Overnight Letter to Monson

[_skippy the dead]

The Church welcomes all Gay people who are willing to repent, and also those considering it.

So long as they agree to a code of chastity more stringent than that expected of straights, etc., etc., etc.

But I agree - there is no reason for Monson to meet with the group. There would be no changes to be made as a result, and likely very little interest in the subject matter. I would imagine that the group's real purpose was simply to release the letter to the press.

[_RAJ]

He probably framed it and put it on his desk next to his Far Side calender, that way he could have two chuckles every morning.

Gaz,

Here’s the full text of the letter you thought might give President Monson a chuckle every morning.

Dear President Monson:

Please allow us to extend our deepest and most sincere sympathies upon the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley. Our prayers go out to his family and to you and the other leaders who must guide the Church during this difficult time.

In addition, we extend to you an olive branch, a symbol of peace. We appreciate that the next several days and weeks will be extraordinarily busy for you, but when you are able, we would like to open a dialog with you to work together to find better ways to counsel and to support those Church members who are homosexual, as well as their family members and their Priesthood leaders. We believe that by working together this can be done in a manner consistent with Church doctrine and the teachings of the Savior. Although there are many areas of hurt and disagreement that have separated us, there are many more areas on which we can find agreement and, in so doing, become a blessing in the lives of many of the Saints, both straight and gay.

We hope that you might be moved to give serious and prayerful consideration to this invitation, and that you might do so in the spirit in which it is offered. Although the Church and Affirmation have had their differences in the past, and will probably continue to have differences in a few areas for some time to come, by seeking areas of agreement, we believe that all of us can better get on with the work of becoming more like the Savior and serving our fellow man. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,


AFFIRMATION: GAY AND LESBIAN Mormons

W. Olin Thomas III
Executive Director

David W. Melson
Assistant Executive Director

James Morris
Assistant Executive Director

Notice that there is no call for acceptance of any type of behavior. What there is a call for is “find[ing] better ways to counsel and to support those Church members who are homosexual, as well as their family members and their Priesthood leaders.”

In the recent past the GAs and Church leadership would “counsel” gay members that with prayer and diligent effort they could be cured of their same-sex attraction and become heterosexual. They were even counseled to marry opposite sex partners and start families. When this led to generally disastrous results the GAs reversed themselves and now counsel gay members NOT to marry as a way of dealing with their same-sex attraction. Gifts of discernment notwithstanding, it seems to have taken input from groups such as Affirmation to help the Priesthood brethren get a clue about some aspect of homosexuality.

[_Gazelam]

That was a very well written letter.

What exactly do you think they will say at the meeting, if it even occurs?

Do they want the church to become more leanient with the law of chastity? Or will they address some new and insightful ways to cure the sick?

[_sunstoned]

No harm can come from open and honest communication. Perhaps a meeting of this sort would be just the thing needed to be a catalyst for a new revelation. Hey, its happened before.

[_RAJ]

That was a very well written letter.

What exactly do you think they will say at the meeting, if it even occurs?

Do they want the church to become more leanient with the law of chastity? Or will they address some new and insightful ways to cure the sick?

Do they want the church to become more lenient with the law of chastity?

Judging from the content of the letter, I would say no.

Will they address some new and insightful ways to cure the sick?

Here, why not let a gay LatterDay Saint speak for himself and tell you in his own words what he wants from the Church:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYwPUIfahwQ

[_MishMagnet]

Gay people should repent for what exactly. Sounds to me that there are plenty of gay members who are willing to live celibate lives and have never done anything sexually. I don't know why they are willing but they are.

Should single members who have attractions to the opposite sex and want to have sex also repent for that?

[_BishopRic]

That was a very well written letter.

What exactly do you think they will say at the meeting, if it even occurs?

Do they want the church to become more leanient with the law of chastity? Or will they address some new and insightful ways to cure the sick?

Here's my 2 1/2 cents (probably about what it's worth...):

Science is learning that homosexuality is biological, not directly a choice. Despite the denial, the LDS church is influenced by what science says (eg, the change to "among the ancestors," etc. after science showed that they were not the "principle ancestors"). Also, PR is important to them too, and the teachings against the gays and lesbians doesn't bode well for the church.

As science produces more and more evidence of the biological cause for homosexuality, and of course the church teaches that God is the creator...thus, "He" created homosexuality, so how can lifelong denial of one's nature be considered an act of compassion by a loving God?

I know I'm in the minority here, but I've seen so many key doctrines change just in my lifetime, that I think it is possible that there might be some relaxing of the restrictions in the distant future.

Of course, I could be wrong....

(by the way, I don't see the gays/lesbians as being "sick" in any way)

[_John Larsen]

I predict the same thing that happened in the 70's will happen again. Within 20 years, some Universities will refuse to play sports with BYU because of their stance on homosexuality--and that will get them where they can feel it. At that point a "revelation" will fix the issues.

[_RAJ]

It is not with Monson but still, they've agreed to a meeting.

http://deseretnews.com/article/1%2C5143 ... %2C00.html

LDS officials to meet with gay group
Dialogue will be unprecedented move for church

After decades of silence, LDS Church officials have agreed to meet with a gay Mormon support group that has sought to forge understanding between the faith's leaders and its gay members.
In a letter received last week, leaders of Affirmation were invited to meet with Fred M. Riley, commissioner of Family Services for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Harold C. Brown, the agency's past commissioner.

"We're pleased the church is opening up the possibility for dialogue," said Dave Melson, Affirmation's assistant executive director. "Affirmation has tried five or six times over the past 31 years to meet with church leaders. This is their second response."

[_bcspace]

I heard a spokesman for this group on the radio today. He said something like he hopes the Church will no longer 'emphasize hate and fear'. Never at any time has the Church done such a thing.