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Desert Morning News
LDS leaders speak out
on same-sex attraction
Pamphlet attempts to
clarify stance on issue
By Carrie A. Moore,
desertnews.com from the Web, July 28, 2007
Salt Lake City, July 26 -- LDS
Church leaders have posted a new pamphlet on their Web site this week, answering
questions often raised by church members regarding same-sex attraction and how
to deal with it.
The new resource, which is being announced through a letter to LDS bishops and
stake presidents, seeks to assure troubled church members of God's love despite
challenges and questions, "including some related to same-gender attractions,
(that) must await a future answer, even in the next life."
It does not touch on scientific theories about homosexuality or its origins but
addresses how to deal with it from a spiritual perspective. The text uses
the term "same-gender attraction" rather than "gay" or "homosexual" to
distinguish between a lifestyle choice and an attraction only.
Church leaders were unavailable for comment on Thursday.
While few people have yet had a chance to study the new text, one therapist
familiar with the content said it is a valid attempt by church leaders to reach
out, acknowledging that anything official on such a volatile subject "can be
misread. I feel for them," said David Pruden, executive director of the
locally based Evergreen International — which specializes in counseling
Latter-day Saints on the topic.
"People often ask why they don't talk more about it, but any time they try to,
everyone is trying to manipulate what they say to read what they want to read
into it," he said. The text has a compassionate and understanding tone,
which some gay Latter-day Saints have said is lacking among some fellow church
members.
The three-page document, expected to be made available soon in print form at the
church's official Distribution Centers, is written in much the same tone as that
used by top church leaders within the past decade, seeking to reach out and
reassure Latter-day Saints that such "attractions alone do not make you
unworthy."
"If you avoid immoral thoughts and actions, you have not transgressed (God's law
of chastity) even if you feel such an attraction," it states, a point that has
been emphasized by church President Gordon B. Hinckley and other top church
leaders.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the church's Quorum of the Twelve has delivered speeches
and wrote an article on the subject for the church's official magazine, the
Ensign, in 1995. That article is quoted within the text, as are other past
statements in official church publications.
The new document re-emphasizes the difference between attraction and behavior,
citing the importance of faith in God, self-control and obedience to the
church's law of chastity for members. "The desire for physical
gratification does not authorize immorality by anyone," it states.
"True happiness depends on more than the expression of physical urges.
These urges diminish as more fundamental emotional needs are met — such as the
need to interact with and serve others," it says. "True happiness comes
from self-control, self-respect and positive direction in life," as well as a
"testimony of true doctrine."
It urges those who have felt rejected by fellow church members to "show love and
kindness to others" in order to help change attitudes and "follow Christ more
fully. No member of the church should ever be intolerant."
At the same time, "it is not helpful to flaunt homosexual tendencies or make
them the subject of unnecessary observation or discussion," the document says.
"It is better to choose as friends those who do not publicly display their
homosexual feelings. The careful selection of friends and mentors who lead
constructive, righteous lives is one of the most important steps to being
productive and virtuous."
Pruden said the effort to produce such an official church document has been
under way for at least a decade, and as church members deal more openly with the
topic, a new resource was necessary. Opinions and input were sought from
across a wide spectrum of LDS professionals and scholars, he said, noting his
organization had no formal role in producing the document but was aware of the
effort and provided limited input.
"Anything is better than where we are. I don't mean that in a negative
way. This is a hard subject, and silence is hard on people who are often
looking for input and ideas," Pruden said. "Some are begging for anyone
that will give them some help and hope and a little clarity. From that
standpoint, doing something (like this) is important."
He lauded administrators at church-owned Brigham Young University for their
attempt earlier this year to clarify the subject for students worried about
whether they are breaking the school's honor code if they are attracted to
others of the same gender. "They were really trying to help students — not
confuse or frighten anyone. They were trying to turn the temperature down
under the pot," urging students to seek counseling from school officials without
fear.
"A lack of information often leads people to speculate," he said, adding
officials are seeking to help church members understand the faith's stance
without "turning it into a drama."
To see the new document, titled "God Loveth His Children," go to
www.lds.org, click on "gospel
library" then search under "support materials."
E-mail:
carrie@desnews.com
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