I am truly saddened by all the hate and anger going on right now. Why is it that in upholding some people's rights others are oppressed? For example, in order to accommodate people who are atheists, why is it that God is being forced out of things that have been in place since the Declaration of Independence was signed? I am proud to say that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and I fully support President Packer and what he said in his talk. But should I be blasted by hate for it as is being done to others? By saying that does it mean that I don't love people who just happen to be gay? I should hope not. I've had many good friends who are gay and I love them all. In fact I have found that gay people can be some of the most tolerant and nice people I have ever met. But that doesn't mean that my voice should be oppressed because my views may offend someone else. I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. But I also believe that we all have a choice in this life and we all should do what makes us happy. People have different views on what will make them happy in this life, and they should be left to choose their own way.
I will not say that I have never been judgmental or unfair in my lifetime. We all have, no matter what our situation is. But I have never gone and been intentionally cruel and angry toward someone because they express their views, and it makes me sad that others are doing that to us. One thing I've noticed, and I'm aware that there are exceptions. Most of the anger and intolerance are coming from those not of the LDS faith. I've been viewing much of the comments online and most of the comments from the LDS members are of supporting the leaders of our faith and stating our love for those we know who are gay. Much of the intolerance I've been seeing is coming from those who profess themselves to be open-minded. If that is the case, then why can't they be open-minded enough to let us be? We are not condemning anyone! Elder Packer stated the views of our religion, which have NEVER changed, and that was all. So where is all this hate coming from? I just hope people who profess to believe that everyone deserves to be happy will be able to recognize OUR rights to be happy as well and let us be.
Here is the link to the official statement made by the Church about the reaction and ridiculous accusations toward the church. I hope people will read it and realize that we are a church of love, not hate and condemnation.
http://beta-newsroom.lds.org/article/church-mormon-responds-to-human-rights-campaign-petition-same-sex-attraction
1 comment:
The Declaration was a grievance document written by Thomas Jefferson to disband from King George's England. I think you meant the US Constitution :-). In the Constitution, we have certain freedoms and can believe whatever we want to believe as long as we are not infringing on the rights of other people.
It's ok for people to believe what they want to believe, but where we get into 'trouble' is when we express those thoughts in a way that wasn't well thought out or in a way that is pandering to the people we are talking to. Further, we should believe and act in the way, in which, the Lord Jesus Christ would want us to.
I believe in the Love of Almighty Christ. And in a writing by Oswald Chambers in "My Utmost for His Highest," we need to think of Sin, in general in these terms: "Sin is a fundamental relationship; it is not wrong doing, it is wrong being, deliberate and emphatic independence of God. The Christian religion bases everything on the positive, radical nature of sin. Other religions deal with sins; the Bible alone deals with sin."
Categorizing sin is a sin, because as humans we tend to place value on everything from adultery to homosexuality, or from lying to stealing or killing. They are all the same, as is homosexuality.
I say that homosexuality, in and of itself, is not wrong, but the ACTING upon those desires in wants is where we, as humans, get into trouble.
The 'relationship' that one values over God and His Commandments are the slippery slope to one's disposition in life and where they can, and have the potential to go to from that point on.
Too often in this country, we tend to be too legalistic and we try to judge others for theirs faults instead of looking at ourselves and seeing what is wrong with us.
When we, as people, and as a country can stop judging others, and instead, love them, we would all be in a better place.
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