I had to say something.
I do not for one second believe that Homosexualty compares in any way to sexual addiction or pedophilia or any other addiction for that matter. Have you dealt with a severe addict in your life and a homosexual person in your life? I have. In very close situations and relations as a matter of fact. It's like comparing dinner at the Claim Jumper to dinner at McDonalds. You just can't.
I believe that god has given us a standard as well. A standard above any other and that is "love one another as I have loved you". I believe this to be the greatest way to become like god.
I also believe that god have given us the means to overcome temptation. I do not believe that, used in the right term, Homosexuality is a temptation.
I know gay men who never have and never will experience arousal from a women. Is it right for them to live their life with a women who wants and needs to feel sexual attractive? I don't believe so. I think it would cause unecessary heartache for both parties.
When I said in my earlier post that I believe life is too short to live suffering and that we should live our lives to the best of our ability in happiness, someone made the comment that by that logic it would be okay for a man to cheat on his wife because it made him happy. That is absolutely wrong and I don't believe that for on second. That would be done in the knowledge of causing others intentional pain. I also believe prop 102 also causes some serious intentional pain.
It may not say you can not be with the person you love but it does say, you can be with the person you love but know that it is wrong and ungodly in the site of the law and as human beings we will never recognize you two as significant others. Therefore you can not and may never reap the benefits of having a spouse and someone to share the rest of your life with. If you die and you have no written will your significant other won't be entitled to anything of yours, including the children that you have raised together.
I can not vote for that. Or will not, think what you will.
I remember being single and not having a significant other. A mother's, sisters, brothers, father's, even heavanly father's comfort does not compare to having a physical significant other to tell you that everything is going to be okay and that you are loved.
I know people that if them chosing to share in this kind of comfort, in which they can only experience with a member of the same sex, means that they are not going to be where I am when I die then I don't want to be there either.
14 comments:
Why can't you compare a black man and a jew? I'm pretty sure you should have thought that one through a little more. A black man and a jew can have a million different things in common. A black man could be a jew amd a jew could be a black man.To say "you just can't do it" probably didn't help your arguement any. Maybe if you said "it's like comparing a dinner at the Claim Jumper to the value menu at McDonalds." Did you like that? :) Besides, I don't think Harmony was comparing a sex addict or a pedophile to a homosexual. The way I interpreted her comment was that those people (sex addicts and pedophiles) can repent and decide to change the same way as an adulterer or a fornicator. I think she was just saying that we all have our weaknesses and the church looks at homosexuality as a tempatation and a weakness to be over come. A lot of homosexuals have been with a member of the opposite sex and not been "repulsed". A lot of them have said that "I am not with ---- because I am gay, I am gay because I am with ---." They only consider themselves gay because the person they are in love with happens to be a member of the same sex. Not all homosexuals think this way, of course, but some. I don't think your friend was trying to make homosexuality sound as repugnent as sex addiction or pedophilia. Of course, I could be wrong. Love you!
Callie,
I respect your compassion immensely. Exercise your right to vote!
Love,
Harmony
Thank you Harmony. I hope you feel free to leave a comment when ever you feel like it. I wasn't trying to attack you or your beliefs. Just putting mine out there.
Hey Callie this is Garth, you know I love you and all but I hope that your view of this will change because it is wrong. I don't mean to say that in a mean way, but it is. I am glad you voice what you think but I have something to say.
