Reader comments
Gay support group outlines requests to LDS Church

If this story is accurate, it makes me wonder whether Affirmation didn't set this whole deal up so that they could get more media attention and complain at Sunstone! If they turned down an earlier meeting date to have one in August, the timing seems interesting, to say the least.

Wow all these demands from this organization. And what is it they have to offer? Sounds to me they want to screw up even more youth with their ideas on sexuality. It is my strong belief that people have choices. They can choose to be heterosexual, they can choose to be homosexual or what ever floats their boat. There are a variety of life styles one can choose to live.
With that said, they are going about their negotiating all wrong. Trying to strong arm the Mormon Church in the media is probably not the smartest approach. That is if they were serious about their demands. Looks to me they are more interested in media attention than there �proposed� agenda.

While the Church does teach being homosexual is not a sin, acting out with behavior of such is indeed a sin. Apparently that end portion seems to be skipped over again and again. Just as "Promiscuous mormons seek Church approval" would also be rejected even if desire to be promiscuous was something you were born with. If you wish to argue about promiscuity and homosexuality, please argue with the CDC and the World Health organization.

Oh, and no, I'm not LDS nor do I belong to any religion.

Affirmation are a group of fringe LDS members - who truly believe that it has always been heavy peer pressure that has caused the Church to change policy and even doctrine.

This is an incredibly arrogant group of people, who believe that by taking this further into the the public arena - "they" can force a policy change regarding same-sex relationships/homosexuality in the LDS Church.

I do not believe that "revelation", nor the ability to Stand for Something - are things which are well understood here?

I am happy to see that the Church has decided NOT to be bullied by this small sect of members/non-members who oppose the official position regarding homosexuality in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.

tDMg
LdsNana-AskMormon
Kathryn Skaggs

Please DIGG this story!

I personally feel for those who struggle with same-gender attraction. I am glad it is not a trial I've had to face. Many may consider me bigoted to call it a 'struggle' or a 'trial', but to live righteously it is a desire that must meet strong personal-resistance, and I thus consider it such.

This said, I find it interesting that Affirmation seeks to "lobby" the church as though it were a government. This is not an organization made "by the people, for the people", rather, it is made "by God, for His children".

I do hope those in the church and the church itself will work to help people overcome their homosexual tendencies. (It is something to be overcome, not just lived with. Easier said than done, granted, but doable.) I believe largely this happens. Truly there is room for improvement - we are imperfect people, so there always will be. But the church is not about to be "swayed by every wind of doctrine," and I hope Affirmation doesn't seek that, because it will only cause them trouble.

Its important to be kind to everyone, even if they live a different way or have different beliefs than you. It is also important to stand up for things that are right and what you believe in. To do both of these you must walk a fine line...but it is very possible.

The postponing of the meeting to coincide with the sunstone Symposium strkes me as interesting to say the least.
To act like same gender attraction is the only issue that children fall into that mothers blame themselves for without any justification just shows that this group is narrowly fixated on one issue while ignoring other issues.
Beyond this to try and demand that a female, not a male, give the talk seems quite audacios. Their demand for a talk that specifies that same gender atraction is not a sin in and of itself ignores the fact that Elder Holland wrote a very eloquent article on this topic that appeared in the October 2007 Ensign. If people do not read the Ensign as much as they listen to general conference, that is not the fault of the leaders of the church, and since this talk can be accessed from lds.org even many church members who do not subscribe to the Ensign may access it.
I think it was the height of hubrus for this group to go public with its demands when the reason the meeting was postponed was totally a result of an unforseen staff cahnge.

Quid pro Quo - Here's my list of wants from Affimation.

1. Speak out in the news or at General Conf. against homosexual practises and lifestyle. Affirming that although a person may have strong feelings for sexual intamacy toward someone of the same sex that it is in fact a sin to enguage in such practises.

2. Admit that the lifestyle is a dangerous one for people to be involved in. Even though one may be gay, staying closer to the Lord and his commandments will provide a surer protection thoughout their lives.

3. Explain, without excusing homosexual acts, the feelings of being gay in society and the feeling of how one is treated within his or her Mormon family, ward, and church as a whole. Help church members understand and be comfortable around someone who has these attractions and is chosing to remain in the Church and follow the Lord instead of the "natural man".

4. Affirm that "Affirmation" is a safe haven for those who are gay but that are looking for assistance to not pursue homosexual acts or it's lifestyle. And invite everyone with desires to understand more (gay or strait) to join.

