Mormon Leader Weighs in on Same-Sex Attraction

Peggy Fletcher Stack
The Salt Lake Tribune/Religion News Service

SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Mormons may not know until the hereafter what causes same-sex attraction, but "God loves all his children" and expects everyone to do the same, a top Mormon leader said Sunday (Oct. 24).

While the message -- delivered to more than 200,000 Utah Mormons -- may not seem significant, the messenger was.

As second counselor in the governing First Presidency, Dieter F. Uchtdorf is one of the highest-ranking leaders in the hierarchy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to address the thorny topic of same-sex attraction.

The gentle tone and emphasis of Uchtdorf's remarks came in the wake of a speech by Boyd K. Packer, senior member of the LDS Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who said homosexual "tendencies" can be "overcome." Packer later changed "tendencies" to "temptations" on the church's website.

Packer's speech generated national controversy and protests from church-members and non-Mormons, many of whom saw the apostle's statements as contributing to the self-loathing and suicides of gays.

In response to the outcry, LDS spokesman Michael Otterson issued a strongly worded condemnation of bullying and belittling of gays, saying, "Their struggle is our struggle."

On Sunday, Uchtdorf reiterated the church's position that it doesn't know the cause of homosexuality and that it doesn't matter.

"Many questions in life, however, including some related to same-gender attractions, must await a future answer, even in the next life," Uchtdorf said. "Until then, the truth is, God loves all his children, and because he loves us, we can trust him and keep his commandments."

Comments

[jnw147]

03:08 PM on 11/13/2010

This is the truth! Finally someone has the balls to publicly say it!

[Doug Watt]

05:05 PM on 11/13/2010

What is the truth? This is just the mormons trying to handle bad publicity. Their words mean nothing, their hateful actions are the truth.

[Bob Kellerman]

04:15 AM on 11/05/2010

Mormon official discussion

ELDER WICKMAN: There’s really no question that there is an anguish associated with the inability to marry in this life. We feel for someone that has that anguish. I feel for somebody that has that anguish. But it’s not limited to someone who has same-gender attraction.

We live in a very self-absorbed age. I guess it’s naturally human to think about my own problems as somehow greater than someone else’s,,,,
I happen to have a handicapped daughter. She’s a beautiful girl. She’ll be 27 next week. Courtney will never marry in this life, yet she looks wistfully upon those who do. She will stand at the window of my office which overlooks the Salt Lake Temple and look at the brides and their new husbands as they’re having their pictures taken. She’s at once captivated by it and saddened because Courtney understands that will not be her experience here. Courtney didn’t ask for the circumstances into which she was born in this life, any more than somebody with same-gender attraction did. ... What we look forward to, and the great promise of the gospel, is that whatever our inclinations are here, whatever our shortcomings are here, whatever the hindrances to our enjoying a fullness of joy here, we have the Lord’s assurance for every one of us that those in due course will be removed. We just need to remain faithful.

[inundated]

02:57 PM on 11/09/2010

Well, now I've got to know. Why can't Courtney get married?

[Bob Kellerman]

03:53 AM on 11/10/2010

Apparently mentally challenged?
Of course, if she were Gay, she could work to overcome her "handicap" that prevents her from being able to be married.

[Forester]

08:29 PM on 11/04/2010

Without exception, the mormons I have known and worked with in my life have been good people. I think the Prop 8 fiasco was a hard lesson for the church to learn, and they are clearly trying to walk back some of that. That being said, there are historic issues with the LDS that need attention.

I am willing to give them the chance to air this all out, but I don't expect any miracles.

[Bob Kellerman]

03:53 AM on 11/05/2010

LOOKING GOOD TO OTHERS is one of the foundations of the "religion"
Be careful, they sucker you in -- put when push comes to shove, loyalty to the church makes them your enemy, if necessary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GXSHRJYxTQ&feature=related

I personally find the "good folks" who stay out of the fray, but continue to support such an organization without pushing for change, to be as bad or worse than the leaders.
They currently support N O M, and their most recent teachings make it clear that ONLY their vision of what God wants is right FOR YOU and FOR ME, non-mormons. They still want to amend the US Constitution re marriage (which is a state issue)
http://nomexposed.org/

They can't "walk back" much of the Prop 8, and you cannot imagine what it was like to watch TV in California 2 years ago. They are commited to having "Gay" mean "sick brothers who need our help to see the way, but must not expect to have our privileges and rights"

[Doug Watt]

05:08 PM on 11/13/2010

My sentiments exactly. Their actions speak the truth.

[vanalmen2]

01:31 AM on 11/14/2010

Mr. Kellerman, so you consider same sex attraction as a handicap and a sickness?

