The Alleged Mormon Gay-haters

Okay, so this post will be a fairly long rant of mine.

I've just heard too many statements lately about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it's beliefs about homosexuality.

Too many times lately I have heard "you should see how they treat gay people"
"they hate all gay people"
"they think all gay people suck"

Seriously people, for this hand we're going to exhaust the victim card PLEASE!

I just have some thoughts that I would like to clarify.

There honestly shouldn't be anything to clear up, because under divine guidance the church leaders have took the time to create a website to STOP any misconstrued idea of the church's belief on this subject. Clearly those who choose to judge the church by it's belief would rather go by ear, because it's easier to place the blame on it without actually getting the facts.

So those of you reading this blog post, gay or straight listen up because this is getting ridiculous.
The church released access to a website called www.mormonsandgays.org

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Twelve Apostles said:

"As a church, nobody should be more loving and compassionate. Let us be at the forefront in terms of expressing love, compassion and outreach. Let’s not have families exclude or be disrespectful of those who choose a different lifestyle as a result of their feelings about their own gender."

A quote on the website at the top of the page reads:

"With love and understanding, the Church reaches out to all God’s children, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters."

We are commanded by Jesus Christ to LOVE ONE ANOTHER, and it is reiterated by church leadership that LOVE and UNDERSTANDING must reach out to ALL of God's children. One's interest regarding the attraction to the same-sex doesn't exclude them as part of God's eternal family, thus worthy of His infinite love.

In no part of church doctrine does it brainwash the members to treat our Gay and Lesbian brothers and sisters as outcasts, but rather instructs the members to do as Jesus would do, to love them and accept them as they are truly our brothers and sisters.

I have been a member of this church for a little over 3 years, that's plenty to have my share of Sacrament meetings, Sunday School Classes, and Priesthood instruction, and never once have we had a discussion bashing the topic of homosexuality. It is not part of the program. Never once in a General Conference has the topic been brought up in a fashion to degrade, make fun of, or point fingers.

As members of Christ's church we stand by our beliefs that marriage between man and woman is ordained of God. So shoot me for believing what I believe? But I'm not gonna slice your throat because you believe the opposite.

And just because I do believe this to be true that doesn't mean I think less of any of my gay or lesbian brothers and sisters. I have many close friends who are gays and lesbians and I still love them just as much as I did the day I met them. Their gender preference does not change them as people that I love in my eyes. They will forever be my friends regardless of the path they chose in life.

So the church teaches its members to live this principle but that doesn't mean it is always followed. Obviously there are MANY MANY MANY members of this church who have passed unrighteous judgment regarding gays and lesbians. But just as we ask the question who are they to judge? Who are we to dig out the pitchforks and torches to run them out of town? The consequences of their bad judgement will be brought upon their heads at the last day and THEY will have to stand accountable for their actions.

But this judgement is a double edged sword as not only members of the church are guilty of unrighteous judgement. It is completely and ENTIRELY unfair for ANY person to say that ALL Mormons are GAY-HATERS. That unrighteous judgement will too bring upon the consequences that it entails.

My purpose for this rant is to open everyone's eyes. Many times gays and lesbians plead for understanding, and that is only fair, but it is also fair that as Mormons we plead for understanding as well. We are all imperfect beings trying to make our way through this treacherous journey called life, all of us have our struggles and all of us want to be understood. I believe that with a LITTLE more understanding we would all be a little better off.

I would also like it to be clear that THIS Mormon (meaning myself) does in no way judge the thoughts and actions of others. As I stated before many of my close friends are gay and that is fine with me. In the end, the lifestyle they choose is theirs, as mine is my own. I make a firm and bold statement when I say that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is in NO way, shape, or form, a gay-hating church. We are members of Christ's church trying to make our way along in this life as well. Do we make errors? Do we pass unrighteous judgement? Yes, we all do but that doesn't make it the end of the world, it just makes it a stumbling block on the journey of life, let's not make it a black hole people.

Let's forgive and forget. Let's understand each other's point of view while still holding strong to what we believe, and most of all let's not lose sight of what is most important and that is that nothing is bigger than love

Love can conquer hate, love can conquer sin, love can conquer dishonesty, love can and will conquer everything in the end.