Posts Tagged ‘ homosexuality ’

111: Healthy Approaches to Supporting GLBT Latter-day Saints and Family Members

July 11, 2012
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111: Healthy Approaches to Supporting GLBT Latter-day Saints and Family Members

This podcast episode is timed to coincide with recent activism among many faithful straight, gay, and allied Latter-day Saints who marched and will march in recent and upcoming PRIDE parades and who are becoming increasingly visible in raising awareness of the hurts and suffering among the GLBT population and the importance for Mormons–leaders as well as all of us in our own wards and stakes–to engage in even more earnest efforts to educate about GLBT issues and to support families and communities in ways that will allow every person to know of God’s (and our) love for them and to…

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92–93: Can Mormon Theology Affirm Homosexual Relationships Now and in the Eternities?

April 26, 2012
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92–93: Can Mormon Theology Affirm Homosexual Relationships Now and in the Eternities?

Like many other religious traditions today, Mormonism is wrestling with questions raised by homosexuality. And while both LDS rhetoric and many members’ affirmation of homosexuals as beloved children of God to embrace as fellow citizens in the household of faith are moving forward in many ways, these developments have been fed primarily by the inroads being made through political and pastoral discourse. Very little attention has yet been paid to theological questions raised by these relationships. Can Mormon theology accommodate homosexual relationships into its larger views of the cosmos, God, and divine sociality? In a groundbreaking article in the Winter…

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Undo

September 25, 2010
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This post has been removed, along w/ all comments. It was found to be totally objectionable by virtually everyone: believers and unbelievers alike….including most of the perma-bloggers on this blog. What a disaster. The Management P.S.  For a first-hand account of the meeting w/ Elder Marlin Jensen, click here.

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Homosociality and the Friendship Between David and Jonathan

June 17, 2010
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Homosociality and the Friendship Between David and Jonathan

OT SS Lesson #23 The story of David and Jonathan is one of the most inspiring examples of true friendship anywhere.  Our LDS SS manual firmly places this lesson within the mainstream view of Biblical exegesis, presenting the two as strong personal and platonic friends.  As I studied the covenant made between these young men in 1 Samuel 18, I was touched by the loyalty shown by the young Jonathan, because he “loved [David] as his own soul.”  Because of this love, Jonathan relinquishes his hopes for his father’s throne in deference to God’s choice.  In a symbolic and ceremonial gesture,…

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Reflections on Mormon May Day

May 21, 2010
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by Jason B. (Mormon May Day was an international response to recent statements by latter-day McCarthyist Glenn Beck that social justice was a code word for communism; and that anyone involved in a church that preached such a deceptive perversion of the Gospel should leave their congregation and find a new place to worship. Participants in Mormon May Day held teach-ins and discussions around the topic of Social Justice and the Gospel on May 1, participated in a fast, and then bore testimony on May 2 in wards around the country.)

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Where the Lord Annihilates all the Gays

February 17, 2010
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Where the Lord Annihilates all the Gays

OT SS Lesson #8 “The Genesis passage is very clear, that the sin of Sodom that brought on the destruction of the city was indeed linked to homosexuality.” (R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Seminary) “Saying that the last recorded acts of the Sodomites — the demands for same-gender sex — are proof that they were destroyed for homosexuality is like saying that a condemned man cursing his guards on the way to his execution is being executed for cursing the guards. Sodom was judged worthy of destruction before the incident with Lot and the angels.” (Inge…

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“They Don’t Really Belong” – The Story of Doubting Jews Caught In Between Worlds.

January 24, 2010
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“They Don’t Really Belong” – The Story of Doubting Jews Caught In Between Worlds.

I recently came across this story on the BBC Website and felt that I had to return to Mormon Matters to write a few comments about it. High Cost of Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism Over the years I have noticed many similarities between Mormons and other religions, but I never thought I would see a similarity in this context with Judaism. This article addresses some of the main issues that people at Mormon Matters find challenging. Perhaps we, as doubting Mormons are not as alone as we feel. 28 year old, Chani Ovadya, is interviewed about her experience. She does not…

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A New Strategy for Preserving the Sanctity of Marriage!

