Thursday, October 21, 2010

Mormon Church Responds to HRC Petition

Here are two important quotes from the statement made by the LDS Church through a statement realised as a petition was turned in from the HRC.

Some expected this to come out  during general conference from the podium. It is a bit late in coming, and the doctrine of "feelings are different from behaviors" has not changed.  It is still nice to hear these things officially.  

"While we disagree with the Human Rights Campaign on many fundamentals, we also share some common ground. This past week we have all witnessed tragic deaths across the country as a result of bullying or intimidation of gay young men.  We join our voice with others in unreserved condemnation of acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different – whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation or for any other reason.  Such actions simply have no place in our society."

"As a church, our doctrinal position is clear: any sexual activity outside of marriage is wrong, and we define marriage as between a man and a woman. However, that should never, ever be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but never cruel. His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear down."

To read the release you have but to click.

Church Responds to HRC Petition

3 comments:

  1. Jeff in Colorado (jeffwcos at yahoo)October 21, 2010 at 12:09 PM

    I'm very glad that the church at least acknowledged and responded to the petition. They could have just ignored it. So I give them kudos for that.

    But, it is hypocritical to say that we condemn bullying while Packer's message from general conference provides the impetus for the bullying.

    His words have been edited by the church. And since the Brethren (including Packer himself) have repeatedly acknowledged that we do not have a fullness of revelation on this subject. I believe the right thing to do would be for President Packer to publicly acknowledge which parts of his conference message were doctrine and which were his opinion.

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  2. I posted this on my blog but I'll repeat it here because it applies:

    Brigham Young said once, at a General Conference, that the members should not just accept his words as the truth. Rather, they should go home, ponder the things they had learned, and then ask the Lord if they are true or not. This is a profound statement. In another instance he said:

    “I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self security. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not."

    WE must apply the filter of the Spirit to their words and recieve a testimony of the truth of them for ourselves. Its our responsibility to decipher doctrine from opinion. Involves a bit of work on our part, I guess...

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