Source: LDS.org - Gospel Library - Gospel Topics - HomosexualityPeople inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church.
I have a question about this. When the Mouthpiece of God in the Heavens above us proclaims that a gay person is not to act upon their inclinations, does that mean *any* act? Has Church leadership gone to any effort to define what they mean by this?
For example, what about the acts listed below (I list these assuming we are referring acts between two single men):
1. Touch the arm, hand, knee, shoulder during conversation
2. Look at a painting of a handsome man (i.e. handsome, blue-eyed Jesus)
3. Talk to each other while sitting on a park bench near Temple Square during lunch hour
4. Private message each other via Facebook
5. Go mtn biking together
6. Borrow his jacket during a concert at Red Butte Gardens
7. Paint a fake tattoo on his arm during U of U May Fest celebration
8. A short embrace in public
Let us assume these acts are in part fulfilling a very small amount of sexual desire for intimacy in the person's life. Can these people participate in actions like this with the same-sex just as a straight person might do with someone of the opposite sex?
Or, under LDS law, is the homosexual person supposed to repress even those subtle and simple acts of dear association and friendship they might have with another person?
