You’ve all probably either seen or heard this video by now and if you haven’t seen it, then here it is:
I think it is good that BYU is reaching out to Gay Mormon members. While I’m not of that persuasion, I know people including family members who are, and they feel very distant from the LDS church and also members of the Church. By BYU reaching out to gay Mormon students, it shows they support them and love them as individuals.
After watching the video, I can see it is a good thing to come out and discuss the issue openly and support people who struggle with this. I view it as something like any other weakness that we as humans struggle with and we need help and the Lord’s love to get through the struggles.
On the other hand, I could see how this video could be interpreted as showing the image that BYU, and essentially the LDS or Mormon church supports the sexual acts involved of being a gay Mormon. This, I can see could hurt the Mormon Church’s stance on homosexuality as being a sin and not condoning it.
What are your thoughts?
Grace for Grace 
11 comments
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April 8, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Steve Kittel
I think the LGBT community has been dying to create propaganda like this since prop 8 was defeated in CA from the supposed heavy involvement of the LDS church.
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April 8, 2012 at 10:25 pm
graceforgrace
Hi Steve,
So do you think this video is a bad thing or a good thing?
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April 10, 2012 at 7:42 am
Ken
I think this is a good thing. If we believe that this is a desire that God has asked us not to partake in, then it is no different than any number of things that he has requested of us. Many LDS people struggle with the direction believed to be from God not to drink or smoke. Many struggle with other sexual desires that have been set as off limits such as pornography. Yet others struggle with easting disorders or gabbling or a love of money that is so strong that they would not part with it for anything, such as the example in Mark chapter 10. The fact is each and every one of us struggle with something that keeps us from being as he is and wants us to be. And each of us pray for the strength to overcome, but many of us return to that forbidden desire finding that it has not been taken from us. Should any off us then be treated any different? We are all hear together to help each other to overcome, and we do this with love and compassion not judgment and rejection. Many of us when we hear the word “repent” we think of judgment, but the word actually means to change our desire and turn to God. When Christ said it, it was an expression of love and reaching out, not judgment or condemning.
We will all leave this world struggling to overcome something in our lives. We may not achieve perfection in that thing in this life time, but if the true desire of our hearts is to be like him in all things, and we continually strived for that while in this life, then he will help us complete that process that we may be joint heirs with him and become like him. So the best we can do right now is to learn to love one another as he loves us, then we can help each other as we strive to overcome.
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April 10, 2012 at 11:45 am
Paul
Conversation is good. It is also unpredictable and uncorrelated, so it’s likely that during the conversation there will be lots of views, some of which may not align with LDS teachings (both appearing to advocate more permissive behavior than the church may support and also appearing to demonize more than the church would oppose). But that there is a conversation is likely to be a blessing to those who seek comfort. Since our baptismal covenant carries a scriptural mandate to comfort those who stand in need of comfort, it seems providing opportunities for that comfort is a good thing.
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April 12, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Doug Dwyer
The question comes down to this: Is homosexuality a sin or a legimate lifestyle?
I believe it is a sin (and I believe Scripture clearly speaks of it as such)-I do not hate gay people-I care about them deeply. I believe churches have done a miserable job reaching out to them-we either reject them or we fling our doors open and welcome them saying “God loves you just the way you are-and you can stay that way!” I reject both-I would like to invite homosexuals to join believers who, like them, struggle with different sins. I believe the Lord’s message to us is: I love you just the way you are-but I love you too much to allow you to remain that way.
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April 13, 2012 at 10:04 pm
graceforgrace
very nicely said, Doug
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April 14, 2012 at 3:34 pm
prbeer
But Doug – God loves you the way you are. That is why He sent His son. We are – as you say – sinners. Of course God does not condone (nor tolerate) sin. Staying that way: does that mean changing one’s behavior or one’s nature? Our behavior we may regulate and even change. Our nature is changeable only through the atonement and very few succeed at this. We all continue to sin.
