Gadianton wrote: ↑Sun Mar 07, 2021 9:35 pm
But the fact is, changing policy would go against the established doctrine which disciples of Christ/Latter Day Saints believe came from Heavenly Father. A higher authority than either you or Gadianton.
That's just it, MG, when that time comes, nobody is going to believe that they are changing established doctrine. They will believe this was the true doctrine all along. Generations farther down the road might say, "that's an anti-Mormon lie" to the claim that the Church once barred same-sex relations.
No fundamentalist (such as you) from any religious heritage has ever believed that the distinct non-negotiable beliefs that they have in that moment had ever been anything other than they are. You think you're the only one who believes your doctrines come straight from God, and have never changed?
The most obvious example of a change such as this one is blacks and the priesthood. No honest person could argue that the Church didn't change fundamental doctrine. Of course, many dishonest persons have argued all kinds of things to get out of it. But here's the thing, MG, between the two "doctrines", one doctrine, the priesthood ban, is explicit doctrine, and affirmed in heavy-handed ways throughout the scriptures. In fact, the core of Judeo-Christian scripture is a message about racial favor. The Book of Mormon takes that and runs with it, affirming the specific circumstances of the 19th Century.
In contrast, while I will agree with you that it's
assumed that same-sex relations aren't permitted by "doctrine", there's really nothing in the scriptures that says one way or another. While probably assumed by Joseph Smith, no firm revelations had ever been received about it. The point is, there is far more doctrinal baggage to work through to justify racial equity than there is to justify same-sex relationships. I, for one, believe that same-sex marriage will be permitted in Mormonism before women will get the priesthood.
You'll likely point to eternal progression as prohibitive. Think again. It's a decreasingly common belief that husbands and wives will be exalted and create an infinite number of spirit children via physical sex. The apologists have worked hard to sweep this one under the rug. DCP has said more than once that we don't know the mechanics of Mary's pregnancy, nor of spiritual births. He's pointed to artificial insemination to show that physical sex isn't mandatory for reproduction. So really, eternal progression doesn't depend on heterosexual physical relations.
