Same sex attraction

[Sunday21]

Same sex attraction. If you experience this on earth, did you experience it in the premortal existance? Will you experience it in the next life?

What is the church's view on these issues? Does your view differ from that of the church's?

Edited July 17, 2017 by Sunday21

[Guest MormonGator]

Wow @Sunday21, you are kicking up a major hornets nest with this one, aren't you? 

[Sunday21]

Just now, MormonGator said:

Wow @Sunday21, you are kicking up a major hornets nest with this one, aren't you? 

Should I kill this? I don't want to upset anyone. Maybe I should ...

[Sunday21]

I emailed the mods to ask if this is too controversial. If so I apologiize. I spend my life in front of a computer. No people skills!

[Guest MormonGator]

I was kidding @Sunday21. 

[Sunday21]

1 minute ago, MormonGator said:

I was kidding @Sunday21. 

Oh! I am Canadian! How was I meant to know that!

[The Folk Prophet]

Are facts determined by vote?

_ Yes

_ No

[Guest MormonGator]

15 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

Oh! I am Canadian! How was I meant to know that!

lol! The Canadian sense of humor and the American one are so different. Absolutely true! 

[MrShorty]

Can I request a clarification before I vote? What does "be secular" mean in the 3rd question?

Also, with "sometimes" in the question, the "sometimes" in the response seems kind of redundant.

[Sunday21]

4 minutes ago, MrShorty said:

Can I request a clarification before I vote? What does "be secular" mean in the 3rd question?

Also, with "sometimes" in the question, the "sometimes" in the response seems kind of redundant.

Yes the sometimes is redundant but someone answered in that category so I will leave it. By 'be secular', I meant go find a life outside the church. Would you prefer different responses to that question?

Edited July 18, 2017 by Sunday21

[Fether]

For the 3rd Q... there should be a "whatever they find best" option or something like that

[Vort]

53 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

Same sex attraction. If you experience this on earth, did you experience it in the premortal existance?

If by "attraction" you mean "physical sexual desire", that presupposes a physical body. No body, no physical desire. So given our present understanding of premortal life, how would that even make sense?

If by "attraction" you just mean "attraction", then surely we did. We were attracted to the Firstborn and followed his lead, and half of us are the same sex as he is. But I don't see that that has anything to do with homosexuality.

53 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

Will you experience it in the next life?

Doubtful. But we do not really understand what our nature will be in the next life. Will we experience sexual attraction at all? If so, it will certainly be far more powerful and overwhelming than anything we feel here. Will that be felt by and toward everyone, and only our own will and agency determine its action? Or do we, as eternal beings, have the ability literally to mold our own eternal physical desires to meet our personal expectations? Isn't that what we're supposed to do here?

Too many unknowns to hazard anything more than a guess, and a guess is exactly as good as saying, "I don't know."

53 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

What is the church's view on these issues?

I know of no statement that the Church or its authorities have made on this issue. I can hardly imagine the Church would willingly treat into such unknown waters; as an institution, the Church is speculation-adverse, and appears to encourage its members to be likewise.

53 minutes ago, Sunday21 said:

Does your view differ from that of the church's?

I expect my view is identical with the Church's.

Edited July 18, 2017 by Vort

[Guest]

My answers:

1.  SSA is caused by a complex interaction of environmental and genetic causes that are not well understood (and are likely different from person to person, thus necessitating different approaches to treatment).  

2.  SSA could conceivably, in at least some cases, be worsened by choice, though I do not believe SSA is always the person's choice.

3.  Those with SSA would need to assess their unique situation to see whether to marry or not at a given point in time. This stuff is different for everyone, and there is a range of SSA feelings and behaviors which may or may not adversely affect marriage.  (e.g., a man who is generally attracted to women but occasionally feels SSA could probably successfully pursue a normal marriage and encourage feelings for his wife while suppressing the homosexual desires he occasionally may be tempted with).  Anyone who has SSA and believes it it prevalent enough to foreclose on marriage for the time being should certainly hope and pray for healing, though, so perhaps at some future time they may enjoy the full blessings of temple marriage.  I remember there used to be an LDS organization for very good members struggling with SSA and attempting to overcome it - I think it was called Evergreen?  Maybe something to consider if you are suffering from SSA.

Edited July 18, 2017 by DoctorLemon

[Sunday21]

On 2017-07-17 at 8:01 PM, Fether said:

For the 3rd Q... there should be a "whatever they find best" option or something like that

Do you mean marry and have kids OR be celibate whichever they prefer?

