Is homosexuality a choice?

[_asbestosman]

I think you mean "sheep-over."

Of course not. That would be baaaaad.

Oh, ewe guys.

[_Brackite]

I have a gay friend in the church who is getting married (to a woman) in June. He is determined to keep striving to live the principles of the gospel. I admire him for that! Most people in his situation would just give up, become bitter toward the church, and constantly try to find fault with it in a vain and futile attempt to feel better about themselves by doing so.

I'm pretty certain the Church counsels against marriage as a method of attempting to cure Gayness.

LDS Homosexual men, along with virtually all other LDS men, have been commanded to get married (to a woman) by their LDS Church leaders. The 13th President of the LDS Church, Ezra Taft Benson stated back in 1988:

To the Single Adult Brethren of the Church

President Ezra Taft Benson

...

Remember the counsel of Elder Bruce R. McConkie that “the most important single thing that any Latter-day Saint ever does in this world is to marry the right person in the right place by the right authority” (Choose an Eternal Companion, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, Provo, 3 May 1966, p. 2).

Understand that temple marriage is essential to your salvation and exaltation.

...

May I now say an additional word about an eternal opportunity and responsibility to which I have referred earlier and which is of greatest importance to you. I am referring to celestial marriage.

Just a few weeks ago, I received a letter from two devoted parents, part of which reads as follows:

“Dear President Benson: We are concerned about what seems to be a growing problem—at least in this part of the Church familiar to us—that is, so many choice young men in the Church over the age of thirty who are still unmarried.

“We have sons thirty, thirty-one, and thirty-three in this situation. Many of our friends also are experiencing this same concern for unmarried sons and daughters.”

Their letter continues:

“In our experience these are usually young men who have been on missions, are well educated, and are living the commandments (except this most important one). There does not appear to be a lack of choice young ladies in the same age bracket who could make suitable companions.

“It is most frustrating to us, as their parents, who sometimes feel we have failed in our parental teachings and guiding responsibilities.”

My dear single adult brethren, we are also concerned. We want you to know that the position of the Church has never changed regarding the importance of celestial marriage. It is a commandment of God. The Lord’s declaration in Genesis is still true: “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18).

To obtain a fulness of glory and exaltation in the celestial kingdom, one must enter into this holiest of ordinances.

Without marriage, the purposes of the Lord would be frustrated. Choice spirits would be withheld from the experience of mortality. And postponing marriage unduly often means limiting your posterity, and the time will come, brethren, when you will feel and know that loss.

I can assure you that the greatest responsibility and the greatest joys in life are centered in the family, honorable marriage, and rearing a righteous posterity. And the older you become, the less likely you are to marry, and then you may lose these eternal blessings altogether.

President Spencer W. Kimball recounted an experience he once had:

“Recently I met a young returned missionary who is 35 years old. He had been home from his mission for 14 years and yet he was little concerned about his bachelorhood, and laughed about it.

“I shall feel sorry for this young man when the day comes that he faces the Great Judge at the throne and when the Lord asks this boy: ‘Where is your wife?’ All of his excuses which he gave to his fellows on earth will seem very light and senseless when he answers the Judge. ‘I was very busy,’ or ‘I felt I should get my education first,’ or ‘I did not find the right girl’—such answers will be hollow and of little avail. He knew he was commanded to find a wife and marry her and make her happy. He knew it was his duty to become the father of children and provide a rich, full life for them as they grew up. He knew all this, yet postponed his responsibility” (Ensign, Feb. 1975, p. 2).

I realize that some of you brethren may have genuine fears regarding the real responsibilities that will be yours if you do marry. You are concerned about being able to support a wife and family and provide them with the necessities in these uncertain economic times. Those fears must be replaced with faith.

I assure you, brethren, that if you will be industrious, faithfully pay your tithes and offerings, and conscientiously keep the commandments, the Lord will sustain you. Yes, there will be sacrifices required, but you will grow from these and will be a better man for having met them.

...

Honorable marriage is more important than wealth, position, and status. As husband and wife, you can achieve your life’s goals together. As you sacrifice for each other and your children, the Lord will bless you, and your commitment to the Lord and your service in His kingdom will be enhanced.

