The world is watching

[carlimac]

Sheesh chill out. Did you not notice the at the end of my comment. That meant I was teasing you.

And in all fairness, the article you provided a link to did mention homosexuality in 2 of the paragraphs. Just saying...

I'm chill. Are you? Didn't even notice the homosexuality in this article. Did you go looking for it?

[pam]

I'm chill. Are you? Didn't even notice the homosexuality in this article. Did you go looking for it?

Nope, I just read the article.

[Traveler]

This thread could be interesting. There are topics in a great many cultures that are basically taboo in open discussions. There are good and bad reasons for such things and as a result there are innocent individuals on both sides that are often offended. Often there are experiences that cause pain and difficulty even in discussions of matters. I grew up in almost perfect circumstances. A great many people took interest in me as a youth with intent on helping me develop into an adult. But I have come across some very dark characters as well who seemed determined to exploit others rather than help them develop.

As a scientist and engineer there are many times I leave things out of discussion during gospel study at church during the Sunday school and Priesthood hour. One of my very good friends no longer comes to church – though we had very different opinion we could always openly discuss things – but apparently they were not able to have open discussions with others in the ward and stake. His main problem was being a Democrat. For me a topic I seldom discuss at church is evolution.

What I find interesting about members that strongly oppose evolution is - that in one on one discussions – opponents do not seem to understand very well at all what evolution is and how much evolution is taking place and observable. Charring a gun (concealed or otherwise) is another issue I tend to avoid. I use to carry but everything changed in my life from a single event when I was being shot at and decided to return fire. Those that still carry do not seem to understand why I won’t or why I am reluctant to go into great detail why.

Another difficult topic is “what has been labeled” as same sex attractions. Growing up I was “recruited” under two circumstances. One was by an older youth leader when I was a boy scout and the other was while serving in the military. These were not pleasant experiences and I have strong suspicions as to why homosexuals want access to boy scouts and the military. I understand very well that not all homosexuals are involved in recruiting but – it has also been my experience that few (with some exceptions) that are homosexuals are willing to actually do something (take legal action) with their friends that that they know do recruit. I believe it is important to note that I have never met a homosexual that could identify if another person was also homosexual before they acted on their attractions towards them. Seldom, if ever, will homosexuals even admit it when friends recruit – even when I point out examples taking place as we both have witnessed. It has been my personal experience that it is not unusual at all for homosexual to bully and support bullying even while they make accusations about being bullied themselves. But at the same time I have homosexual friends at the other end of the spectrum that I can and do trust – that in all other matters I find to be kind, compassionate and honestly friendly. The bottom line – I have homosexual friends (even church members) that I trust and openly accept as friends that I am able to have open discussions about their concerns as well as mine.

Yes sometimes it is hard to discuss what concerns us but I am not completely convinced that is always a bad thing.

The Traveler

Edited May 26, 2012 by Traveler

[Hala401]

The bottom line – I have homosexual friends (even church members) that I trust and openly accept as friends that I am able to have open discussions about their concerns as well as mine.

Yes sometimes it is hard to discuss what concerns us but I am not completely convinced that is always a bad thing.

I have a homosexual friend who used to be very active in the Lutheran Church. I am afraid that I simply do not understand his attraction for guys at all. And very generally speaking, gays seem to have a very high sex drive. And, frankly speaking, I don't get it at all. Perhaps that is because I have almost no drive at all.

Still we have gone to movies together and that sort of thing.

It is a thing that tears at my psyche and truthfully I do hope that someday it will be known why gays, lesbians and the inter-sexed occur. I do not believe that it is simple, willful sin. Perhaps those sorts are placed before us to test our ability to love others as Heavenly Father loves us? If that is so, then many of us fail the test.

I wonder what would happen if those who burned John Wycliffe at the stake could be resurrected today and see how belief has changed and marvel at the idea that even the common can read the Bible.

I wonder if in a 100 years, this business of sexual non-compliance will be a thing of the past or seen in a different light. One scientist has confided in me that perhaps non reproductive couples will increase and prevent the world from becoming more overpopulated?

[CarstenNorgaard]

These are non-news.

The essential message of that article is that a journalist found out that Mormons, like all other communities, also use the Internet to discuss matters and make decisions in their lives. That stuff is old, I don't even remember a time when it was not so. It has been like that most of my life, and I am sure doubting Mormons existed long before 1989, when the World Wide Web was officially announced.

Just keep posting. Remember not to bear false testimony about anything, but complete and utter openness is the key to an information society. You are not condemned for having genuine concerns. The whole point of the Gospel is to overcome such concerns so that you can once again be on good terms with Christ and our Father in Heaven.

It's possible making bad friends out there, so be careful. Use good judgment. As Dallin H. Oaks wrote in 1998, contradictions about judging in the scriptures basically result in the conclusion that we are not to make FINAL judgments, whereas we are expected to make INTERMEDIATE judgments, and how. That and the Holy Ghost will protect you from being stuck in the wrong communities.

But by all means, use the Internet. This is the greatest opportunity that Mormonism has ever had to repent and get even closer to God, and for sincere seekers who just don't catch the whole super-idealized image that the Church has built. Reality is harsh, and the Internet can help those who prefer "candid documentary" to "romanticized narrative" in their reaching conclusions.

So, this non-news simply describes a great blessing that has been an important factor in my own development :) I am grateful that it's like this. God blesses many people through it. A random girl in New York helped me, a then-inactive guy from Denmark, to become active again by inviting me to Church over AIM. She saw my post on a forum. God expressed his love for me through that person, her good intention to help me choose the right. I was in doubt. I found faith because of things like that.

It's freaking amazing, and I know God has a glorious purpose with technology like this being available to us today :) so let's not be scared. Let's use it and become more like Him in the process.

(In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.)

[Hala401]

It is amazing how many ludicrous statements about Mormons I encountered in my search for true worshipers of Heavenly Father. One of the things that turned me toward the LDS were the hate filled, lurid stories about Mormons I'd seen. One of the things I have learned is that hate is cheap, and only used by those who hate everything. So, actually the hateful played a major role in turning me toward the church.

And, before the church, I had been hated a lot! Try being Muslim in a place where Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Fox News are believed; even worshipped. I tell you, some people will believe anything.

I was once told that Joseph Smith was a swindler and a crook. But, after studying the history of the day, it was fairly easy to see that he was a young man trying to start a new religion, and he used a Bank to start it. It was not his fault that a very severe depression set in about that time, and lots of people lost everything. It was not his fault that he ran afoul of the then infant banking regulation organizations. He got caught in the rip tide of societal change.

I can think of no other religous sect in the country that has been systematically deprived of their First Ammendment rights like the LDS have. These were turbulent times and in the years after the war of 1812, it got worse. Lots of good men died.

And this whole thing about Polygamy was just nuts. Women did not have property rights until the 1860's and about the time of the organization of the church lots of widowed and divorced women were being taken advantage of. Prophet Smith tried to do something for them and the evil stirred people up against him; saying that he was doing immoral things.

Our church only needs the faithful.

[carlimac]

In no way am I saying don't use the internet. My point of posting this is article is to warn us to be sure that what we post is official church viewpoints. If we have some independent view on something, we need to point out clearly that it's just our personal opinion so that it can't be taken out there, twisted and spun to start rumors and be used against the church. That's all.