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Gay-rights activists call for LDS help
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Let's see--where have we heard this before? A large group of people wants to get their way--they blame a religious minority for ALL their problems. They target them for harassment and blame. They use half-truths and outright fabrications to sow fear and hatred against this minority. They threaten the minority with boycotts and economic isolation.
Protesters, your disappointment over losing is understandable. Your reaction, however, has no place in civilized society. Taking a page from ADOLF HITLER'S OWN PLAYBOOK has even less place.
You want "rights"? Act like you deserve them.
What's wrong with civil unions? It isn't "marriage" and it isn't "calling good evil, and evil good." It's just about human decency. Not too long ago Mormons were called sinners and apostates in the eyes of the world. We were persecuted for it. Now we are the persecutors? Why? Aren't we forgetting what it is like to have the laws of the land used (unconstitutionally) against us?
Most of the comments I read on here about the Constitution are wrong. It is true that there is no Constitutional right to "marriage." But there is an Equal Protection Clause--meaning the laws should apply equally to all. That should include people who choose to be Mormon, or choose to be gay (if it is a choice--science tells us there may be more to it).
Remember the 11th Article of Faith. Let the gays "worship how, where or what they may."
Wow, can you say hypocrisy?
All human beings�male and female�are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose...
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is a sampling of how the Latter Day Saints member view marriage. We don't force anyone to believe in our religion. We believe in Free Agency.. the ability the choose and accept responsibility for our actions.
I don't expect the Church to come out in support of this legislation. The Church's statement that it "does not object to" granting of various rights to same-sex couples was intended as an olive branch, but Mike Thompson has every right to believe it was sincere. I believe it was sincere. There's nothing to be gained by denying same-sex couples visitation rights and access during hospitalization and medical care, or discriminating against them in fair housing and employment. But there's a difference between "not objecting" and "endorsing." The Church's policy is not to intervene unless it sees a "moral issue" implicated in legislation. That puts the duty on us to study the legislation for ourselves.
Let's start about equality of the votes first.
Twice, Californians have voted fair and square, and you guys still don't follow the law. What else do we have to do?
Think about this...For those of us who did not vote for Obama, are we protesting the result? NO --because we were taught majority rules.
I would have voted Yes on 8 if I lived in California. However, I do believe that there are certain rights that should be extended, such as the right to not have to testify against your registered partner.
Q.
1. Does homosexuality benefit our animal species?
2. If genetic then what is "it"?
3. Should we teach the difference between normal and abnormal?
A.
1. If we are here to perpetuate the population then homosexuality benefits NOTHING to are animal species. Homosexual animals are then not "fit" for survival.
2. IF it's genetic then "it" is a genetic defect, one which would wipe itself out since it cannot multiply by sexual reproduction.
3. If it's a genetic defect then why should we teach it scienfically as a normality? If we could cure down syndrome, cancer, diabetes, or baldness wouldn't we? Scientifically we should then be looking for a cure for homosexuality. You don't want a cure? Then it must be a choice! You can't have it both ways, either it's a defect to be cured or a choice to be debated. Both ways it's an abnormal defect or choice.
The aborition of homosexuality is as abnormal scientifically as it is religiously. Science chooses to call it a genetic defect, when the other calls it a weakness we can overcome. Both admit it's NOT normal!
as for my fellow lds, actions speak louder than words. we know better than to shout back. christ didn't do that, he quietly did his work. this whole argument is proof that one more prophecy is being fulfilled and we are closer than ever to the 2nd coming.
Yet another pressure tactic! I'm not surprised in the least that the Church isn't responding at this time. I have never been less impressed by the gay-rights movement.
Question: Precisely how is all this screaming, harassment, and behavior that's produced near-riot conditions supposed to demonstrate that these protesters DESERVE marriage? You protesters are, I think, familiar with the expression "self-defeating behavior"?
Equality, if you truly ARE interested in the church's support, you might FIRST try denouncing the protesters whose harassment, threats, violence (symbolic and real), and HATE SPEECH are clearly violating the boundaries of decency, civility, and humanity that exist in a free society. (Though such tactics ARE quite at home in totalitarianism or, even more fittingly, mob rule.)
Just a suggestion for the gay-rights advocates: People who scream a great deal about HATE SPEECH probably shouldn't be USING so much of it, assuming they really do want to live in a civilized society.
Hate is a horrible thing, and I am seeing way too much of it from my brothers and sisters here in Utah.
this is NOT a choice. it's like being left-handed when the rest of society is right-handed. and if your leader said "oh we must protect right-handedness" you'd demonize left-handed folks too.
USE YOUR HEART--IT TELLS THE TRUTH
CM - When Mormons practiced polygamy, US officials said that Mormons didn't deserve "special rights" just for them and if they want marriage benefits, that they practice monogamy like everyone else. The LDS may have said that since they are not strictly monogamists, that doesn't make sense. The official may have told the Mormons that since they CHOOSE to be polygamists, the United States won't provide Mormons "special rights" based on their lifestyle choices. What Mormons preach in their own homes and churches is one thing, but why should American society, which was based on traditional Christianity (which preaches strict monogamy), have to change to accommodate the Mormons' chosen lifestyle? The Mormons may also have said that they paid taxes and deserve government benefits and protections monogamists get. This fell on deaf ears because they CHOOSE to be polygamists rather than being monogamists.
