Lately, there has been a TON of discussion around the Visitors' Center about homosexual attraction and a lot of people have been asking about the Church's stand on it and all these different things and so I figured I'd make a little note on it.
First, if you want to know the OFFICIAL stand the church has, then you can go to
Mormon and Gays and read all sorts of amazing articles and statements and watch movies and personal documentaries of people their experiences with family members, friends, or themselves having homosexual attractions.
Second, I want everyone who reads this to know straight up that Heavenly Father, the Savior, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, love EVERYONE. Period. Therefore, WE should love EVERYONE, despite their challenges and opposition. Because if we're trying to be like the Savior then we need to have that perfect Charity and not judge. Those who do NOT show that Christlike love are not representing the Savior, and thereby, not representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Third, there is a difference between love, and acceptance. and Fourth, homosexual attraction, or being gay, is just another temptation or trial that people go through, it does NOT define them or control them unless they let it.
So, to comment on the 3rd note. The savior loved/loves/will love, everyone, despite the things we do, but that doesn't mean He ACCEPTS the things we do. In fact, He loves us just the way we are, so much so, that He won't let us stay that way. Because He loves us, he suffered the Atonement. Enabling us to not suffer ANYTHING alone, because He has already been through it and therefore can help us out of it. Because of Him we can be perfectly HEALED. The Atonement is INFINITE and can, if we let it, rid us of any imperfection/temptation. Therefore the Savior doesn't accept sin, in fact our Heavenly Father and the Savior look on sin with the GREATEST abhorrence, because no unclean thing can dwell in their presence. So, we repent, and we endure, and we do our best to CHANGE. And although dealing with being gay is one of the hardest trial I personally think a person can go through, they still CAN endure, AND be healed, AND live a normal happy life being sealed and married in the temple and having families
.
Therefore that leads me to the 4th point. Temptations do NOT define us, they define Satan. And seeing as we're trying to be like the Savior, sin can NOT define us if we're going to achieve that goal. Who we are, are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father. We have the potential to be like Him and be eternally happy with our friends and families in Heaven. So we can't let Satan convince us that we are no better than our transgressions. Honestly, being gay is just another temptation and struggle some people are prone to more than others. Some are more susceptible to alcohol, so they have to go out of their way to avoid it or it can become a downward spiral leading to alcoholism and other addictions. Some people struggle with being susceptible to their attraction to the opposite sex and find themselves breaking the law of Chasity because they aren't controlling their emotions. So the same goes for everyone to keep the commandments and control their urges and temptations. Everyone's different, everyone has different trials. But everyone has access to the Atonement and can be lifted up and strengthen through it's enabling powers to resist those temptations and be healed. But it's also everyone's CHOICE to accept that sacrifice and healing powers the Savior has to offer.
So I'm not sure if a lot of this makes sense but I hope it does. Bottom line, love EVERYONE, and even if you ARE struggling with being gay and having those same-sex attractions, it does NOT mean you can't have all the blessings of Heaven like anyone else through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. INCLUDING an eternal family. In fact, there's a video on the website above that talks about one guy's experience being gay and Mormon and being able to serve a mission, be married in the temple and have a family of his own and be perfectly happy :)
Well, now my time is up, but I love you all and I hope you are all doing great and amazing! Work hard! Pray always! Love ya!
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