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We’ve discussed the topic of doctrine, practice, and personal interpretation. In light of that, what is the current doctrine of homosexuality?
My understanding is it is sinful to have sexual relations with anyone except husband or wife. Feelings of a same sex attraction are not sin, but only if acted upon do they violate the law of chastity.
Is that correct doctrine? Where is that in the canonized scriptures, or do what we have in the church now the current practice of the law of chastity as far as we know it?
I’m interested in understanding the true doctrine. Anyone have materials or references to help me establish this?
The way I look at “doctrine” on topics such as this is the true doctrine in the best way that we can understand will come to us through personal revelation. On the other hand if you’re looking for proper documentation for the most widely held policies and understandings of the church — then I would say it’s simply a matter of “scriptures as presently interpreted.” I can’t see how we could get more definitive than that.
The only scriptural statements about homosexuality deal with homosexual activity – and they are (or are based on) Biblical passages that are harsh, to say the least. (and the dominant interpretation of Sodom and Gomorrah is mistaken, to say the least, imo) We have nothing definitive in our canonized scriptures about homosexuality itself.
As far as current doctrine is concerned, the “official doctrine of the LDS Church” is that homosexuality is not a sin but homosexual activity is – per the pamphlet “God Loveth His Children” and recent statements by the top leadership.
I personally would extrapolate that as meaning that the same standards apply officially to homosexual activity as to heterosexual activity, but I know that’s not the interpretation of the vast majority of the membership (including many local leaders and some global leaders) – so “commonly understood official doctrine” probably is that any obvious expression of homosexuality is sin, even if that same obvious expression of heterosexuality is not. (holding hands, kissing, etc.)
That’s an obvious double-standard and hypocritical, imo – but at least it’s an improvement over what my answer would have been 10 years ago or more.
Heber13 wrote:We’ve discussed the topic of doctrine, practice, and personal interpretation.
In light of that, what is the current doctrine of homosexuality?
My understanding is it is sinful to have sexual relations with anyone except husband or wife. Feelings of a same sex attraction are not sin, but only if acted upon do they violate the law of chastity.
Is that correct doctrine? Where is that in the canonized scriptures, or do what we have in the church now the current practice of the law of chastity as far as we know it?
I’m interested in understanding the true doctrine. Anyone have materials or references to help me establish this?
If you mean by doctrine the ideas of men put into practice then sure I think your concept of the “true doctrine” is as good as any. If you are looking for a god sanctioned heavenly doctrine, well I dare say you will never get that in this life.
If we’re going to look back to canonized scripture for a blueprint on sexual morality, we’d be dealing with issues of polygamy and concubines again :wtf: Brian Johnston wrote:If we’re going to look back to canonized scripture for a blueprint on sexual morality, we’d be dealing with issues of polygamy and concubines again
:wtf: Yep. It doesn’t work.
Even in our own LDS history…we have pretty well done a 180 when it comes to morality.
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