Liken the above unto they gays' situation. Pot-Kettle-Black
As it is, all the exact same rights are granted whether straight or gay. Anyone can get married and divorced in all 50 states the same as anyone else can. Step up, pick someone of the opposite sex, and go get married.
We already share water fountains, bathrooms and buses in all 50 states. If you instead are looking to legalize and mainstream sexual deviancy, perhaps that plays more into the "infidel" label we should be quick to avoid.
I have gay associates whom I care deeply about. They are real people like me. But this is one of those situations where acceptance and love are best expressed through strict adherence to norms and standards, not through legislating a lowering of the bar and accepting less. Show true love. Keep the standard intact.
Gays and Lesbians are not going away and some type of accommodation or integration into the life of the church will have to occur. The Church is also not oblivious to advancing science/research on the issue, and political change.
I would argue that the Elder Oaks/Elder Wickman public affairs interview on same-sex attraction was specifically designed to do two things. 1). Blunt public criticism OUTSIDE of the Church (especially in the gay community) by softening the perception of the Church's positions, and 2). Inoculate hard core and entrenched members INSIDE the Church for the policy shifts towards gays that will inevitably be coming.
Does it benefit the Church to malign gays out of their families or out of their wards, just to keep them out of sight and out of mind? It's just not practical or sustainable in the long term.
Oh, and what about the people who feel old. You know, they dress and act like senior citizens, and associate with senior citizens - even though they're in their 20's. Why can't they receive a senior discount, or have membership in AARP? Aren't we depriving them of their "rights" too?
While we're at it - we need to get rid of "Ladies Night" discounts at any bars or clubs. And I deserve a free sucker at the bank too, not just my kids ...
LDS - That's what the Congressmen back in DC said when they voted against polygamy - one of the twin evils upon which the Republican Party was founded to oppose (the other being slavery).
A little reading will open your eyes. It is actually 52% of twins will be gay and that is quite a large percentage. Only 30% of identical twins will both have type one diabetes, if one has it. It has to do with the penetrance of the gene.
���One group of researchers studied identical twins and found that, of 56 sets of identical twins in which one member was gay, the other twin was also gay in 52 percent of the cases. That means that nearly half the identical twins of gay men were not gay, so it suggests a strong but not determinative genetic component (Adler, 1992)
���
���
���Psychology: An Introduction
���by Russell A. Dewey, PhD
Equity Utah is a group of gays that seem to be organized and have already comdemned the actions of other gays that were illegal. They are trying to work WITH the LDS church to bring some legislation before the Utah legislature this January.
Please, we should not judge all missionaries by the few that desecrated the Catholic Shrine.
We should not judge all gays by the few that acted illegally.
WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE. PERIOD.
To anonymous, you do not understand identical twin genetics or you would have noted that identical twins often do not share handedness, with one being right handed the other left.
And being gay is a choice. To say otherwise is another lie. I don't care what some medical association says.
Marriage is how society and church's control your personal lives. They set the rules and you have to abide by them.
The reality is Marriage is a piece of paper issued by someone that means if you decide not to be married it's going to cost you a whole bunch of money!!!
Do you think seriously that some God cares about your little piece of paper?
If your religious ...particularly LDS you will say yes.
Just remember that this God that you profess to be loving and caring is the same God that killed all the 1st born in the bible at the time of 10 commandments. He didn't kill the king or the romans or whatever....he killed the children. The same ones that the LDS church claims are innocent...
What kind of God kills innocent children???
Yes...Marriage was ordained of that God.
You can keep it....
The Church has said on multiple occassions that tolerance (i.e. turning the other cheek) is appropriate and Christ-like. It has said that it does not oppose certain rights, like hospital visits, etc. However, to turn it around and say that it should then support gay rights, from marriage to civil unions is just unfair. That's NOT what they have said at all.
The Church getting behind civil unions would give the unofficial stamp of approval for people who have the homosexual tendancy to ACT upon it and proceed down a path of moral error. The people who are asking for the Church to give them support in this effort are wasting their breath.
Why not simply ask the Savior to help make a change in your life and get back on the right course? Incredible what is happening in the world today.
Keep shoving this homosexual movement down the throats of the American people and watch it crash and burn. I know we are tired of the ridiculous antics here in California. Enough already, next thing you know, pedophiles and the like will get on board and start protesting their causes.
The fear for those of us who support Prop.8 is not that same-sex couples will be given more or equal rights, but that they in turn will try to take away ours. Morality issues aside, it's a terrible decision to have to choose between validating the lifestyle choice of the few or risking the relgious freedoms of the many. The right choice seems so clear...
Does it benefit the Church to malign gays out of their families or out of their wards, just to keep them out of sight and out of mind? The church as an institution doesn't malign gays (though I am sure some of our members do not treat them with respect and dignity)...it openly welcomes and accepts members of the church who want to strive to live the standards of the gospel. It's the gays and lesbians who have the core decsion to make, not the church.
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Civil Unions are subject to the govt anyway, that already gives them those rights. Gays can have all of the tolerance, love, and rights that anyone else should have under the law. Does this mean that the govt should grant everything that gays want to have, like unto marriage. No, it doesn't. Sorry, the govt has the right to discriminate with its moneys and benefits.
When the govt starts to infringe on a religious institution though, then come and see where the Church stands, because keeping religious freedoms unentangled by govt involves the Church directly. Whereas, you are on your own agenda approaching govt bureaucracy for perceived secular rights you think you deserve, which should have nothing to do w/ marriage/family/religion.
This is like asking God to justify sin, and then hating Him when He says no. Good one.