Utilisateur:InProgress/Same-sex attraction/Causes of Homosexuality

A major source of debate about homosexuality is the cause of homosexuality. Many people have accused the church of teaching causes of homosexuality that contradict modern research. Much of this confusion stems from the definition of homosexuality, which has changed drastically over the years. In the 1960s, President Kimball referred to homosexuality as a "sex act", while modern medical organizations refer to it as a sexual orientation. This understanding is essential for understanding the difference between the teachings of the church and the accusation being levied against the church.

Is it taught that no one is born gay?

Larry King once asked President Hinckley whether or not people were born gay. President Hinckley said he did not know. Elder Oaks explains: "The Church does not have a position on the causes of any of these susceptibilities or inclinations, including those related to same-gender attraction. Those are scientific questions - whether nature or nurture - those are things the Church doesn’t have a position on. ^[1]

Many members of the Church have expressed their opinion that no one is born gay. Unfortunately, many have spoken as if they represent the Church. Elder Holland chastised these members, saying "I too affirm that God loves all His children and acknowledge that many questions, including some related to same-gender attraction, must await a future answer, perhaps in the next life. Unfortunately, some people believe they have all the answers now and declare their opinions far and wide. Fortunately, such people do not speak for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."^[2]

While the church doesn't teach the cause of homosexuality, it has taught that it isn't a choice, and it is no one's fault. Elder Holland taught "If you are a parent of one with same-gender attraction, don’t assume you are the reason for those feelings. No one, including the one struggling, should try to shoulder blame. Nor should anyone place blame on another-including God." ^[3]

The church has taught that every one has a choice over their sexual actions, and that being gay does not remove that choice. The Church teaches that because of the atonement of Christ, everyone is free to act for themselves, and to chose between good and evil. Elder Oaks taught:

"Beware the argument that because a person has strong drives toward a particular act, he has no power of choice and therefore no responsibility for his actions. This contention runs counter to the most fundamental premises of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan would like us to believe that we are not responsible in this life. That is the result he tried to achieve by his contest in the pre-existence. A person who insists that he is not responsible for the exercise of his free agency because he was ‘born that way’ is trying to ignore the outcome of the War in Heaven. We are responsible, and if we argue otherwise, our efforts become part of the propaganda effort of the Adversary." ^[4]

His admonition focused on the "act". He did not deny that a person may have strong drives towards the act. He does not even deny that the feelings might be inborn. In the same document, he states:

"Some kinds of feelings seem to be inborn. Others are traceable to mortal experiences. Still other feelings seem to be acquired from a complex interaction of "nature and nurture." All of us have some feelings we did not choose, but the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that we still have the power to resist and reform our feelings (as needed) and to assure that they do not lead us to entertain inappropriate thoughts or to engage in sinful behavior."

He does fall short of affirming that such feelings are indeed inborn, pointing to several scientific studies which indicate that they may not be inborn. It is important to note that no major medical organization considers sexual orientation to be inborn. Most believe it is a complex interaction between genetics, hormones and environment. The American Psychological Association has stated "Some people believe sexual orientation is innate and immutable; but sexual orientation develops across the lifetime of a person.

The Church's stance on the cause of homosexuality is completely inline with modern science.

Didn't the Church teach homosexuality was a disease?

Speaking to church educators and LDS psychiatrists in 1964, Elder Spencer W. Kimball read from a Medical World News article which referred to homosexuality as a disease. He commented that "We know such a disease is curable."

It was not Elder Kimball who classified homosexuality as a disease. He was quoting from a Medical World News article. Until 1992, homosexuality was classified as a mental illness by the World Health Organization. Even today, they have a classification for ego-dystonic sexual orientation. The church typically does not challenge the classification of diseases of medical authorities. Elder Oaks explained that although the church frequently references contemporary scientific research, it should not be taken as a position on "scientific questions". After the reclassification by the WHO, the Church distributed new material on dealing with homosexuality that removed all references to homosexuality being a disease.

Consistent with the medical field at the time, Spencer W. Kimball continued to refer to homosexuality as a disease throughout his life, including in several church publications and pamphlets. It is important to remember that the definition of homosexuality has changed since the 1960s. In the Miracle of Forgiveness, Elder Kimball referred to homosexuality as a "sex act," whereas today it refers to a sexual orientation and does not necessarily imply a sex act. He said the cure for homosexuality was "like the cure for alcoholism subject to continued vigilance." If he were saying that the person's sexual orientation could change, there would be no need for continued vigilance, because there would be no same-sex attraction, and hence no temptation to commit any related sex act. He compared it to alcoholism. It is not expected that alcohol becomes completely undesirable to a recovering alcoholic, but just that he gains control over his alcohol consumption.

Does the Church teach masturbation makes you gay?

President Kimball taught that "Sometimes masturbation is the introduction to the more serious sins of exhibitionism and the gross sin of homosexuality."^[5] A similar sentiment was expressed in The Miracle of Forgiveness.^[6] Also in that book, President Kimball defined homosexuality as a "sex act", whereas today it is defined as a sexual orientation that doesn't necessarily include sex acts. Hence, President Kimball was not saying that masturbation lead someone to be attracted to the same sex, but that masturbation is a step towards having a sexual relationship with someone of the same sex. This is not surprising, considering that church has also taught that for straight people masturbation is also a step towards having a sexual relationship with someone of the opposite sex. It would make sense that the same admonition would apply equally to gay and straight members. Masturbation is discouraged for both gay and straight members. In the same address, President Kimball taught "Masturbation, a rather common indiscretion, is not approved of the Lord nor of his church, regardless of what may have been said by others whose “norms” are lower. Latter-day Saints are urged to avoid this practice. Anyone fettered by this weakness should abandon the habit before he goes on a mission or receives the holy priesthood or goes in the temple for his blessings. "

Endnotes

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