Mr. Graham,

At least put your name to your rants.

Affimation is confused with statements from the church. It is not a sin to be attracted to the same gender, it is a sin to act on that. Similarly it is not a sin for a young man to be attracted to a young woman, however it would be sin to pursue intimacy without being married.

Affirmation will never (even with public media harrasment) change the churches stance on their behavior. It will always be considered a demeaning, damaging, destructive and dark sin.

It is a sin for a man or woman to think about being, or be sexually intimate with a member of the opposite sex to whom they are not married to. Don't forget that it is also a sin for homosexuals to think about being, or be sexually intimate with a member of either sex (unless of course, they happen to be thinking about their spouse who is the opposite sex to whom they are legally married to). Homosexuals may get twitterpated when they see some "hot" member of the same sex, but it needs to stop there and the thoughts and actions need to stay clean. I get the feeling that "Affirmation" is just working towards having people let them be gay and have it be accepted. Unacceptable.

Can some one please help me understand how being gay is not a sin? Jesus said to lust is a sin. Wouldn�t you think that in order to be sexually attracted to something you lust after it? Ether that be a woman, a man or a rock? In that case you have sinned. And we know from scripture that every one has sinned. So, just exactly how is being gay not a sin? Are the Mormon church leaders wrong or am I just not understanding what they are saying. I understand how it�s a sin when acted upon but there is a sin that occurs in the heart before the action.

There are several other magazines and newspapers coving this story. This happens to be the most pro-Affirmation article I've read (beating out the one from an on-line gay news paper- On Top Magazine).

This story brought up strong points from Affirmation such as LDS mothers need to know that a child with SSA is not their fault. I agree, but they have also asked for other things like telling mothers that their child doesn't need to be "fixed".

While a meeting with Affirmation may not be a bad thing from Pres. Monson, I strongly discourage such an act. It gives Affirmation way too much publicity, media attention and recognition as a legitimate cause. Their policies are NOT doctrinal, and they should be dealt with as an organization that is trying to destroy the Church.

I know, why don't these people start their own church! They could take what commandments they wanted from the mormon church and then add what they wanted!

But they are not interested in that, because they are miserable and full of the devil, they want to destroy the church, that is there purpose!

Thanks "My List" -- My heart goes out to all affected by this; these items help LDS be more likely to want to help, and not fear. Very reasonable.

My advice to any gay members of the church: If you are in Utah find a way out!. I am the son of a bishop and RM. I left the state for 15 years and it was the best thing I did. I did move back to SLC on a relocation for business. My partner and I of 9 years own a house, live in downtown SLC and are very happy. My family is acceptive (not always approving) but no one plays the guilt game.

Face it, the LDS church officially will not accept you but it will surprise you how many individual members will and they can be very supportive.

What the church tells its members is their business. As long as the church tries to influence a constitutional amendment that affects US citizens rights I will fight it as I can.

I do not hold any expectations of the church changing but who is to say what holds when we pass on to the other side of the veil?

Affirmation should get their morality straight before making church demands!

While it is talked about as a sin, there are many members that are holyier than thou! Look in the mirror and see if you are so perfect..... Don't pretend like everything is right for you and your family. We are here on earth to help, not bash. The good Lord can take care of himself and will see fit how things should work out. If it is ment to be for this group to talk about things that bother them, let them talk. maybe they need help that the church can give them. Instead you judge and think there is a choice in all of this. There is not! Would you like us to judge you for your bad cooking or hairstyle?

To think that this group is trying to tell the church leaders what needs be addressed in the next general conference is almost something to be laughed at. Do they not understand that topics of conference addresses are not assigned but prayed about and pondered about. If they are expecting the church to change it's position towards homosexuality it's not going to happen and if they want a good resource to look at they can go to lds.org and read all that the church has put out concerning this. There is an excellent statement given by Elder Oaks of the twelve and Elder Wickman of the seventy concerning this issue, if you have time I would suggest going to the newsroom of the church website, click on public issues and then click on same gender attraction, it gives very good insight to the church's stance.

I have a family member who has struggled with same-sex attraction for many years. As a family, we were compassionate, understanding and let him know that we loved him unconditionally.

Through many years of counseling with Church leaders and prayer, this person no longer suffers with same-sex attraction and is scheduled for a temple marriage in November.

Never give up on loved ones. Show them unconditional love and support. Pray for them and ask for guidance. I truly believe that anyone dealing with same-sex attraction can be healed by living gospel principles and faith.