December 11, 2009
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Marriage is arguably one of the most important topics in all of Mormonism. It is considered ordained of God (PoF), temple marriages are sealed through the Melchizedek Priesthood, and it’s considered required for Mormon exaltation (D&C 132). The importance of marriage has led the church, in several situations, to support legislation to preserve the sanctity of traditional marriage. During these heated campaigns the church has made its point clear – it respects, loves, and welcomes those who favor, or desire same-sex marriage, but it highly values the preservation of traditional heterosexual marriage and supports legislation to that end. But is…

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Saturday Session Thoughts

October 3, 2009
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These are just a few quick observations from today’s sessions, not every talk, though, nor every observation.  I also want to direct attention to the excellent notes by Mme. Curie.

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A Personal Interpretation of Elder Hafen’s Remarks

September 25, 2009
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At the Evergreen conference held September 18-19, 2009, Elder Bruce Hafen gave a talk regarding homosexuality. The talk was reprinted on the official LDS Church Newsroom website. I will not synopsize the talk here but I suggest reading it yourself. Within a very short time, for obvious reasons, the bloggernacle was dissecting and analyzing the speech. These actions generated some interesting discussions here, and one permablogger at FMH did a good job of challenging the less-than-spectacular research here.

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What if the Brethren decided to allow gay marriage? by Justin Perry

August 16, 2009
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What if the Brethren decided to allow gay marriage? by Justin Perry

What if the Brethren decided to allow gay marriage? They’d have to do a lot of back-peddling to explain why they were suddenly in favor of something they stood against for so long. But over time, the church’s previous “official” opposition to gay marriage would be downplayed, the Apostles who spoke publicly against gay marriage would be criticized for giving their own personal, uninspired opinion, and new generations of LDS children would grow up in a church that accepted gays openly.

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Unleashing the Analyst. A Personal Story

August 6, 2009
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Unleashing the Analyst. A Personal Story

As I have already posted a few times, I think it’s time I introduce myself.  So, this is my story, Mormon Story style (only without the cool podcast, John, and well…okay, it’s nothing like Mormon Stories).  It’s likely familiar to many, so if it sounds like Déjà Vu feel free to move along!

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Gender vs. Sex

August 4, 2009
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The Proclamation on the Family states:  “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”  What is meant by gender?  One’s biological sex?  One’s gender identity?  The sexual stereotypes and cultural norms associated with one’s biological sex?

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The Doctor Is IN: An Interview with The Mormon Therapist

July 17, 2009
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Natasha Helfer Parker is a licensed therapist who has counseled the LDS community for 12 years.  In 2009, she began a blog called The Mormon Therapist, answering questions from readers from the standpoint of a faithful LDS therapist.  We were able to get her to answer a few questions about her site, issues Mormons face, and to get her sound advice.

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Family First?

June 13, 2009
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In a pro-family church, why doesn’t family always come first?  We state that family comes before church, and yet there seem to be many in the church who don’t live as if they believe it.  What do we need to do to get people to believe that family (and marriage) comes first?

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Marie Osmond Supports Gay Marriage

May 5, 2009
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Wow.  Marie Osmond openly supports gay marriage. First Steve Young’s wife.  Now this. Will announcements like this eventually impact broader LDS opinion going forward (at least in the U.S.)?  Will it make some LDS members think twice, or feel emboldened to disagree w/ the mainstream church on this one issue? Should be interesting if this keeps happening.

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Bill Marriott Takes a Stand?

November 12, 2008
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Does this represent Bill Marriott taking a stand? What does this mean?

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The LDS Church, Homosexuality and Suicide: How Can We Prevent It?

August 14, 2008
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On February 25th, 2000 — in the heat of the LDS Church’s Prop 22 efforts in California to ban same-sex marriage — a young LDS returned missionary named Stuart Matis drove to his local LDS chapel, pinned a “DO NOT RESUCITATE” sign to his shirt, and shot himself in the head.  More of Stuart’s story can be read here and here.  Also, to read one of Stuart’s last letters on the subject written weeks before his death — click here. A few years ago I did some research on the topic, and discovered that Utah leads the nation in suicides…

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10 Reasons Why Gay Marriage is Wrong (for fun)

July 19, 2008
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1) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

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Jeff Nielson’s “Open Letter to California Mormons” Encouraging Oppposition to LDS Church on Gay Marriage Issue

July 5, 2008
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Professor Jeffrey Nielsen, whose op-ed two years ago against the LDS Church’s stance on gay marriage led to his demise at church-owned Brigham Young University, has written an open letter to California Mormons in the wake of the church’s request for members to support a constitutional ban on gay marriage in that state (from KCPW). Open Letter to California Mormons Jeffrey S. Nielsen I am a member of the Mormon Church, a married heterosexual, and a supporter of marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. I am asking you to pause and give sincere thought to the letter from our…

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