Pyotr

I didn't say that I heard all of that at church at the same time, that sentence was constructed from a variety of things that I have heard from a variety of church sources (conversations, blogs, youth group meetings, etc.). I apologize for being unclear: consider the sentence as a conglomerate of the voices of various people. I do not feel that I have a problem with insecurity at all (tell me I'm evil all you want, I don't care), I just was looking for a loving, supportive place to develop my testimony for Prop 8. Thanks to everybody who have given me good suggestions so far. It really helps. :)

From my last thread created, it's obvious I'm trying really hard to develop my own testimony of Prop 8. This thread isn't going to be about Prop 8, only about my own struggles. Constantly, during the past two sacrament meetings, youth groups, etc. that I've been in, the only thing I've heard about Prop 8 is that everybody who doesn't by now support it fully is an evil person, responsible for the destruction of religious freedom, and that members of the church who don't have a super-strong stance for Prop 8 shouldn't even be members at all, and should be excommunicated. I've kept my lack of strength on Prop 8 secret for obvious reasons (and I have not given any information about myself for these same reasons). It saddens me greatly when I come to sacrament meeting for feeling of friendship, love, and support, all people want to do is indirectly condemn and bash me. So, my question is this: is there a loving, kind environment that I can go to in order to develop my testimony for Prop 8? Sacrament meeting used to be it, but it's not anymore. Church isn't anymore, even. I'm just very lost right now.

I was freaked out about this too when I was little. Understanding that I would be spending eternity with my family really helped.

Apologies for the cliche, but "what would Jesus do?" I'd think he would respect and love a person even if he/she did something wrong, but would still tell the person why the thing that he/she did wrong is wrong and why if the person was willing to listen. Love and compassion cures wounded souls.

I took it to mean that we're held more responsible the more we know.

Heh, any of John Bytheway's talks (they're in CD form in Deseret Book, I think) have a lot of good clean humor. And you learn things at the same time! It's awesome.

I think Doctrine and Covenants 82:3 says that it would be better if a person wasn't LDS at all, but it's debatable whether having political viewpoints that differ from the LDS mainstream is a sin or not.

I've been lurking here for a while, but I've finally decided to make an account for myself. So, hello! :)