Comments about ‘2,000-3,000 protest for gay rights outside Mormon church offices in Salt Lake City’

Yawn

Unfortunately there has always been a tendency to "shoot the messenger." I don't think Elder Packer originated the concept that homosexuality was not a moral practice.

President Packer meerly stated the obvious and was only the messenger in this case. As I stated in another article, our Heavenly Father speaks through his prophets. President Packer spoke what every Church President since President Kimball has taught. He also stated emphatically what the Bible teaches in no uncertain terms.

This is the Lord's words to us and we need to adhere to them. In the Lord's own do time will we (mankind) suffer if we fail to act now.

Article quote: "Packer went on to defend the church's stance against gay marriage, saying those who tolerate or advocate voting for same-sex marriage want to legalize immorality, "as if a vote would somehow alter the designs of God's laws and nature.""

Yes, it's EXACTLY as if homosexuals think a vote would overturn the laws of God.

And then homosexuals complain that it is the LDS church who is distancing homosexuals from peace and happiness, never even honestly considering whether it is they who are doing the distancing.

I have many weakness but thankfully homosexual tendencies isn't one of them.

Like Pres. Hinckley used to say, exciting times we live in!...

Boyd K. Packer did not originate the concept that homosexuality was immoral. The would be Leviticus. The same Leviticus that commands the following:

Any person who curseth his mother or father, must be killed. (Leviticus 20:9)

If a man cheats on his wife, or vise versa, both the man and the woman must die. (Leviticus 20:10).

If a man sleeps with his father's wife... both him and his father's wife is to be put to death. (Leviticus 20:11)

If a man sleeps with his wife and her mother they are all to be burnt to death. (Leviticus 20:14)

Psychics, wizards, and so on are to be stoned to death. (Leviticus 20:27)

If a priest's daughter is a whore, she is to be burnt at the stake. (Leviticus 21:9)

People who have flat noses, or is blind or lame, cannot go to an altar of God (Leviticus 21:17-18)

Anyone who curses or blasphemes God, should be stoned to death by the community. (Leviticus 24:14-16)

Interesting how so many are willing to overlook all those other ludicrous scriptures from Leviticus.

"they were pre-set and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural."

Let me take it point by point: "pre-set" Believing that same-sex attraction was genetically determined without the influence of environment or experience remains an opinion. So, I'll agree with BKP so far.

"overcome...inborn tendencies" This one depends on how you define "overcome." Rid yourself of same-sex attraction? For some, maybe. Developing the inner strength to not succumb to "those" tendencies? (Assuming that one is trying to not indulge as such.) Possible. Not easy, but possible. Many, many people have lived chaste, moral lives and overcome the desire for intimacy/sex due to lack of appropriate opportunity. Again, I'll agree with BKP.

"impure and unnatural"? Currently churches/religions have the right to determine their own doctrine. I'm going to agree with BKP on this one, too.

Sure, I would have liked BKP to clarify his comments a bit so as to show greater compassion to those in the fold who struggle with same sex attraction. Yet I feel his message was more about a loving Heavenly Father than the causes of same-sex attraction.

Homosexuality is a sin. Sin pushes one away from God. Is it any wonder that these people don't understand God's law cannot be voted away.

Utahwoody:

Almost all of the scriptures you mention do cite inappropriate behavior. It is only the punishment that seems radical.

The behavior mentioned in those verses is just as inappropriate today as it was then. The only difference is the fact that we are no longer living the Law of Moses, because it was fulfilled and supplemented by the Law of Christ.

Hoo-rah for President Packer, he speaks Heavenly Father's truth. It is also pure selfishness on the part of the Homo-sexual community to believe that we should have to subscribe to their wisdom, versus God's. If someone chooses to walk in a path unsubscribed to by the eternal plan of the Father, we will have to live with their decision, but we do not have to agree that they are in any way right in their decision.

It doesn't matter how many times they protest, the church is never going to change its stance on homosexuality. A sin is a sin, and nothing can change that, no matter how proud of their behavior the sinners happen to be.

I don't know what it's like to be gay, but I have the greatest sympathy for those struggling with this issue, because I know how hard it can be to deal with temptations that are so strong you feel like they're going to overwhelm you. I know what it's like to feel there's no way to change, but I also know how it feels to finally reach it.

Change in this case almost never means changing your orientation, though supposedly some people can. It means mastering your behavior, and conquering the temptation so that it no longer has control of you. That's what the church's stance is, and I personally find that much more kind and loving than somebody saying you're stuck exactly as you are and you can never change and grow as a person. My prayers go out to those who are struggling. Good luck.

I'm with President Packer. I can understand why the gay community is upset. I feel that way too when called out on my favorite sins. It's interesting how each general conference there is a talk selected by some folks to get themselves all excited about. Not surprisingly it usually centers on the family, which is under a relentless attack. Unfortunately, I'm expecting it to get worse. Guess I'd better focus more on my own repentance than the attack.

Utahwoody | 7:34 p.m.
Leviticus spells out the penalties for immoral conduct in the Law of Moses, including verse 13 that says, "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination." In verse 23 God said, "and ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them."

We do not fully understand the reason's for everything spelled out in the Law of Moses because we do not live in that day and we do not understand that culture, but there is no question that God hated immorality back then. He has reaffirmed his abhorrence for sexual sin, whether heterosexual or homosexual, through his latter-day prophets.

If you believe in God and his scriptures there is no question that homosexuality is sin. If you are LDS you have the added testimony of prophets who speak for God against it. They also speak for Him in expressing love and compassion for gay people and desire to help them.

No amount of protest will change Church policy.

The psychiatrists said trying to overcome homosexual tendencies can lead to teen suicide, not that homosexual tendencies cannot be overcome. Psychiatrists don't want to get sued.

I know 2 men that were "homosexuals" throughout their 20s. They overcame these tendancies, married women, had children, and are happy 20 years later.

2000-3000 unite in protest. 10,000,000-15,000,000 unite in support. Seems to me that would be the bigger story.

They may as well protest the setting of the sun, for all the good it will do them. Sin is sin, no matter what, and no one has to tolerate or embrace it. They are foolish children.

Heterosexuals also must control themselves, to be chaste according to LDS doctrine...there is one rule for all, sexual relations only within the marriage covenant, none outside of it...we all are under command of God to be chaste...the fact that this may be a difficult challenge does not excuse...and this is a serious issue, not to be trivialized. But just think what a great society we would be if all would be chaste, by this definition; how many social ills would be cured, how much money would be saved, how much pain and sorrow never felt. God is good, and wise, we should be chaste.

It appears that the DN censors are following the company line, with the comments that are getting through.

KSL reports that police estimated about 600 protestors. Quite a discrepancy from the headline.

"demand that the church change its stance?" Well, since when did we start demanding (telling) God what he can do or what he can say? The arrogance of the radical leftists knows no bounds.
Either the church is true and follows the words of God given through his prophets, or its not.
I hope that each gains a testimony of Gods love - each in his own way and time.

Why protest unless they are worried some agenda of theirs will suffer? The LGBT's of Salt Lake are protesting someone who means nothing to them. Do they honestly think this will change Mr. Monson's views? Get real.