Comments about ‘LDS action momentous’

The author seems confused. There is a huge difference between rejecting violent acts against any group and accepting their life styles. Say what you think, but at least think before you say it.

always be in favor of rights for everyone. It has been steady and consistent in the approach to this important matter. But, one has to understand the beliefs of the LDS faith to know that even church leaders cannot change basic doctrine. Because the church believes in revelation, it is false to assume leaders will cave in to societal pressure. Doctrinal changes can only come from one source..God himself. Unless He wills it, no doctrinal changes will be forthcoming. This is not to say that God doesn't love all of His children. It's just that he forbids that they be allowed to do things their way instead of His. This is not hard for anyone to understand if they have their own children. Parents do this all the time and with good reason.

Lee Padron:Full blessings are extended to people with same sex attraction. You would know that if you ever read any of the church’s statements on the issue. They can hold callings go to the temple. But the same standard is placed on them that is placed on heterosexuals, that they must stay morally clean which means no sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage. This church is guided by the Lord it is He who set the standards not man. That is if you believe as we do. No time in history has God allowed homosexual behavior. In fact He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for just that reason. I just can’t see Him saying now, “Well I didn’t approve of it then but I just changed my mind.” We all have challenges. I may be attracted to other women then my wife. If I acted on those feelings I would then loose my blessings.

All its doing is to placate the GBLT groups and causing them to back off. Nothing more that PR stunt..

Isn't this question a little silly? The Church has not changed it's position regarding homosexual behavior or homosexual marriage. Re-read the Church's representative's comments.

How much longer will we be subjected to the myth, lore and superstition of the Old Testament?
They are clearly not accurate, let's just move on and treat others well.

Keep actions of the state and actions of religion separate. Marriage is a religious rite, and legal rights are a matter for the state. This is the only solution. Churches can choose whether to recognized gay marriage, and the state should recognize relationships between consenting adults equally.

The Church supporting not firing someone for certain actions in general, and the Church allowing people who do so into the temple are VERY different things.
Elder Oaks specifically called for laws protecting people in despised religious groups from being fired in his talk at BYU-Idaho. Does this mean he thinks the Church should let Muslims, Wiccans, Scientologists and the FLDS into the temple?
Absolutely not. Just because you should not be able to fire an employee of your because they belong to a Church that actively encorages and supports polygamy, does not mean that they should be able to enter the temple. Whether you should be able to fire your employee for having multiple wives is a different question, but I am operating on the true fact that not all FLDS have multiple wives (especially since I never specified the gender of your employee in question).

The letter writer clearly does not understand the Church's statement on the matter. This is not support for homosexual behavior, it is a support for human rights that are afforded to all. Don't expect the Church to ever change their opposition to the behavior.

By the way, we Church believes the Old Testament is revelation and truth, not myth, lore, and superstition. We also believe that all should respect others' religious beliefs.

Interesting comments and more questions:

"Huge difference" (12:31 am) says rejecting "violent acts" and "accepting lifestyles" is different. This statements assumes that ONLY "gay special protection" laws will prevent violent acts and discrimination. Don't EXISTING laws already accomplish that, especially in ULTRA liberal SLC? If not, why?

"John C." (2:59 am) says God has never allowed homosexual behavior and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah "for that reason" [homosexuality].

Good point! Take what you say literally. Your own logic suggests God may be out of step with the LDS Church. Yes, the Bible says God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. That's a long way from supporting "special rights" based on sexual preferences. God definitely didn't say let's not discriminate on Sodom and Gomorrah housing and jobs based on lifestyle choices made there. He just destroyed it. Right?

Anonymous (6:58 am) says the question is silly because the Church has not changed its position regarding homosexual marriage.

That the LDS Church now supports special homosexual rights yields a ONE word response to this comment:

YET!

And, a ONE word questions:

WHEN?

Lee Padron
Draper

Is time so precious that Mr. Padron didn't have the time to read the statement made by the LDS Church? Does Mr. Padron believe that the LDS Church embraces gay activities?

God is not a respecter of persons. He abides eternal law. That law is not changeable depending on the wants and wishes of any person or group of persons. God has made provisions that those ignorant of the law and that those who rebel against the law can be reclaimed AFTER they choose to obey the law and AFTER they are redeemed by His Son, Jesus Christ, who, in His mercy, allows all of us sinners a chance to comply with the LAW.

When God gives us a plan of happiness and tells us that that plan is the ONLY plan accepted by Him, then we had better learn to adjust our personal desires to fall within that plan, otherwise we purposely choose to rebel against the plan and we purposely choose to receive the rewards of the rebellious.

The LDS Church relies on constant revelation from Jesus Christ. It doesn't not consult the opinion polls before stating official doctrine.

Well Lee, read your scriptures a little longer. You'll find that God doesn't usually destroy individuals in this life for their sins - but when an entire society becomes absolutely and irrevocably corrupt, all bets are off. Remember, he didn't destroy Sodom and Gomorrah until the last four righteous people in the city left.

The LDS church excommunicates or disfellowships probably hundreds of people a week because of sexual immorality of all flavors. But they don't kick them out of their homes or ask their employers to fire them. Please read D&C 134:10.

Sooner or later organizations such as the LDS group will be found out and will have to pay their fair share of taxes like any other group.
This will solve a host of contemporary problems that we face today.

What Lee Padron and the rest of the world may see as a compromise by the Church and a sign that the Church and/or God is changing their/His mind about homosexuality is merely a case of God allowing a society to live under the law that they desire to live by, even though it is not the law that He would desire for us. This is not unprecedented. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai he found the people were not ready to live the laws that God had given him, so they were given the lesser law, the Law of Moses. I doubt that God was pleased that the people rejected the higher law, but He had compassion for those who were not ready for it.

The Church has compassion for gays and will treat them with respect, but do not hold your breath waiting for temple blessings to come to those who commit moral sin, heterosexual or homosexual.

Lee Padron:The church has never been out of step with Gods revelation… Anyone who believes in continued revelation understands the principle easily. But people like you who would want the government to force church’s including the LDS church to change their beliefs because it doesn’t go along with yours are a very miss guided people. We know that we should treat all people with kindness and respect. As individual members of the LDS faith I know we haven’t all be great at it. But that is the individuals problem, but we don’t as a group protest outside your doors, or campaign against your business, spray graffiti on your property and vandalize them. Or try to intimidate you as you try to enter your homes. But all these where done to our places of worship and our business and those of other faiths. The LDS church gives aid to all people around the world regardless of their beliefs working with others as much as possible, often times we are the first organizations to arrive. This was a good endorsement by the church and yet you still aren’t happy. Sad.