Reader comments
Elder Walker decries 'deceptive messages'

David | 12:22 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008

Hypocritical much? Once upon a time, the LDS people were persecuted for polygamy. It was deemed vulgar and against God's law. Now the LDS church is applying that same act to homosexuals. Allow Church sanctioned sealings in the temple and allow gays to legally marrying by the state.

David 2 | 3:20 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008

Hello David, first commentor on this story.

It's God and the Bible that teach that the homosexual lifestyle is not proper. The basics
of Human reproduction also support the concept of normal male and female attraction. The main purpose of sex is to create another generation. Some creations are A-sexual, but Humans are Not.

I'm really sorry that there are those who have
homosexual attractions. That can be challening.

God and Jesus set up the process of creating the next generations. We as humans, don't really have
the ability or the rights to Change that.

God Bless You David.

from another David

Matthew | 3:25 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008

Polygamy has a biblical history of being accepted and sanctioned by God. Homosexuality (not those who experience homosexual attraction) has always been condemned and always will be.

Perhaps the most important purpose of eternal (temple) marriage is PROCREATION here and in the next life.

Comments continue below

Huh? | 3:38 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008

Why is the church so anti-gay? Why would they care what non-Mormons do in their bedrooms? As non-believers they are already doomed to hell.

uh huh | 7:13 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008

because repentence is hard and it hurts during the process of recognition of wrongs. better not to do it in the first place.

Anonymous | 8:46 p.m. Sept. 21, 2008

The church supports traditional marriage. That is not anti-gay.

Church needs to do More | 8:16 a.m. Sept. 22, 2008

The LDS Church needs to make professional counselling more accessible to youth who struggle in panicked daily anonymony with same-gender attraction. Those not afflicted with this simply cannot understand, and those who do suffer bear a burden that is almost incomprehensible. "why me?" There are many LDS who struggle with this who do not intend to indulge in -so called "gay" lifestyles. They want to live Christlike lives. Yet they are taught constantly that to be exhalted requires that they marry in the temple; something that seems a fraud or too hard for them to do. There still remains a whole lot of denial...on the part of leaders, parents, and even individuals who are suffering. The "thorn in the flesh" is not easily removed...and the struggle to just live day to day as best as one can can be overwhelming. Plea to the church is to please recognize this and offer what help you can and remove barriers (cost and stigma) to professional counseling for youth.

Prugna | 7:17 p.m. Sept. 22, 2008

To get back on the subject of gay marriage, need we be reminded that in an election where we are facing unprecedented challenges, escalation in Afghanistan, a war we are spending $435 million a day on, terrorist in Pakistan, economic disaster, global climate change, a broken immigration system, etc. there will still be people out there making voting decisions based on their fear of homosexuality? Your lives will be far more affected by the issues listed above than whether or not a couple of guys (or girls) are able to obtain a civil union and visit one another in the hospital.

Glad | 9:06 a.m. Sept. 23, 2008

I'm glad to see the efforts of Evergreen. It's nice to see a group taking on the issue the right way - following the Prophet.

To Huh? - There are great answers to your questions (if you ask those questions sincerely) on the npr site - search for article title: "When Gay Rights and Religious Liberties Clash". Also, the lds church newsroom put out a great article about why they care called "The Divine Institution of Marriage". I can't link them here (not allowed in comments), but if you want to know why - that should be pretty clear.

In the end, I would suggest a James 1:5 approach. If you sincerely want to know what's right and are willing to do whatever that is - ask.

Anonymous | 12:17 p.m. Sept. 23, 2008

Hey "Church needs to do more",
I know it's slow in coming, but there are those, such as Evergreen, out there that are working hard to bring assistance to the youth and others who struggle with un-wanted Same Sex Attraction. Slowly, as more understanding is gained, therapists are being trained to work with this issue better and bishops are becoming more informed. Weather it be unfortunate or fortunate, it's up to "us" as SSA individuals, parents, friends, spouses, and family to help inform others concerning this issue. As we help others understand, venues will open up that will make assistance more avaliable to those who desire that help.

John Pack Lambert | 5:15 p.m. Sept. 23, 2008

To the 3:38 commentator,
The Church does not teach that "non-believers are already doomed to Hell". There is a big difference between the Terrestial and Telestial Kingdoms.
Beyond this the debate is not about what people do in their bedrooms. Proposition 8 and like measures are about what recieves open and public recognition, not what is done in a corner.

John Pack Lambert | 5:23 p.m. Sept. 23, 2008

To "Church Needs to do more",
It is hard for the church to help when the youth do not go and speak to their bishops. On the other hand the church has LDS Family Services which is a counseling network that reaches across the United States and into seven foriegn countries.
It could be bigger and have more staff, but generally you can set up appointments within reasonable distance of your home. The bishop has the discretion to pay for some or all of this service using fast offering funds.
I am sure that there are ways the church could encorage people to seek help more often. However, there is a system in place. There is more that could be done to encorage people to take advantage of the system, but a large part of this has to be done on the local level and there is only so much President Monson and the other general authorities can do to change the situation.

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