"Homosexuality is an ugly sin, repugnant to those who find no temptation in it, as well as to many past offenders who are seeking a way out of its clutches...this perversion is defined as 'sexual desire for those of the same sex or sexual relations between individuals of the same sex,' whether men or women. It is a sin of the ages... The ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are symbols of wretched wickedness more especially related to this perversion, as the incident of Lot's visitors indicates. (See Gen. 19:5) So degenerate had Sodom become that not ten righteous people could be found (See Gen. 18:23-32), and the Lord had to destroy it. But the revolting practice has persisted. As far back as Henry the Eighth this vice was referred to as 'the abominable and detestable crime against nature...' Some of our own statues have followed that apt and descriptive wording... All such deviations from normal, proper heterosexual relationships are not merely unnatural but wrong in the sight of God. Like adultery, incest, and bestiality they carried the death penalty under the Mosaic law..." " The law is less severe now, and so regrettably is the community's attitude to these grave sins - another evidence of the deterioration of society. In some countries the act per se is not even illegal. This 'liberalizing' process is reflected in the United States by communities of homosexuals in our larger cities who demand acceptance of their deviate beliefs and practices as 'normal,' who sponsor demonstrations and draw up petitions to this end, who are formally organized, and who even print their own perverted journals. All this is done in the open, to the detriment alike of impressionable minds, susceptible urges, and our national decency. But let us emphasize that right and wrong, righteousness and sin, are not dependent upon man's interpretations, conventions and attitudes. Social acceptance does not change the status of an act, making wrong into right. If all the people in the world were to accept homosexuality, as it seems to have been accepted in Sodom and Gomorrah, the practice would still be deep, dark sin… Let it therefore be clearly stated that the seriousness of the sin of homosexuality is equal to or greater than that of fornication or adultery; and that ‘the Lord’s Church will as readily take action to disfellowship or excommunicate the unrepentant practicing homosexual as it will the unrepentant fornicator or adulterer.” (President Spencer W. Kimball "the Miracle of Forgiveness", 1969)."
I hope you understand how the Lord and His church feel about the subject. You should read the Miracle of Forgiveness especially the chapter called "Crime Against Nature." The only thing we can do is love them and help and encourage them to change, but if we accept what they are doing as right we are only a crutch to their progression towards repentance. Your friend always, Garth
Garth,
I will always, hopefully, be your friend as well. However, I can not tell you how close minded and sheltered your comment felt to me. I've been personally close to all the sins you mentioned, adultery and incest included, and I could never even put homosexuality in the same sentence. God forbid you are blessed with a gay child. Used in the right sens of the term, a gay man could no more be with a women than I could. Knowing how I, myself, feel on that I would never wish that on another human being, no matter how fleeting we are taught that this earth life is. And I would never feel it okay for a man who feels that way to be married to a women in the temple. I can't even imagine the pain that would cause to both parties. I do not neccessarly believe that same sex relationships are right but I in no way believe that they are anywhere as close to hell worthy as Incest and aldultery. I have read the miracle of forgiveness. Someone close to me was a Sex addict and I witnessed things that no one in my position should ever have to witness. To put that on the same level as 2 men or 2 women loving eachother for a life time physically and emotionally is absolutely absurd to me.
God said all of that and said it through his Prohet. Yes we still love them as people, but does not mean we have to accept their actions I don't condemn homosexuality... God does. He says so in the bible and through the Prophet. There is a difference between sexual attraction and love.
Whether you believe what God has said or not about homosexuality is not going to change the fact that it is wrong.
Garth,
I appreciate your comments, but you come off rather demeaning of Callie's experiences and feelings.
Have you ever been friends with someone who is gay? From personal experiences on my mission I have known more than one gay convert, investigator and even excommunicated member. Having homosexual feelings is not easy to overcome for several people out there. Like any trial you or I have experienced, only God knows each of our personal bests. It is up to God to judge us and it is up to us to love one another. If all we do is condemn others to Hell what is even the point for them? I've seen personally how much of a struggle it is for others to overcome this and even then it is a constant struggle. After seeing the pain people go through with this I am not one to judge. In these situations what they needed most was support in doing good things. I was there for one convert in particular who wanted more than anything to not be tempted anymore. It is possible, it was funny seeing him later compete against another gay convert's choice in a girl they both wanted to date. If I would have come at him the way you came at Callie's comment he probably would have never even thought of finding happiness in the church, and I probably wouldn't blame him.
Callie has gone through alot and has empathy for several others who are attracted to the same sex. It is understandable how she feels the way she does. I understand how the church feels and I agree. However I also support my wife and lover her very much.
In no way was I ATTACKING Callie and or anyone specifically. I was only talking on the subject of homosexuality. I know many friends and family that are homosexual or have those temptations. I was only stating the opinion of God that we know and what the prophets have said concerning homosexuality in general. I can't condemn anyone, No one can. they can only condemn themselves through the things they CHOOSE to do. And it is up to God. Yes it is a temptation, and I fully agree that we should help them the best that we can if they want the help, no I wouldn't go telling them they are horrible people and are bad for doing what they are doing, but I would tell them they need to repent and I would help them and love them, but it is a temptation and I should help when needed when they ask. All I was saying is that we shouldn't accept the actions of others that are contrary to the laws of God just because it is accepted by society or it is a dear family member or friend. If Ashley came to me one day and told me she was leaving me for a women, I would still love her, but I could not accept her actions to disobey God.