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April 16, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Cam
I cast my lot with Ken and Paul. This is a good thing. In short, I don’t feel the video was about condoning action or behavior, but rather acceptance of reality and trial. They too believe as straight people do, and want to live righteous lives as straight people do. God does love us the way we are, for He is no respecter of persons. And He’ll help us live our lives righteously, even though we will make mistakes. I don’t think it matters how much our nature changes from birth to death, as long as we’re trying all along the way. And the kids in the video are doing so.
Is it appropriate for any Christian to say (and more importantly, act) that we love others, unless they don’t change as much as we think they should?
Thanks for posting!
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April 16, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Doug
prbeer-you raise a good point. Every day we ask God to help us control our behavior. It is the Lord who changes our nature. As you implied-we struggle with our nature every single day of our lives. I believe sexual sins of all kinds are the most difficult to control. When Christ returns (or we go home to be with the Lord) these things will be but a fading memory.
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April 23, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Josh
I am formerly Mormon and I am a gay man. This video and also the duplicate made with mormon parents of gay children greatly angered me. I am sorry, but it is hugely deceptive. These are good people being used and manipulated. Lets be honest here, the timing for these videos could not be any better. Mitt Romney has secured the nomination, and now suddenly, videos in regards to compassionate mormons on the topic of homosexuality come out.
Why has it taken them this long to bring this about. Why now, of all times. Also another fact is this. These videos were not filmed by students, it was done by professionals. These videos are not made by amateurs. Non members who watch these draw false conclusions from them, and mormonism will be a huge topic of discussion over the next 6 months. Obama is the only thing between a mormon and the presidency.
The timing of this video was all to convenient. I have a brain and I use it. The mormon church is a business and a damn good one. They are capable of leading such efforts, they are always trying to repair their image after what they did to themselves during prop 8.
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April 24, 2012 at 10:51 am
Cam
Josh, I for one appreciate you expressing your opinion and for doing so civilly. Everyone is entitled to hold their own opinion, and I respect that; after all, we claim the privilege of worshiping according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow others the same privilege. So if, as you have searched for your own happiness, you didn’t feel like the LDS Church was where you should stay, no one can force you to stay there, or say you’ve violated your own conscience by leaving. On the flip side, however, you can’t say that the kids who express their experiences, views, and feelings in the video are violating their own conscience by staying in the Church. While it’s fair to say you think they’re being manipulated and deceived, that is your opinion, and they’re still entitled to their own soul-searches and choices. If they feel that staying in the Church and obeying what they feel are God’s commandments is the right thing for them; that’s their right.
As for your assertion that the video was done by professionals, you don’t know that to be true. It may be…but I think students and amateurs are capable of more than you give them credit for. And either way, it shouldn’t matter. This video is not an attempt to propagate false conclusions, but rather an illustration of Mormons (both with homosexual feelings and without) attempting to better understand a problem that (yes, this is my opinion) has not been well dealt with on every occasion in the past largely because of lack of understanding. Members of the Church aren’t perfect (but the Gospel is!), and it doesn’t make sense for critics who have criticized the Church for lack of understanding, to now criticize the Church for efforts at improving understanding. It’s not like this video is stripping anyone of the liberty to make their own choices.
What I truly don’t understand is the conspiracy theory that the LDS Church is some machine that only desires to augment its numbers by brainwashing people through lies…it just doesn’t make sense. What would be the purpose? So the leaders could glut themselves on the labors of the people? If that were true, then the assets of the Church would be used for the private gain of whoever’s running it. But that just isn’t true. The Church is guided and directed by prophets who receive no monetary compensation, or a very modest living-expense stipend, for their undivided time and devotion. Their souls are filled with love for their fellowmen, and that is their motivation. As Moses said, “would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!” Having recently attended the General Conference as well as my own Stake Conference, my faith is strengthened that my leaders love me, and that they want me to know God personally, as He knows me personally. The idea that they are trying to use or deceive me or mass amounts of people is preposterous to me. The ‘Mormon Church’ is a vehicle for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be taught so that all may benefit, and its business is to improve lives and save souls.
Claims that the LDS Church is trying to get one of its members elected as President, or that that President will be controlled by the Church, are also based on false premises.
I feel sorry that you may not have had a good experience with the Church, and that any person may have offended you, or that you didn’t find what you were seeking. But I respectfully disagree with your claims and assertions.
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