Edited August 7, 2017 by Sunday21

[Guest]

1 hour ago, DoctorLemon said:

1.  SSA is caused by a complex interaction of environmental and genetic causes that are not well understood (and are likely different from person to person, thus necessitating different approaches to treatment).  

2.  SSA could conceivably, in at least some cases, be worsened by choice, though I do not believe SSA is always the person's choice.

This is pretty close to my position.  I'd modify #2 with the following:

Whether you're born with the trait or not, such a thing can be impacted like any mental/emotional/spiritual issues.  While people are born with differing levels of SSA, there are differing levels of success.  But there must first be a recognition that this is something that is wrong.  Then there must be a desire to change that trait.  Without these, there is no way to change anything about us.

I'd say that it is "not a choice" in the sense that due to nature / nurture we naturally have it or not by the time we leave puberty.  But it "is a choice" in the sense that it can be changed.

[MrShorty]

I answered sometimes to the sometimes questions, I guess because this kind of wishy-washiness best reflects my understanding. Maybe an "I don't know" would be a very close 2nd choice.

I chose "be secular" because it was the closest to a "make your best choice". Ultimately, my hope for LGBTQIA individuals is that they would stay as close to Christ and His church as possible -- even if marriage to someone of the same gender is their choice (example here of a gay couple trying to live as active an LDS life as they can: http://religionnews.com/2017/06/13/married-gay-mormons-try-to-stay-lds-part-1/ ). Even if excommunication/disfellowship is inevitable so that one is denied certain parts of active participation in the Church, I believe Christ's atonement can ultimately overcome all of this (whatever it really means to overcome) and that the choice to stay as close to and active in the Church and trying to develop that relationship with Christ is an important part of receiving the blessings of the atonement.

[Guest]

19 minutes ago, MrShorty said:

LGBTQIA 

MIASOPDOAPDQASAP

How many letters are they going to add to this thing anyway?

[MrShorty]

14 hours ago, Carborendum said:

MIASOPDOAPDQASAP

How many letters are they going to add to this thing anyway?

I don't know. For that matter, I can't decide how many letters I am going to use on any given day/time, let alone have any good idea how many letters everyone should include. I guess that post was a "let's put a few extras in" kind of moment.

[Bad Karma]

I think it's a choice.. A really bad one, but a choice none the less. Free agency and all. 

[Bad Karma]

15 hours ago, Carborendum said:

MIASOPDOAPDQASAP

How many letters are they going to add to this thing anyway?

Gosh, seriously, I don't know. They keep adding to it every six months. 

Edited July 19, 2017 by Bad Karma

[Sunday21]

Bro Uchdorf's view

On Sunday, Uchtdorf reiterated the church's position that it doesn't know the cause of homosexuality and that it doesn't matter.

"Many questions in life, however, including some related to same-gender attractions, must await a future answer, even in the next life," Uchtdorf said. "Until then, the truth is, God loves all his children, and because he loves us, we can trust him and keep his commandments."

[Guest LiterateParakeet]

On 7/17/2017 at 4:48 PM, MormonGator said:

lol! The Canadian sense of humor and the American one are so different. Absolutely true! 

I didn't know that. I should have though.   

Sunday, I'm glad you asked. Very enlightening to see what people think. 

Edited August 7, 2017 by LiterateParakeet

[Guest MormonGator]

5 minutes ago, LiterateParakeet said:

I didn't know that. I should have though.   

Sunday, I'm glad you asked. Bery enlightening to see what people think. 

Canadian satire and parody are usually much more gentle than American satire and parody. Yes, there are exceptions. 

The stereotype of Canadians being polite and nice has a lot of truth to it. 

Edited August 7, 2017 by MormonGator

[Guest]

2 hours ago, MormonGator said:

Canadian satire and parody are usually much more gentle than American satire and parody. Yes, there are exceptions. 

The stereotype of Canadians being polite and nice has a lot of truth to it. 

So, the only examples of Canadian humor that stand out are 

Strange Brew and Canadian Bacon.

Which is your preference?

[Sunday21]

2 minutes ago, Carborendum said:

So, the only examples of Canadian humor that stand out are 

Strange Brew and Canadian Bacon.

Which is your preference?

Neither! Here you go..Humour as I see it!

http://www.online-literature.com/stephen-leacock/further-foolishness/17/