[MNKen]

12:53 PM on 11/04/2010

"Many questions in life, however, including some related to same-gender attractions, must await a future answer, even in the next life," Uchtdorf said

I actually hope there is a next life...as in reincarnation. Will be interesting to see how a higher power sends us back. Will we be some form of animal? or if a bigot in this life will we be sent back as the type of person we hated? The concept of Karma is a wonderful thing for me to remember.

[Whinger]

03:32 PM on 11/03/2010

The problem with some religions is that they are indoctrinated by centuries old script, thou shalt not sleep in a bed with a man as a woman, that's it, written in stone!
They do not feel the need to understand homosexuality, they consider the written word says it all. Even if they took the time to understand homosexuality they would still regard it as sinful.
It is pointless trying to change the written in stone mentality, they ignore the fact that their bible is riddled with errors in the translation from the original greek, and has been added to and subtracted from by the lying pens of scribes all down the years, and still they cling to words that stand on a foundation stone called Constantine, a murderer, rapist, slave trader and a ruthless violent man, anit-Christ in many ways. The bible we see today was selectively edited and much of what was written was considered not suitable for public consumption.
It's time religious groups stopped denying people the God given right of free will, and stopped forcing their point of view upon those who dare to disagree.

[Bob Kellerman]

03:57 AM on 11/05/2010

Sorry, you don't get the main point --

If you can "sin", their members will be tempted, too. This could mean loss of money and control

The ENTIRE religion is based on families being together as saints in the afterlife -- if Joey is thrown out of the house for being Gay, and moves to California next year to legally marry Jimmy, two families will be deficient in the afterlife, and lose status.

They firmly believe that God needs them to have your morals fit their version of God's plan.
CONTROL, CONTROL, CONTROL -- love is just a veneer

[vanalmen2]

01:36 AM on 11/14/2010

Status ranking in the afterlife? Sir, you make your religon appear more pompous and bigoted every time you post a comment. No wonder Glenn Beck is that way also.

[Bob Wood]

11:33 AM on 11/03/2010

Mythology is mythology is mythology...Sex is normal in all it's manifestations. Sex is biochemical. Sex is not evil or sinful. 40+ % of Americans believe that the Earth is less than 10,000 years old, that humans walked the Earth with dinosaurs and that all life was saved, 2x2, on a big boat from a worldwide flood. This is just another instance of their being wrong. GLBT people are human beings who deserve enough respect as to be spared the dogmas of the ill informed. Reasonable people should call out the purveyors of mythology and superstition whenever they are just wrong. Judging human beings by ancient texts of mythology and superstition...is wrong...(sigh)

[Kewini]

06:53 PM on 11/02/2010

I don't know about the Mormons, but as a former RC I know that the RC Church will never cease to condemn gay sex acts and gay marriage because of its teaching that every sex act must be "open to fruit." I suspect that many RC leaders are envious of the Mormons for the latter's far greater success in motivating people to have large families-Utah has a birthrate twice the national average.

[Hazumu]

03:16 PM on 11/03/2010

"open to fruit." - yeah, I've long suspected that there are a portion of the male population who find the thought of their sex act 'bearing fruit' to be arousing. That's why eighteen-year-old girls are sexier than experienced, sex-positive but post-menopausal 'cougars'.

[NobodySince1980]

06:36 PM on 11/02/2010

This story isn't at all judgmental, how are people taking it to be so? This man is saying Mormons don't believe in homosexuality but they still love everyone as they should. We don't all have to agree and they are disagreeing respectfully. Who are the intolerant ones on this thread perpetuating hate? Doesn't look like it's Mormons. Pot, meet Kettle.

[Douglas Campbell]

05:34 AM on 11/03/2010

You should interact with Orson Scott Card. The CLS representative for NOM who beleives that homosexuality should be criminalized.

[RobertinNJ]

03:45 PM on 11/04/2010

They're not at all judgemental eh? What do you call funding Prop 8 and the commercials that spread the lies? What do you call backing all the anti-gay amendments? What do you call it when their prophet (Spencer W. Kimball) called homosexuality the '2nd greatest sin after murder?" When their First Presidency says, after admiting they don't know what causes homosexuality, that homosexuals are a threat to the family??????

I'd say they're pretty damned judgemental.

Do not try turning it on us just because we're smart enough to know that actions and past words are far more indicative of their true feelings than a few soft spoken words by this guy...

[NobodySince1980]

06:34 PM on 11/02/2010

My experience interacting with Mormons is that they are the most loving, accepting religous group I have ever met. Christians should take note and feel ashamed that the religion they often label as a "cult" can out-do them in every area of "Christ-like" behavior.

