What is the CHurch's Standpoint and View On: Homosexual Marriage?
Addressing same-sex attraction (taken from www.lds.org)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that same-sex attraction is a sensitive issue which requires kindness, compassion, and understanding. The website “Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction” strives to address, through interviews and videos from Church leaders and members, the issue of same-sex attraction as it relates to individuals and affected family members. The statements and stories emphasize the importance of Christ’s commandment to love one another and reaffirm the Church’s position.
The Church’s doctrinal position is clear: Sexual activity should only occur between a man and a woman who are married. However, that should never be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but never cruel. His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear down.
In short, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms the centrality of doctrines relating to human sexuality and gender as well as the sanctity and significance of marriage as the union of a man and a woman. However, the Church firmly believes that all people are equally beloved children of God and deserve to be treated with love and respect. Church apostle Elder Quentin L. Cook stated, “As a church, nobody should be more loving and compassionate. Let us be at the forefront in terms of expressing love, compassion and outreach. Let’s not have families exclude or be disrespectful of those who choose a different lifestyle as a result of their feelings about their own gender.”
The divine institution of marriage
The Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and behavior. While maintaining that feelings and inclinations toward the same sex are not inherently sinful, engaging in homosexual behavior is in conflict with the “doctrinal principle, based on sacred scripture … that marriage between a man and a woman is essential to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”
Because the Church believes that the sacred powers of procreation are “to be exercised only between a man and a woman lawfully wedded as husband and wife … any other sexual relations, including those between persons of the same gender, undermine the divinely created institution of the family.” Accordingly, the Church favors measures that define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. However, “protecting marriage between a man and a woman does not remove Church members’ Christian obligations of love, kindness and humanity toward all people.”
Individual rights
The Church’s affirmation of marriage as being between a man and a woman “neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians.”6 On the contrary, many Church leaders have spoken clearly about the love and respect with which all people are to be treated. Former Church president Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) told members who are attracted to the same sex: “Our hearts reach out to [you]. We remember you before the Lord, we sympathize with you, we regard you as our brothers and sisters.” President Boyd K. Packer affirmed, “We do not reject you. … We cannot reject you. … We will not reject you, because we love you.”
The Church has advocated for rights for same-sex couples regarding “hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.” In Salt Lake City, for example, the Church supported ordinances aimed at protecting gay residents from discrimination in housing and employment.
Summed up the church teaches that there is to be no sexual interaction between two persons unless they are lawfully married as ‘man and wife’ and should be completely faithful to the other spouse during marriage. The church does not support or condone any ‘acts’ of homosexual behaviour but understands that many will have ‘urges’; as the Saviour had ‘urges’ to eat when the devil tempted him to turn stones to bread. What is important is that the ‘urges’ are never acted upon. Once more the church does not support or condone marriage being anything but that of a union between man and wife, but acknowledges everyones free will and will not ‘force’ you to comply. The church supports the sanctity of marriage (of that of a union between man and woman) and will not allow members who practice homosexuality to take the sacrament, be baptized, or hold a temple recommend while practicing the act; but also believe, teach, and support the equal and fair treatment of those who choose to have ‘unions’ with same sex partners under the law of man; meaning that a man and a woman who are married should not have better treatment and/or protection under the law of man vs. those who choose to live with and partner with a member of the same sex. There is no grey area here to argue amongst ourselves over this; accept this through revelation and prayer or take your chances somewhere else, those are your only options.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that same-sex attraction is a sensitive issue which requires kindness, compassion, and understanding. The website “Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction” strives to address, through interviews and videos from Church leaders and members, the issue of same-sex attraction as it relates to individuals and affected family members. The statements and stories emphasize the importance of Christ’s commandment to love one another and reaffirm the Church’s position.
The Church’s doctrinal position is clear: Sexual activity should only occur between a man and a woman who are married. However, that should never be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but never cruel. His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear down.
In short, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms the centrality of doctrines relating to human sexuality and gender as well as the sanctity and significance of marriage as the union of a man and a woman. However, the Church firmly believes that all people are equally beloved children of God and deserve to be treated with love and respect. Church apostle Elder Quentin L. Cook stated, “As a church, nobody should be more loving and compassionate. Let us be at the forefront in terms of expressing love, compassion and outreach. Let’s not have families exclude or be disrespectful of those who choose a different lifestyle as a result of their feelings about their own gender.”
The divine institution of marriage
The Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and behavior. While maintaining that feelings and inclinations toward the same sex are not inherently sinful, engaging in homosexual behavior is in conflict with the “doctrinal principle, based on sacred scripture … that marriage between a man and a woman is essential to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”
Because the Church believes that the sacred powers of procreation are “to be exercised only between a man and a woman lawfully wedded as husband and wife … any other sexual relations, including those between persons of the same gender, undermine the divinely created institution of the family.” Accordingly, the Church favors measures that define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. However, “protecting marriage between a man and a woman does not remove Church members’ Christian obligations of love, kindness and humanity toward all people.”
Individual rights
The Church’s affirmation of marriage as being between a man and a woman “neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians.”6 On the contrary, many Church leaders have spoken clearly about the love and respect with which all people are to be treated. Former Church president Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) told members who are attracted to the same sex: “Our hearts reach out to [you]. We remember you before the Lord, we sympathize with you, we regard you as our brothers and sisters.” President Boyd K. Packer affirmed, “We do not reject you. … We cannot reject you. … We will not reject you, because we love you.”
The Church has advocated for rights for same-sex couples regarding “hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.” In Salt Lake City, for example, the Church supported ordinances aimed at protecting gay residents from discrimination in housing and employment.
Summed up the church teaches that there is to be no sexual interaction between two persons unless they are lawfully married as ‘man and wife’ and should be completely faithful to the other spouse during marriage. The church does not support or condone any ‘acts’ of homosexual behaviour but understands that many will have ‘urges’; as the Saviour had ‘urges’ to eat when the devil tempted him to turn stones to bread. What is important is that the ‘urges’ are never acted upon. Once more the church does not support or condone marriage being anything but that of a union between man and wife, but acknowledges everyones free will and will not ‘force’ you to comply. The church supports the sanctity of marriage (of that of a union between man and woman) and will not allow members who practice homosexuality to take the sacrament, be baptized, or hold a temple recommend while practicing the act; but also believe, teach, and support the equal and fair treatment of those who choose to have ‘unions’ with same sex partners under the law of man; meaning that a man and a woman who are married should not have better treatment and/or protection under the law of man vs. those who choose to live with and partner with a member of the same sex. There is no grey area here to argue amongst ourselves over this; accept this through revelation and prayer or take your chances somewhere else, those are your only options.
