Now chatting with Levi & Declan
L
Hello Larry!
8:37 AM
Welcome to Mormon.org!
L
Hi I am investigating the church and I had a question about the church's stance on homosexuality.
8:38 AM
L
Great question! Let me go ahead and give you a link that you can browse through as we discuss this topic. Is that alright?
8:38 AM
https://mormonandgay.lds.org/L
I'm gay and I have a child I want to join the church. Is that ok?
8:39 AM
L
First of all, we love everyone and are encouraged to treat everyone with the same love Christ would extend if he were here... and that is absolutely extended to everyone no matter their sexual orientation.
8:39 AM
L
Will we be accepted with open arms or will we be discriminated against?
8:39 AM
If I show up to church with my gay lover and our child will we all be accepted as we are or will we have to change?
8:41 AM
L
Second, we do believe that God has ordained marriage to be between a man and a woman, and that sexual relations are only to be used between a man and a woman who are legally married. Any romantic relationship outside or this order that God has established is considered to be sin. If you are in a homosexual relationship you are invited to attend church always! However, one of the baptismal requirements is living the law of chastity which we believe if you are in a homosexual relationship you are not obeying that law.
8:41 AM
It's a difficult thing.... a really difficult thing.
L
So I read that Joseph Smith had 34 wives, 11 of whom were not actually his wives, since they were married to other men, so they were just his concubines, yet Mormons still sing his praises, despite the fact he had sex with them outside of legal marriage, yet I Have to live a life w/o sex because of the way God created me?
8:43 AM
That seems really hypocritical isn't it?
8:44 AM
L
We don't know how to respond, I'm sorry. And we just want you to know that when we answer your questions we are just representing the beliefs of the church. We are in no way telling you that you must change your life now. You are free to learn and then choose to act based on what you feel is best for you.
8:45 AM
L
So if I'm gay and legally married is it ok to be Mormon?
8:46 AM
L
Well, if you are legally married to a man then you wouldn't be able to be baptized into the church.
8:46 AM
L
why?
8:46 AM
Isn't that discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation? That's illegal in the real world.
And highly immoral IMO.
L
We're not trying to discriminate anyone. We believe that God has set forth requirements for baptism and if a person chooses to live by those requirements then they are more than welcome to be baptized. If they don't have a desire to live by those requirements then they are free to not choose baptism.
8:48 AM
L
So if I get baptized as a gay man, and then I decide to marry my gay lover so we can have sex w/o getting excommunicated, would I get excommunicated for getting married to the man I love?
8:49 AM
L
We don't make those decisions, but if you chose to be baptized you promise to live by certain standards and by marrying a man you would be breaking those standards.
8:49 AM
And Larry, you are free to live the way you choose.
L
So what you're telling me is that I'm not welcome in the Mormon church if I'm gay, unless I take a vow of celibacy?
8:50 AM
L
If you don't like our beliefs, that's totally fine! You're still awesome and we still wish you the best in your future and your marriage even if it means you won't be a member.
8:50 AM
L
I might as well be Catholic.
8:50 AM
L
haha you're free to choose to live however you choose! WE aren't trying to force you to live any certain way. haha
8:51 AM
L
A Catholic Priest. They accept gays.
8:51 AM
Well, thanks for giving me the heads up. Doesn't sound like Mormonism is a good choice for homosexuals, since the church doesn't accept them, unless they don't act gay.
8:52 AM
L
We still love ya! And just know our intentions aren't to hurt anyone. We're just trying to hold fast to what we believe God has revealed.
8:52 AM
L
You guys sound like you're stuck in the dark ages or Islam.
8:52 AM
L
hahah thanks... I guess. haha
8:53 AM
L
The rest of the world is cool with gays, except Mormons and Muslims.
8:53 AM
L
But really Larry, I hope you don't feel like we're attacking your lifestyle or sexual orientation-- that isn't our intention. We were just presenting our beliefs.
8:53 AM
L
You didn't explain why you still sing the praises of Joseph Smith, despite the fact he had all kinds of illegal and immoral sex, but discriminate against gays because they have legal sex.
8:54 AM
L
Yeah... polygamy. Not my favorite topic and honestly I don't have an answer for you.
8:54 AM
L
Polyandry has always been illegal in EVERY civilized society. Yet Mormons are perfectly fine with their leaders who had sex with other men's lives and destroyed their marriages?
8:55 AM
L
Obviously there are people that feel they have evidence that Joseph Smith was having sex with a bunch of people illegally and then there will be others that say those sources aren't accurate etc... So I just choose not to take a side and I'll just wait till we have perfect facts. For now I just know that I've had wonderful experience with the Book of Mormon and with the Holy Ghost and I will trust that.
8:55 AM
L
He didn't have to have sex with them to violate the law, just claiming another man's iwfe as your own violates the law, every law, even the very law Joseph Smith claimed to have recieved striaght from God. (D&C 132:61, the Law of the Priesthood) not to mention the 10 commandments and common human decency.
8:57 AM
L
Right. It sounds like you really don't want us to believe in the things we believe.
8:57 AM
It seems that you're frustrated with people that choose to believe in the LDS Church.
L
You believe the Law of the Priesthood is the word of God, right?
8:58 AM
L
Hey Larry I think it's easier for us to maybe head our separate ways. Obviously you have your beef with the Church and that's totally fine! Not a problem. However, we do believe what we believe and we don't mean any harm by believing. So we hope that we can just head our separate ways in peace. Is that alright?
8:59 AM
L
JS and BY violated it in 5 different ways by claiming to marry their follower's wives, when there was no way for them to legally 'marry' a woman who was already married to one of their followers.
8:59 AM
You're singing the praises of adulterers and breaking the law by discriminating against homosexuals.
L
Alright, Larry.
9:00 AM
L
That doesn't seem like hyopocracy to you?
9:01 AM
L
Well, we are going to head out, okay? No hard feelings. We understand how our beliefs could be frustrating.
9:01 AM
Just know it isn't our intention to hurt anyone.
L
no, hypocritical.
9:01 AM
L
We honestly are just trying to do what God wants us to do. We don't do it perfectly but we're trying!
9:01 AM
Alright, we'll see ya.
L
right, by hating your fellow men instead of loving them? That's not what God said, he said to love your fellow men as yourselves.
9:02 AM
The chat session has ended.