A Question

[ERI18]

Hi,

I was interested in the LDS and had a few questions:

1) The typical religious question: Who are we, where did we come from, where are we going?

2) What is the LDS stance on homosexuality?

3) A brief eplaination on how the concept of modern day prophets and their functions?

Thanks all! :)

[Vanhin]

Hi,

I was interested in the LDS and had a few questions:

1) The typical religious question: Who are we, where did we come from, where are we going?

The spirits of mankind are the offspring of God. We came from God and entered mortality as part of our Heavenly Father's plan for us. We are here to gain a body, and to learn by our own experience the difference between good and evil, and hopefully choose good. Because our mortal bodies will die, and also because we will make mistakes (sins) in mortality that prevent us from returning to our Father, he prepared a Savior for us. Through the atonement and resurrection of Christ, everyone who has ever been born into mortality will one day be resurrected as well. Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can all be cleansed of our sins by adhering to the principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our destiny, if we choose it by our faith and obedience, is to live forever with our families in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and enjoy eternal life, which is the type of life God lives.

I'll start wit that answer for the first question. :)

Sincerely,

Vanhin

[Edit]

Here is some further reading on the topic from the Church's website (complete with scripture references) if you ever get bored. :)

Guide to the Scriptures: Spirit

Guide to the Scriptures: Plan of Redemption

Guide to the Scriptures: Fall of Adam and Eve

Guide to the Scriptures: Atone, Atonement

Guide to the Scriptures: Salvation

Vanhin

[Vanhin]

2) What is the LDS stance on homosexuality?

Same gender attraction is a touchy subject. Here is a link to the Church's stance, including in depth discussion about the subject -> LDS Newsroom - Same-Gender Attraction

In short however, we believe in living the Law of Chastity, which is that we should have no sexual relations outside the bonds of legal and lawful marriage (which we define as a union between a man and a woman).

Sincerely,

Vanhin

[NeuroTypical]

2) What is the LDS stance on homosexuality?

This interview with one of our Apostles gives a full answer to your question.

In short, we figure marriage should be between a man and woman. We welcome and accept people from all walks of life and folks with Same Gender Attraction leanings are no different. The church teaches that sexual relations are to be had only in the bonds of marriage, this is more than a suggestion, it's a commandment and a law.

But the interview puts it much better than I can.

LM

[edit - I see vanhin beat me to the punch - we both point to the same link]

[Vanhin]

[edit - I see vanhin beat me to the punch - we both point to the same link]

Hehe, yeah, and just so I don't hog up all the cyberspace, I'll let someone else answer the 3rd question. :) So, have at it brother!

[ERI18]

Well thank you very much everyone for such quick and thorough replies!

Your answers are all much appreciated.

:)

[Vanhin]

You are welcome. Seeing that no one else has had a chance to answer the third question, I will go ahead then and take a stab at that one as as well.

3) A brief eplaination on how the concept of modern day prophets and their functions?

This actually goes hand in hand with the Plan of Salvation I summarized above. When we enter mortality, we forget our former lives in the pre-mortal existence. We are to live by faith. But God has not left us without direction.

Throughout time, God has chosen righteous men and called them as prophets. He reveals the truth of his Plan to the prophets, who in turn teach it to the people on the earth. Prophets testify of Jesus Christ. They either teach the people directly, or their words are written down. That is how we get scripture. The people don't have to just take the prophets word that the message is true. When we hear or read something that claims to be from God, we can find out for ourselves by studying, pondering, and praying about it. God has promised to answer such prayers by the power of the Holy Ghost. Once we know that the message is true, the prophets invite us to follow the plan.

God has called a prophet in our day, just as he did anciently, and reveals his word to him. Just like anciently, we can know that he is a true prophet, by studying, pondering, and praying about the message.

Through a living prophet, God gives direction to help us return back to him, and reveals how to avoid the pitfalls of our day. We believe Joseph Smith was such a prophet, and that through him, God restored precious truths that had been lost for centuries about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the Plan of Salvation. Through Joseph Smith, God revealed additional scripture, like the Book of Mormon, which is another testament of Jesus Christ. We also believe that God has continued to call prophets since the days of Joseph Smith. Thomas S. Monson is currently God's prophet on the earth.

Here is some more info:

Guide to the Scriptures: Prophet

Guide to the Scriptures: Smith, Joseph, Jr.

Guide to the Scriptures: Book of Mormon

Guide to the Scriptures: Testimony

Sincerely,

Vanhin

[sjdean]

In short however, we believe in living the Law of Chastity, which is that we should have no sexual relations outside the bonds of legal and lawful marriage (which we define as a union between a man and a woman).

Sincerely,

Vanhin

I love the Mormon stance on this. Some other churches seem almost bigoted in their responses. They say two men can't get married. Why? Because they can't have children. So why do you marry people who have no intention of getting married?

Im sure I've heard previously the Mormon position in that you have a family, and you teach the gospel to the family. It seems pretty straight forward to me in that to have a family, you need a man and a woman.

Although I guess the theory goes out of the window with same sex adoption where IMHO a same sex couple can provide just as much a loving home to an adoptive child as anyone else.