Elder Ballard on Racism and LGBTQ treatment

I know this is supposed to be a feel-good post about progress but I can’t help myself.

Marginalizing and persecuting people based on age, gender, nationality, religious preference or anything else can be hurtful and misunderstood,” he said. As Ballard, 91, read from a teleprompter, he appears to have changed the last word in that part of his prepared address from what it said on the screen: “evil.”

“Can be?”

“Misunderstood?”

I guess Ballard felt that implying that a portion of the student populous was “evil” or “hurtful” was taking things a little too far… but he landed on the word misunderstood? He qualified hurtful with can be? In my opinion that undercuts the message he was trying to deliver.

I’ll run Ballard’s statement through a heavy translator to make a point. “I’m not marginalizing and persecuting people based on age, gender, nationality, religious preference or anything else. They are just misunderstanding my intentions. What I’m doing is not hurtful, it’s helpful. I’m trying to show them the importance of being righteous. I am the victim. I was misunderstood.”

And I’m not trying to be nit-picky but it’s interesting how sexual orientation was left off of the list. Sexual orientation was left to fall under the “anything else” umbrella.

I guess it is a baby step, where the next step is saying that marginalization and persecution is hurtful and evil… or at the very least “unchrsitlike.”

Then, he said, all members have a place in the church, regardless of sexual orientation. And the faith “must do better than we have in the past until all feel they have a spiritual home.”

Id’ love to hear leaders expounded on this idea. At times I’ve felt marginalized at church. I heard leaders say there was a place for me at church but in practice that place was “relegated to the corner,” which only served to make me feel like there wasn’t a place for me in the church.

“Of all the universities in the world,” he added, “BYU should be where Jesus’ teachings and commandments are proclaimed and discussed and lived.”

And the irony is that often the people doing the most damage are the very ones that wholeheartedly believe they are doing just that.

Sorry to poop in your thread. These are steps. I was just momentarily discouraged by the apparent length of the journey ahead.

Maybe we need to clap louder: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

(I’m not picking on you mom3, I’m just disheartened by the following)

This letter from the CES Commissioner’s office came out today:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ESSM07nVAAEnII3?format=jpg&name=large” class=”bbcode_url”>https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ESSM07nVAAEnII3?format=jpg&name=large

March 4, 2020

To students, faculty, and staff of the Church Educational System:

Recently the language of the principle-based Church Educational System Honor Code was updated. Those adjustments included significant doctrinal and behavioral matters that have led to much discussion and some misinterpretation. Out of respect for all concerned, we are providing the following clarifying statement.

One change to the Honor Code language that has raised questions was the removal of a section on “Homosexual Behavior.” The moral standards of the Church did not change with the recent release of the General Handbook or the updated Honor Code. There is and always has been more to living the Lord’s standard of a chaste and virtuous life than refraining from sexual relations outside of marriage. Lasting joy comes when we live the spirit as well as the letter of God’s laws.

A foundational doctrine of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World”). Church leaders have long taught these principles.

Same-sex romantic behavior cannot lead to eternal marriage and is therefore not compatible with the principles included in the Honor Code.

We are grateful for the commitment that all students and employees in the Church Educational System make to live the principles and spirit of the Honor Code.

Sincerely,

[signed]

Elder Paul V. Johnson

Commissioner, Church Educational System

Ah, but Emily Litella would always dust herself off and be ready for the next Weekend Update.

Now we wait for the reversal of the reversal of the reversal of the reversal.

It’s too bad this is likely just a PR stunt…. I mean bYU really screwed up the past two weeks after the church did their PR stunt with the “new” handbook. With it being 2020 and anyone having access to church history, politics and more, it’s harder than ever to convince our generations to not research beyond approved church websites, to not just depend on faith and feelings. So, when things like this happen in the 21st century (saying gay affection is wrong on campus), the church needs to remember that the rest of the world, for the most part, views homosexuality as socially acceptable and while we may have all been “anti-gay” 50-75 years ago, the church is one of the few entities left that is “behind” in this social matter.

So, while I appreciate Ballard (especially it being Ballard, oaks nelson etc) being “open” about loving our “misunderstood” friends, it’s a shame the timing and location of such an important talk seems to be targeting a blow for students trying to recover, rather an an open public church statement about our social delays.

This calls for a drink.

Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and raise a glass to “WTH”.

It’s too bad this is likely just a PR stunt.

If this is a PR stunt, then the church needs to hire a REAL PR firm. This is more like shooting yourself in the foot. Fairly soon there will be no more feet to shoot at.

Haha, the church seems to be shooting itself in the foot since the internet became accessible to their members. Recent talks on doubting your doubts, not looking under the hood, staying in the boat and “trust us, we’ve seen all the anti material and there’s nothing truthful out there”. It’s like they think sharing their opinions on these alternative sources is validation for believers to not actually do research. In either case, there are still plenty of members who believe in the church. I have friends who still insist the church is true regardless of all the issues. They keep the gospel and the church as one picture, and that’s their choice. I just can’t do that anymore.

I have friends who still insist the church is true regardless of all the issues.

To quote a friend, “the church is as true as a ham sandwich.”

The church can be a vehicle to a purpose. For some it works wonderfully. For many, the benefits outweigh the costs. Some others are gluten intolerant and cannot partake without significant negative effects.

One of my buddies said you can get to heaven and live with God again without the church. It will just take longer and be harder. He insisted that the church is just a vehicle that takes you there quicker. I wish my state and ward leaders taught me this attitude growing up. Instead, I was told the church was true and nothing could stop it, that anyone that opposed it was tempted by Satan and led astray because the church was tru. As soon as I found the rabbit hole of church history, I was shocked at how much I was NOT taught, trivial or not. As soon as I went to college and studied western history and christianity in the past, I was more shocked.

My friends insist that God inspired all of these people to prepare and slowly bring about the restored true church in our days. I just see justification for all the human indecency in the past 200 years. It’s a hard part of my life to process. I’m just happy I seem welcome to stay in communities like staylds while I continue to struggle.