THOUGHT IT WAS CLEAR

In reading the news lately, I have seen some unfortunate posts regarding the issue of homosexual marriage from members of the Church. These disappointing comments have come from proponents and opponents of gay marriage. For those who do not support same-sex marriage, I am in agreement with you as is Church doctrine. However, in speaking out against such a practice, sensitivity must be exercised. All people born on this earth suffer from different types of temptations and challenges that they must overcome. Elder Oaks has mentioned this a number of times in a talk on same-gender attraction that is in the Ensign from 1995 and in a recent interview he and Elder Wickman did with the Public Affairs department of the Church. Elder Oaks also mentions that care and sensitivity must be used when dealing with those people who have homosexual tendencies and that the tendencies in and of themselves are not a sin. Other people struggle with other tendencies that are not sins until acted upon. As long as caution and concern for others is involved, I am with you in your stance.

To those who believe that same-gender marriage should be legalized, I feel that your view is unfortunate and distorted. I understand a website has been created by LDS people (maybe more than one website) who are proponents of gay marriage and use biblical passages and other church-based resources in an attempt to support their views. Using such passages in this sense is twisting the doctrine. Many act as if homosexuality is not a choice, but the doctrine is clear that this is not the case. God would never have someone be born into sin...and yes, homosexual actions, are sinful. The attractions and feelings and tendencies one may have toward someone of his/her same gender are not sins in and of themselves, but acting on them is a sin. Using the passage that it is "not good for man to be alone" is not enough to justify a man being with another man or a woman being with another woman. Not only does that passage of scripture not justify gay marriage, it is clear that the passage has been twisted if one believes that phrase to refer to anything other than a man being with a woman. Also, for those who feel that homosexual marriage does not affect anyone else, it clearly does. The family is the foundation of society, when the family starts to be redefined and changed, the foundation becomes shaky and society will thus be affected. If the term "marriage" which has such a clear definition gets changed, then we are certainly on shaky ground as numerous other terms will get changed, misinterpreted, and that is where confusion results. I have often been told to be open-minded, to me, that means trying to understand others, but it certainly does not (or, at least, should not) mean to accept practices that I know to be wrong. I thought this issue was clear, in fact, I thought it was one of the most cut-and-dry clearest issues in the Church. I would hope that the same people who have encouraged me to be open-minded on this issue (and those who tell me to be open-minded are usually those who support gay marriage) will take their own advice and reexamine their position. I applaud those who will not accept the argument that because times are changing, marriage is changing. Marriage has been and always will be between a man and a woman regardless of what some legislature says and regardless of who supports such a decision.