A Very Fine Line

I'm still sick to my stomach...and in light of a few more comments and questions from friends I would like to continue my dialogue. 

I believe that I was born attracted to women, born gay, if you will.  But I do believe what Elder Packer says...that through the Atonement of Christ it can change.  I do NOT believe in aversion therapy of ANY kind...not one little bit.  And I don't really think that my attraction to women will change in this life.  What I DO know is that in the end..."when all is said and done"...that all will be as it should.  It does hurt to hear things like "immoral" and "impure" when referring to same sex attraction.  It is so tough to stomach those words when it isn't simply about who you want to have sex with, but who and how you love someone.  Love is such a joyful and beautiful emotion...and to call the love that a person has for another immoral or impure...it really does hurt.  I don't want anyone to think that I'm immune to hurt.   

But the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...the church that I DO belong to...is that acting upon (not having) feelings of same sex attraction/homosexuality is a sin. (The Church recognizes that those of its members who are attracted to others of the same sex experience deep emotional, social and physical feelings. The Church distinguishes between feelings or inclinations on the one hand and behavior on the other. It’s not a sin to have feelings, only in yielding to temptation.)  The gospel of Christ is indeed found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  And sexual relationships between two men or two women falls under the umbrellas of immorality...along with pornography, fornication, and adultery.  This is the doctrine of the LDS church.  I realize that it is incongruous with the beliefs of many...many who are not of my faith...and even many who are.  But marriage between one man and one woman is at the core of this gospel.

What we all need to realize and accept...embrace really...is this reality...neither side will ever give in to the other...the LDS church will continue to stand by it's definition of marriage...the LDS church will continue to stand up for that sacred belief.  The gay community and many others will continue to fight for the legalization of gay marriage.  They will continue to fight for civil rights for gay couples (something I VERY much believe in...though my belief is that marriage is a religious, not civil, right).  My hope is not so much that this fight will end...I'm not that idealistic nor optimistic...my hope is that each side will do its best to move forward with respect and kindness.  There are almost 7 billion people on this earth and upwards of 310 million of them live in the United States of America...there is not way we are all going to ever agree on the same issue.  What we should agree on is that we all must be kind and loving to one another...even when we STRONGLY disagree.

There is absolutely no place for bullying.  There is no place for denigration of any sort.  We must recognize there is a difference between stating ones beliefs and opinions and being a bully and a jerk.  I think it is a very fine line...one that will always be a challenge to walk.  That is where patience and kindness play perhaps their greatest roles.  It will be a miserable life for all of us with out them.