I think it's rediculous, that you think same sex attraction is a temptation. Me wanting to get coffee is a temptation, wanted to find someone that you are attracted to and love and respect and be with them the rest of your life is not. If the gospel believed the other way around and God was telling you to be with a man could you do it. I sure as hell couldn't be with another women. Sexual orientation is not a temptation. I do believe in some cases it is, but being gay in the stictest of terms, it is not.
Now how many people that you know, are gay in the "most strictest of terms?" That has GOT to be a low percentage. Most people are along the spectrum of gay, not GAY in the most strictest of terms. That's why we don't get to judge, it's not our job. A temptation is "the act or pressure of giving in to a desire especially when ill-advised" so for homosexuality to be a temptation like adultery, all you have to do is acknowledge that someone wants to do it, and that it is "ill-advised" -- or wrong. You can't get around the fact that it is wrong in the eyes of the Lord. Is that what you are trying to argue? You can't argue that without changing religions. You may not think it is as bad as adultery, but you're not the judge. Regardless, Prop 102, or 202 or whatever the proposed amendment is--is not about voting for anyone's ability to choose who they want to be with. It is about the definition of the word marriage. Why don't you educate yourself more on the proposed amendment -- it is not about voting for or against gay people, or their right to be gay. It would be entirely possible to create an amendment that would give gay people more rights, without giving them "marriage," but that is not what this amendment is about. Every vote counts, so at least read Jannalee's blog before you vote. Read all the comments too.
Garth,
I don’t have any clue whom you are personally nor do I want to, but do you have a thought of your own or is your world one big Spencer W. Kimball quote? You mentioned Gen 19:5. Why don’t you read down a couple verses to Gen 19:8 where the same man (Job) offered his two virgin daughters to the same two men that were going to commit the abominate acts you are so afraid of? Who is worse… the two men that chose (as adults) to commit homosexual acts with one another, or the man that chose for his virgin daughters to be raped and whatever else the men wanted to do with them in their drunken state? Job put those drunken adult men above the well being of his daughters… Ya that is a quotable man! Do you have a couple virgin daughters? I know a couple men that would love to get wasted drunk and have their way with them! You would be saving their salvation! Sound logical to you? If we are going to quote Kimball then he also said in that same book/article.. “Only by living all of the commandments can a Mormon be sure he is forgiven” (p.208). Pretty sure that one of the commandments is not though shalt not fall in love and be happy with someone of the same gender. Why don’t you stay out of my bedroom and I will stay out of yours. I could quote “judge not less ye be judged” and so many others. Are you God or Christ? Until you are… would you not judge those of us that choose a life different than yours? I think that people on the beach that are large and wearing bikini’s or stretch pants “is an ugly sin, repugnant to those who find no temptation in it, as well as to many past offenders who are seeking a way out of its clutches” but that is my opinion and they probably don’t like the fact that I don’t eat as much as them. Who knows? I hope you can be forgiven for your inability to not judge those who choose to live differently than you. I am not mad at you for your inability not to judge good law abiding, honest people that choose a different lifestyle than yourself. I really feel sorry for you. Ignorance is bliss and I am sure you are in a world of bliss.
Wendy Proffitt (Callie's sister)
Hi Callie,
I was browsing through some friends blogs and recognized your husband, we went to elementary school together. After reading your "statement" I just had to commend you for being such a strong and open minded individual. I noticed many of the comments to this post were very negative, one person even went as far to tell you your beliefs were "wrong". As you mentioned, being gay is not a temptation. I have a sister in law who is gay and life would be a lot simplier for her if she were straight. Everyone wants to be accepted, to be "normal". She did not choose this difficult road and her sexual orientation should not be held against her. Discriminating against homosexuals is just as bad as discriminating against other for the race or religion. There is no excuse for it. Thank you for being open and honest with your opinion. Bryce is a very lucky guy!
Amelia
Post a Comment