my comments on "Remarks by Bishop Keith B. McMullin to Evergreen International"

here are my comments on this speech given by the second counselor in the presiding bishopric in the mormon church, to evergreen international:
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/remarks-by-bishop-keith-b.-mcmullin-to-evergreen-international

First, far less is known about the causes of same-gender attraction than is claimed to be known. Preliminary findings are touted as proven facts while retractions or contradicting evidence about the same issue receive little, if any, attention. The result is an abundance of untruth and distortions worthy of Isaiah’s warning:

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! . . . [Who] justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! . . . They have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel”(Isaiah 5:20–21, 23, 24; see also 2 Nephi 15:18–24).

homosexuality/same-gender attraction is compared to evil and darkness.
yet the church admits that little is known about the causes of same-gender attraction.

what specifically is "untruth" in this case? please provide some examples. since little is known, how has the church been able to establish the untruth?

Second, the personal well-being of those struggling with same-gender attraction often declines with each so-called public victory for same-sex attraction. Increased public acceptance of same-sex behavior inevitably leads to a diminution of personal, righteous behavior. When sophistry prevails, the strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life is obscured. Hence the Savior’s warning: “Enter ye in at the strait gate; . . .Beware of false prophets, [who] come to you insheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:13, 15; see also 3 Nephi 14:13, 15).

it seems again that the church is claiming to know more than the little that is known.
here homosexuals claiming they are good, normal, nice people are really "ravening wolves", out to mortally destroy "the sheep".

For example, the cultural adaptations to same-gender marriage will, in time, make the prospect of eternal marriage and family more difficult to attain.

as in heterosexuals will find it harder to choose to marry heterosexually in a mormon temple because the option of gay marriage is available? is this also an endorsement of homosexuals marrying heterosexually?

Wide acceptance of same-sex attraction will inevitably foster greater deviance from God’s laws.

wide acceptance of same-sex attraction will inevitably foster greater understanding and love between parents and children and relatives and reduce youth suicides.

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9; see also verses 10–11).

nice display of arrogance.

duly appointed and authorized leaders in the Lord’s Church are called upon to counsel and assist those struggling with same-gender attraction. Unlike the world, what these local priesthood leaders do can have an everlasting effect for good on the precious souls seeking their help.

is the church claiming that their lay clergy can cure same-sex attraction? that they are more qualified to deal with complex psychological, emotional and biological issues than licensed healthcare professionals? it seems as if they are:

The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. (Boyd Packer)

does the church claim that businessman/"prophet" thomas monson understands human behavior better than e.g. phil zimbardo?

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have reaffirmed that “all human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God

what about people "he created" with both sex organs--a penis and a vagina? or people without sex organs? or conjoined twins? or psychopaths? or mentally retarded? doesn't it seem logically possible that "god" "created" people as homosexuals too? or bisexuals? or asexuals?

mormon general conference talks mentioning "homosexuals", "homosexuality" or "homosexual"

i will compile this list based on results from this search engine:
http://corpus.byu.edu/gc/

(this is currently ongoing/unfinished)

HOMOSEXUALS

1. "No True Worship without Chastity", Elder Mark E. Petersen, Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, Conference Report, April 1965, pp. 34-37, http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=1391

There are moves in at least two states in America to ease up on laws regulating immoral behavior. Legislators are being asked to rule that adultery should no longer be considered a crime, that homosexuals and other deviates should be allowed to practice their depravities legally and without restriction, 

Petersen, later on in his talk, then issues this frightening quote:

And Paul still says of those who deviate from the path of virtue into some of the great perversions, ". . . they which commit such things are worthy of death" (Rom. 1:26-32).

and the equally absurd:

By modern revelation he tells us that sex sin is next to murder in the divine category of crime (see Alma 39:5).

2. "Wanted: Parents With Courage", Bishop Victor L. Brown, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, Conference Report, April 1970, pp. 31-33, http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=1751

The chief psychotherapist at one of Washington's largest hospitals says, "A normal 12- or 13-year-old boy or girl exposed to pornographic literature could develop into a homosexual. You can take healthy boys or girls and by exposing them to abnormalities virtually crystallize and settle their habits for the rest of their lives."
Some are even saying, "What is wrong with becoming a homosexual?" In one church, a leader recently performed a marriage between two male homosexuals. As a matter of fact, some of the world news media made quite a story of it. And yet who is responsible for this moral decay? The children? Hardly. It is we adults, those of us who permit the sale of filth on our newsstands and also permit the broadcasting of it over airways.

i.e. homosexuals are unhealthy, abnormal. parents are responsible for their children's homosexuality. in one sense they are--genetically.


3. "The Coming Tests and Trials and Glory", Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 1980, http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=3374

we see evil and crime and carnality covering the earth. Liars and thieves and adulterers and homosexuals and murderers scarcely seek to hide their abominations from our view. Iniquity abounds. There is no peace on earth.

i have personally never seen homosexuals having sex, in person. where has mr. mcconkie been hanging out? i fail to see how homosexuals having sex in private "disturbs the peace".


4. "The Lord God of the Restoration", Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 1980, http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=3444

Crime, immorality, abortions, and homosexual abominations are fast becoming the norm of life among the wicked and ungodly.

i.e. homosexuals are an abomination, wicked and ungodly. i wonder why there are so many homosexual-mormon suicides? (see also the lds church, homosexuality and suicide: how do we prevent it? :

Utah leads the nation in suicides for men from 18-24 years old, and that an estimated 1/3 of those suicides are tied to homosexuality.

)

shortly after in his talk, mcconkie ironically makes the following claim:

The gospel is the message of peace and salvation for all men

apparently it isn't.


HOMOSEXUALITY

HOMOSEXUAL

‎"No cure for pedophilia has been developed."

‎"No cure for pedophilia has been developed."

i remember before when people thought that homosexuality could be "cured" =) it's interesting that homophilia used to be classified as a mental/psychiatric disorder (paraphilia), as pedophilia still is today. today, homophilia is no longer classified as a paraphilia.

christianity and homosexuality

a nice comment by billpeet on Religious freedom under siege, Mormon leader says:

Question for religious people regarding your disapproval of homosexuality:


Why does your god create hermaphradites (people born with both male and female genitalia)?


Obviously, your god deliberately and consciously created these people as sexual deviants and biologically abnormal. Should we judge them immoral beings?


And of course, your god also deliberately creates infertile people. These people are clearly not helpful at all in reproducing the species, and cannot further your god's aim to spread his creation throughout the world. Why does he create them, then? Should they be celibate for life, given that their sexual activity is merely for self-gratification, and cannot lead to reproduction?


Obviously, it is not too far a leap to then ask, if your god deliberately created these sexual deviations and abnormalities, why is it fantastical to wonder if he also created homosexuals, as they are? With the two previous examples, it is fairly easy to see the obvious abnormality. But with homosexuality, sexual orientation is within the mind, and not an obvious physical abnormality like a hermaphrodite. But the brain is every bit as physical and biological as any other aspect--why would you pronounce a negative moral judgement, simply because you cannot physically see your god's abnormal choice?