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"As I said from this pulpit one year ago, our hearts reach out to those who refer to themselves as gays and lesbians. We love and honor them as sons and daughters of God. They are welcome in the Church." {{ref|hinckley99}} | "As I said from this pulpit one year ago, our hearts reach out to those who refer to themselves as gays and lesbians. We love and honor them as sons and daughters of God. They are welcome in the Church." {{ref|hinckley99}} | ||
− | "Church leaders are sometimes asked whether there is any place in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for persons with homosexual or lesbian susceptibilities or feelings. Of course there is." {{ref|oaks95}} | + | God Loveth His Children, a pamphlet for members with same-sex attractions, assures that "No one is, or ever could be, excluded from the circle of God’s love or the extended arms of His Church, for we are all His beloved sons and daughters."{{ref|GodLoveth}} Elder Oaks similarly stated: "Church leaders are sometimes asked whether there is any place in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for persons with homosexual or lesbian susceptibilities or feelings. Of course there is." {{ref|oaks95}} |
− | LDS Family Services estimates that there are four or five members in every unit of the Church who is attracted to the same sex.{{ref|EvergreenIndividual}} | + | Many are faithful members of the church. LDS Family Services estimates that there are four or five members in every unit of the Church who is attracted to the same sex.{{ref|EvergreenIndividual}} Although the church welcomes gay members, they are still largely unseen by the general church population. There is no official church organization for members with same-sex attractions, but there are several unofficial organizations, such as Evergreen and North Star. These organizations are composed of people with same-sex attractions who uphold the teachings of the church without reservation. Every year, a member of the quorum of seventies gives a special address at the annual Evergreen Conference. |
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+ | Their visibility in the church is also beginning to grow as their stories are being | ||
+ | A Place in the Kingdom: Spiritual Insights from Latter-day Saints about Same-Sex Attraction [http://centurypubl.com/Place_Kingdom_Same_Sex_Attraction.htm] | ||
Many of them have expressed gratitude for the church and their position on homosexuality. Here are some cool quotes: | Many of them have expressed gratitude for the church and their position on homosexuality. Here are some cool quotes: | ||
There was a Georgia Tech gay rights manual that referred to the church as anti-gay. However, a judge ordered that the material be removed because there was no basis for the accusation. ("Judge rules Georgia Tech gay rights manual biased", Associated Press. May 1, 2000) President Hinckley told Larry King in an interview that the church was not anti-gay.
The Church welcomes all people who seek the truth and have a desire to know and serve God. President Hinckley has specifically extended this welcome to gay men and women. In 1999, he made the following statement:
"As I said from this pulpit one year ago, our hearts reach out to those who refer to themselves as gays and lesbians. We love and honor them as sons and daughters of God. They are welcome in the Church." [1]
God Loveth His Children, a pamphlet for members with same-sex attractions, assures that "No one is, or ever could be, excluded from the circle of God’s love or the extended arms of His Church, for we are all His beloved sons and daughters."[2] Elder Oaks similarly stated: "Church leaders are sometimes asked whether there is any place in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for persons with homosexual or lesbian susceptibilities or feelings. Of course there is." [3]
Many are faithful members of the church. LDS Family Services estimates that there are four or five members in every unit of the Church who is attracted to the same sex.[4] Although the church welcomes gay members, they are still largely unseen by the general church population. There is no official church organization for members with same-sex attractions, but there are several unofficial organizations, such as Evergreen and North Star. These organizations are composed of people with same-sex attractions who uphold the teachings of the church without reservation. Every year, a member of the quorum of seventies gives a special address at the annual Evergreen Conference.
Their visibility in the church is also beginning to grow as their stories are being A Place in the Kingdom: Spiritual Insights from Latter-day Saints about Same-Sex Attraction [5] Many of them have expressed gratitude for the church and their position on homosexuality. Here are some cool quotes:
President Hinckley has affirmed gay members as good people. In a 1995 interview, he said:
"Now we have gays in the church. Good people."[6]
Every leader of the church who has spoken about homosexuality has affirmed their love for gay people. Here are some of the quotes from leaders of the church.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said "People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God." [7]
In response to an accusation that the church rejects our gay brothers and sisters, President Packer responded "We do not reject you,... We cannot reject you, for you are the sons and daughters of God. We will not reject you, because we love you. [8]
Speaking of a gay man, Elder Holland said "I weep with admiration and respect at the faith and courage of such a man who is living with a challenge I have never faced. I love him and the thousands like him, male or female, who "fight the good fight" (1 Timothy 6:12). I commend his attitude to all who struggle with-or who are helping others who struggle with-same-gender attraction." {{ref|holland07}
"Pamphlet says that they are loved" [9]
"I'm sure Oaks has something" (Oaks)
"When members with homosexual problems come to you for help, they may feel guilty and in despair, having been unable to change their lives. You can instill hope in them. Help them to know that you and their Heavenly Father love them and that they can be healed from their afflictions through the atonement of the Savior." [10]
This love is not limited to gay people who are members of the church and are living its standards. It extends to all gay people. A pamphlet issued to church leaders in 1992 told them
"If a person with homosexual problems chooses not to change, family members may have difficulty maintaining feelings of love and acceptance toward the person. Encourage them to continue loving the person and hoping that he or she may repent." [11]
In discussing the command given by The First Presidency to love gay people, Elder Oaks commented:
"Surely if we are counseled as a body of Church membership to reach out with love and understanding to those ‘struggling with these issues,’ that obligation rests with particular intensity on parents who have children struggling with these issues… even children who are engaged in sinful behavior associated with these issues" [12]
In the Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball said that he thought that men who were pursuing same-sex relationships were "basically good people who have become trapped in sin."[13]
The mission of the church is to bring all people to Christ. We believe that this is one of the fundamental ways in which we can serve our fellow man. We believe we can come closer to Christ by taking upon us his name through the covenant of baptism, which includes a covenant to obey his commandments. Teaching and encouraging our fellow man to obey the teachings of Christ is an important part in bringing them to Christ. This is the greatest good we can do for our fellow man, and what will bring them the greatest joy.(Scripture about saying nothing but repentance)
The path that leads to eternal life is straight and narrow, but we want as many of our brothers and sisters to find that path as possible. Christ taught against fornication and adultery, and we believe that includes all sexual relationships besides that of a husband and a wife. We teach and encourage all to obey this commandment, as part of our duty to bring them to Christ. There are people who feel that by promoting this higher moral code, we are rejecting those who do not follow it. Elder Packer responded to this concern as to how it applies specifically to gay people. He said:
"We understand why some feel we reject them. That is not true. We do not reject you, only immoral behavior. We cannot reject you, for you are the sons and daughters of God. We will not reject you, because we love you. You may even feel that we do not love you. That also is not true. Parents know, and one day you will know, that there are times when parents and we who lead the Church must extend tough love when failing to teach and to warn and to discipline is to destroy." [14]
We have no other reason for teaching the law of chastity other than out of love for our fellow man. Joseph Smith once taught that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things cannot produce the faith necessary for salvation. Certainly, we would want both the gay and straight members of the church to be able to produce the faith necessary for salvation. Our eternal family would not be complete without our gay brothers and sisters.
/Can the Church welcome gay people while teaching against same-sex relationships
/Myths about the Church and homosexuality
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