Personally, I think the church's stance on homosexuality is clearer and more consistent that it has ever been. Homosexual behavior is a sin. Period. Homosexual desires and temptations are not a sin unless dwelt upon or acted upon. The same could be said of any sexual behavior that is not in compliance with God's laws. If I (as a straight man) have any inappropriate sexual relations with a woman, it's a sin. Period. If I have desires and temptations, it is not a sin unless dwelt upon (committing adultery in my heart) or acted upon (adultery). This can be expanded much further to all sins. We all have weaknesses to certain sinful behaviors (some legal, some not). Acting on the temptations to sin is sin, but being tempted is not. The Savior was tempted, but he did not yield to temptation (hence, no sin). Whatever our temptations and mortal weaknesses (whether we are born with them or not), we need to learn to rise above our temptations and keep God's commandments. When we fall short, we need to sincerely repent and actively work to avoid whatever it was that tempted us to sin. Temptations that are hard for me might be easy for someone else and vice versa. We need to have compassion for all sinners (we're all sinners), but stand firm against all sin (no matter the sin). Some sins (e.g., sexual sins) are ranked as more severe than others (by God, regardless of what man thinks), so need to be warned against more strongly, but that doesn't mean that we love those who commit those sins any less than those who commit "lesser" sins.
ViolaAugust 3, 2018
I have the same question as Pamela. The Church’s stand on homosexuality is unclear now. Can you clarify that?
Pamela SmithAugust 2, 2018
"Don’t be afraid to point out the social and emotional problems and successes you see in the people around you. Pointing out what you see allows your children to have more freedom to decide how they want to behave. Some people don’t discuss deeply enough with their children because they’re afraid of seeming judgmental."
100% correct! I did this with my children in the 80's and 90's, and can say FOR CERTAIN that it helped guide them to the stable adults they are today.
But I have a question, Nicholeen, speaking of Moral Battle Zones. Like Elder Boyd K. Packer (and others) clearly taught, I taught my children that wickedness never was happiness, and that homosexuality was wrong.
In my brief 42 years now, as a convert to the Church, this moral issue seems to have changed!
I'm now perplexed as to how to speak to my grandchildren about homosexuality, and of course loving those who identify as such, without actually ENCOURAGING their experimenting or embracing of it. Just because something is "legal" does not make it desireable. Having come from a long line of alcoholics (on both sides) and living through the upheaval and chaos such choices brought, I know this intimately.
Thoughts?
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CarlAugust 8, 2018
Personally, I think the church's stance on homosexuality is clearer and more consistent that it has ever been. Homosexual behavior is a sin. Period. Homosexual desires and temptations are not a sin unless dwelt upon or acted upon. The same could be said of any sexual behavior that is not in compliance with God's laws. If I (as a straight man) have any inappropriate sexual relations with a woman, it's a sin. Period. If I have desires and temptations, it is not a sin unless dwelt upon (committing adultery in my heart) or acted upon (adultery). This can be expanded much further to all sins. We all have weaknesses to certain sinful behaviors (some legal, some not). Acting on the temptations to sin is sin, but being tempted is not. The Savior was tempted, but he did not yield to temptation (hence, no sin). Whatever our temptations and mortal weaknesses (whether we are born with them or not), we need to learn to rise above our temptations and keep God's commandments. When we fall short, we need to sincerely repent and actively work to avoid whatever it was that tempted us to sin. Temptations that are hard for me might be easy for someone else and vice versa. We need to have compassion for all sinners (we're all sinners), but stand firm against all sin (no matter the sin). Some sins (e.g., sexual sins) are ranked as more severe than others (by God, regardless of what man thinks), so need to be warned against more strongly, but that doesn't mean that we love those who commit those sins any less than those who commit "lesser" sins.
ViolaAugust 3, 2018
I have the same question as Pamela. The Church’s stand on homosexuality is unclear now. Can you clarify that?
Pamela SmithAugust 2, 2018
"Don’t be afraid to point out the social and emotional problems and successes you see in the people around you. Pointing out what you see allows your children to have more freedom to decide how they want to behave. Some people don’t discuss deeply enough with their children because they’re afraid of seeming judgmental." 100% correct! I did this with my children in the 80's and 90's, and can say FOR CERTAIN that it helped guide them to the stable adults they are today. But I have a question, Nicholeen, speaking of Moral Battle Zones. Like Elder Boyd K. Packer (and others) clearly taught, I taught my children that wickedness never was happiness, and that homosexuality was wrong. In my brief 42 years now, as a convert to the Church, this moral issue seems to have changed! I'm now perplexed as to how to speak to my grandchildren about homosexuality, and of course loving those who identify as such, without actually ENCOURAGING their experimenting or embracing of it. Just because something is "legal" does not make it desireable. Having come from a long line of alcoholics (on both sides) and living through the upheaval and chaos such choices brought, I know this intimately. Thoughts?
HalAugust 2, 2018
Great article, - thank you!
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