be successful in staying true, we have to be careful in dealing with those thoughts, not just the physical acts. I think both points are helpful.
Thanks for sharing this important resource with your written article.
ReplyDelete