Note: I’ve done my best on this page to set out the positions of the LDS Church and other organizations and individuals fairly — as I understand them. However, I haven’t been authorized to speak for anyone. For firsthand information, I encourage you to follow the various embedded links below.
Organizations
Focusing
on Mormonism and Homosexuality
Resources for
LDS Youth Dealing with Same-Gender Attraction
Noteworthy Books Focusing on Mormonism and Homosexuality
In a nutshell, the position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church) is that while it’s not a sin to have homosexual feelings or tendencies, it is a sin to act on those feelings in any way — including entering into any kind of romantic or sexual relationship with someone of the same gender.
Reasons for this position are deeply rooted in LDS theology. Mormons believe that God is heterosexually married, and that the married state holds the greatest potential for human happiness. Mormons also believe that humans belong to the same species as divinity and that to fulfill our potential of becoming like God, we must be heterosexually married as well. Marriages in Mormon temples are performed “for time and all eternity” — meaning we believe that the marriages we start in this life can continue throughout eternity if we and our spouses live right.
For orthodox Mormons, this theology more or less compels a belief that whatever else homosexuality may be — genetic, chemical, or environmental in origin — it’s not an innate part of anyone’s eternal, spiritual nature. Rather, it’s a temptation or weakness that must be resisted in this life, like a weakness for alcohol or a tendency toward depression. The assumption is that for those who are faithful in this life, homosexual attraction will eventually be replaced by heterosexual attraction, if not in this life then afterwards. As with others who are unable to marry in this life through no fault of their own, such individuals will have the opportunity for marriage at that point.
To view the official LDS Church Public Issues webpage about same-gender attraction, click here.
To read the LDS Church’s official statement, The Family: A Proclamation to the World, which states that “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God,” click here
Origins and Treatment
of Homosexuality
According to LDS apostle Dallin H. Oaks on the LDS Church’s
official Public Issues webpage on same-gender attraction, “The [LDS]
Church does not
have a
position on the causes of […] susceptibilities or inclinations […]
related to
same-gender attraction.” There is a general acceptance that homosexual
attraction isn’t typically a result of personal choice.
In the past, some LDS Church leaders have
emphasized the possibility of people’s sexual attraction changing over
time.
More recent statements are much more cautious about this possibility.
The
current emphasis by Church leaders appears to be less on people
attempting to
change their orientation, and more on encouraging them to live Church
standards
regardless of whether their orientation changes in this life. The
Church
doesn’t endorse any particular therapeutic approach with respect to
homosexuality.
Gay Identity
Because of the LDS perspective that homosexual tendencies are a
temptation or weakness, Church leaders see a spiritual danger in people
describing homosexuality as part of their personal identity. Part of
the thinking goes: If you think of yourself as homosexual, it becomes
that much harder to resist acting on those feelings. In particular,
Church leaders discourage members identifying themselves as gay because of the way that term
has been associated with acceptance of homosexuality as part of one's
identity. Instead, they encourage use of terms such as same-sex attraction or (more
recently) same-gender attraction.
Within my book, Paul uses the term “gay” to describe himself because
as a teenager, his views have been influenced by the world around him
and he hasn't yet worked through all the issues involved with rejecting
society's view of homosexuality as an essential part of himself. Gay is what everyone around him
uses to refer to homosexuality, and it's the language he uses for now.
Heterosexual Marriage
In the past, LDS Church leaders
have sometimes
encouraged people experiencing homosexual attractions to marry. More
recent
statements from LDS leaders are much more cautious about this. Dallin
Oaks
quoted President Hinckley saying, “Marriage should not be viewed as a
therapeutic step to solve problems such as homosexual inclinations or
practices.” At present, the Church’s position appears to be that
marriage
should be entered into only if there’s a strong chance of making the
marriage a
success.
Missions and Church
Service
The LDS Church’s website on
same-gender attraction specifically states that same-gender attraction
doesn’t
disqualify someone from missionary service or from most callings in the
Church,
so long as the person doesn’t act on those attractions. For some
callings (such
as bishop), marriage is a requirement. There’s also a sense that being
publicly
known as same-gender attracted may disqualify someone from serving in
certain
callings because of issues related to public perceptions.
Same-Sex Marriage
The LDS Church opposes measures
legalizing same-sex marriage and supports a Federal constitutional
amendment
defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. A lot of reasons
have
been given for this, ranging from protection of religious beliefs to a
necessity to uphold the “teaching function” of the law with respect to
what
marriage is supposed to be.
Family
Fellowship
According to its website, Family Fellowship is “a volunteer service
organization, a diverse collection of Mormon families engaged in the
cause of strengthening families with homosexual members.” From what
appears to be a
perspective of commitment to LDS faith, Family Fellowship nonetheless
has been critical of some of the rhetoric used and policies and
positions taken by Church leaders. There appears to be a dual focus on
engagement with Church leaders and support for families with gay family
members.
Note: As of June 2010, the
general tone of Family Fellowship’s
sponsored Yahoo group was strongly critical of the Church, its
positions, and those who support them.
Affirmation
Affirmation,
according to the organization’s website, is “a forum for gay Mormons to
associate with their peers. We seek to meet the needs of persons
experiencing
frustration or alienation from family, friends, and the Church because
of their
sexual orientation.” Affirmation includes both Mormons and ex-Mormons,
and is
associated with those who feel that the LDS Church should change its
position to accept same-sex relationships.
LDS Teen Help
This site offers both direct support and links to resources
on topics including same-gender attraction, pornography, and
masturbation, from a perspective of helping youth live up to LDS
standards. According to Dan, who maintains the website, “We have
two sets of resources other than just basic links to websites and
information. The first is done completely online and basically someone
that needs help is partnered with a mentor who can guide them along the
path to living righteously. The main goal of the mentor is to just be
another LDS teen that can be a positive influence in the life of this
person and, whenever necessary, encourage them to get the help they
need from their Bishop, parents, or counselors. If the person is
struggling with addiction, the mentor can also help to be a check in
point.
North Star Youth Online Support Group
North Star offers an online support group for youth (male and female)
ages 13-18 who want to “receive and/or give support for living the
principles of the gospel of
Jesus Christ as you strive to better understand and respond to the
feelings and attractions you are experiencing.” There is also an online
support group for prospective missionaries. However, a
contact in the North Star organization says these support groups aren't
very active at present.
Note: If you are aware of
resources not listed here for LDS youth and their families dealing with
same-gender attraction, particularly from a perspective of faithfulness
to LDS Church teachings, please let me know.
Text for this section is still under development.