Now, brethren, do not expect perfection in your choice of a mate. Do not be so particular that you overlook her most important qualities of having a strong testimony, living the principles of the gospel, loving home, wanting to be a mother in Zion, and supporting you in your priesthood responsibilities.

Of course, she should be attractive to you, but do not just date one girl after another for the sole pleasure of dating without seeking the Lord’s confirmation in your choice of your eternal companion.

And one good yardstick as to whether a person might be the right one for you is this: in her presence, do you think your noblest thoughts, do you aspire to your finest deeds, do you wish you were better than you are?

(Ezra Taft Benson, “To the Single Adult Brethren of the Church,” Ensign, May 1988, P. 51-53: Hyper-Link:)



LDS Apostle Boyd K. Packer has recently stated:

Any man who thinks he's going to the highest degree of glory without a woman at his side does not understand the gospel. Together, they control the fountain of life. While neither can generate life without the other, the mystery of life unfolds when these two become one.

(Link: http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/5 ... iness.html )

[_ludwigm]

I think you mean "sheep-over."

Of course not. That would be baaaaad.

Oh, ewe guys.

An old joke (as far as it is translated correctly...):

The Romanian shepherd to his favourite sheep:
- My blowzy-frowzy! If you could cook, too!

[_lulu]

Nice try Brackite.

Marriage should not be viewed as a therapeutic step to solve problems such as homosexual inclinations or behavior. OCP GBH April Conf. 1987 Priesthood Address made at the request of ETB Ensign May 1987 http://www.LDS.org/ensign/1987/05/rever ... y?lang=eng

bcspace's OCP computer is hanging up. Reboot.

[_moksha]

As President Boyd K. Packer said in this recent article, How to Survive in Enemy Territory:

We know that gender was set in the premortal world. “The spirit and the body are the soul of man.” This matter of gender is of great concern to the Brethren, as are all matters of morality.

Do not tamper with the life-giving powers in your body alone or with members of either gender. That is the standard of the Church, and it will not change. As you mature, there is a temptation to experiment or explore immoral activities. Do not do that!

Acting on gay feelings would place homosexuals in enemy territory as active combatants, according to President Packer's line of reasoning

[_moksha]

The Romanian shepherd to his favourite sheep:
- My blowzy-frowzy! If you could cook, too!

The Oklahoman Dry Cleaner to his son:
"Stay off the Woolite".

[_Drifting]

As President Boyd K. Packer said in this recent article, How to Survive in Enemy Territory:

We know that gender was set in the premortal world. “The spirit and the body are the soul of man.” This matter of gender is of great concern to the Brethren, as are all matters of morality.

Do not tamper with the life-giving powers in your body alone or with members of either gender. That is the standard of the Church, and it will not change. As you mature, there is a temptation to experiment or explore immoral activities. Do not do that!

Acting on gay feelings would place homosexuals in enemy territory as active combatants, according to President Packer's line of reasoning

What is the Church's advice for people born with the sexual organs of both genders?

[_ludwigm]

The Romanian shepherd to his favourite sheep:
- My blowzy-frowzy! If you could cook, too!

The Oklahoman Dry Cleaner to his son:
"Stay off the Woolite".

I am sorry. As a miserable non-english I am lost.
I've understood every word. Nothing beyond...

Jokes may not be translated. Maybe my joke makes no sense in English.
The "as far as it is translated correctly" is a good emergency exit.

[_Buffalo]

Bump for Droopy's peer reviewed evidence

[Guest]

Yes. The APA is the American Psychological Association in this case. It has its full name in the link you didn't click if you weren't aware of that.

No. Psychology is not science, in the sense of the natural or hard sciences, and it represents numerous theories and therapeutic modalities that could not possible be called "science" by any stretch of the imagination.

"Psychology" encompasses quite a bit, and the only truly empirical scientific endeavors within it - biological psychology, experimental psychology etc., - cannot tell us about the "cause" of SSA, for the reasons I've been elucidating for years here.