[ModLib Pantheist]

11:55 PM on 11/02/2010

They always put on an affable front for potential convert material. They are put under constant pressure to be "member missionaries." Try being raised by most Mormon parents and see how honestly feel about how nice they are.

But the cult description is more of an indictment of the top-tier leaders, rather than the trusting and often nice lay members. Consult this for what people mean by cult, as posted earlier in the thread: http://www .factnet.o rg/headlin es/destruc tive_cult_ warning_si gns.html

Cult doesn't necessarily mean the cult members are rude or mean to your face. Usually there is an immediate pleasantness and unctuousness about them.

[ModLib Pantheist]

11:56 PM on 11/02/2010

http://www.factnet.org/headlines/destructive_cult_ warning_signs.html

oops let's try that again

[genrel1248]

06:21 PM on 11/02/2010

I think the LDS needs to chill with some LSD!

[nomadrdw]

03:37 PM on 11/02/2010

it is the LDS's goal to become the HRC of America. the covet the power that the Pope has, and they hope that instead of having to wait centuries to have that influence, they will just buy it here in the USA. considering that it was founded by a con man what can we expect but a leadership of con men and followers of the "conned"

[Kimiko Austin-Rijs]

07:04 AM on 11/02/2010

Why is this even a story? Are people actually surprised by these views?

[Doug Watt]

05:16 PM on 11/13/2010

These are the people who funded the law taking away my right to marry. I think that is an important subject.

[antaeus]

01:26 AM on 11/02/2010

We don't know what causes it (translation: but it's still a sin), but God loves all His children (translation: so love the sinner).

More of the same dehumanizing nonsense. Move along, folks, nothing new here.

[jibbs02]

05:25 PM on 11/03/2010

So its dehumanizing to hate the sin and not the sinner? It seems to be it would be dehumanizing to hate the sinner. Can we not disagree with a person's action and still love that person? If we can't, then this world is truly a sad place. If we have to hate everyone we disagree with, this world will turn even more violent. I am not understanding your argument

[Doug Watt]

05:17 PM on 11/13/2010

It's a sham, hating the sin and not the sinner is just cover for persecuting those they hate.

[one1byke]

04:45 PM on 11/01/2010

When we are Ready to talk about Homosexuality, we'll Probably have to bring up the Rectum.

[antaeus]

01:27 AM on 11/02/2010

And the risen penis.

[one1byke]

08:03 AM on 11/02/2010

Exactly!

[nessamcc]

02:43 PM on 11/01/2010

As a member of the LDS church, I understand that people in the church are not perfect nor do we profess to be. There are many people who have offended me in my life due to the color of my skin (being that I am Native American from the Blackfoot tribe) but because my testimony and belief was in the gospel teachings, I learned from these things and moved forward without bitterness toward the church as a whole. It isn't the gospel that is wrong, it is the interpretation of others who only hear what they want to here and construe things that may not be accurate. I have great respect for the leaders of our church! I am not perfect in any sense of the word. But all in all I know what I have been taught through out my learning in the gospel, and that is Love God, and Love one another. That is basic and irrefutable, truth is truth and cannot be argued. All people have flaws and personal opinions no matter who they are, or what the topic is. The Church does not encourage any kind of mistreatment of anyone. If any member of the church exhibits this attitude contrary to the gospel teachings, it is on them not the gospel we are taught. All I can say is we should agree to disagree if that is the case. But those who seek to find fault will find fault no matter what anyone says.

[onwisconsin]

03:53 PM on 11/01/2010

I am trying very hard to hear you and respect your words. But as a Cherokee I cannot understand how you can be a member of a religion that teaches that we came to this land from the Middle East in submarine-like boats lit by rocks.
Our origin stories are here. Our DNA shows no affiliation to Jewish tribes of the Middle East. We have been here for at least 10,000 years.
You may have your faith in your creator, please don't let me get in the way of that, but this church of man is not of "the people". They mock who we are as a people in their stories.
You've been love bombed, yes, but don't forget who you are as an indigenous person of this land.

[onwisconsin]

05:44 PM on 11/01/2010

On second thought, never mind me. It's not my business to be your conscience. Be happy with your church and please forgive me sticking my nose in your belief system. Find happiness wherever you can.

[nomadrdw]

03:26 PM on 11/02/2010

the decisions made by the church leaders say all the needs to be said, the CHURCH made certain that gays are persecuted on church property, they also ran ads directly against gay marriage in California, and so are just as guilty as the leadership of the "holy Roman Church" that hides child molesters.