Hey everyone- I’m sure most of you have seen the brand new
video out from some BYU students that are members of the USGA. As a straight
Mormon college girl who knows many gay individuals, I wanted to put my 2 cents
in on this issue to perhaps clear up some confusion that the video created. (Here is the original video for those who have not seen it yet. Also, my music is probably going to interfere with you hearing it on my blog, so just go down to the very bottom, and the player can be paused FYI. Otherwise, you can see it on YouTube if you search "It Gets Better BYU").
First of all, I’d like to say that I think that those people
in the video were trying to do a good thing. However, we can all see by the
many anti-Mormon comments beneath each video that it’s actually hurting the
Church’s image because of its representation of our church. Let me just remind
everyone who watched that video that those who created it are students of the
university, not official representatives of the LDS church. If you look to our
doctrine, we have spoken many times on our stance on this matter.
To clarify, I will say this: I have many gay friends. I’ve
worked with them for years due to my involvement in the arts, such as piano,
theatre, and dance. I love those people very, very much, and they will remain
my very good friends forever. However, I can honestly say that their urges,
should they choose to act upon them, will be cause for repentance in the future
just like if I decided to have sexual relations outside of a marriage. Now, I
know that some people are going to tell me how that’s unfair because gay
individuals cannot marry in our church. However, same-sex marriage is
considered a sin in our church outright because of the simple fact that it is
against God’s plan, which is perfect- we speak of this and God’s definition of
marriage and family in the Church’s “Proclamation to the Family.” God creates
all in his image, and the only way that God could have created us, his
children, is through a sacred marriage between man and woman. There is simply
no other way, physically or spiritually, to define it properly.
There are many reasons for this definition, but the biggest
one is because you cannot procreate together, which is a basic commandment.
Now, the true key here is “togetherness.” Creating children together, as
husband and wife, inspires unity, love, and longevity in family life and spouse
relationships. It teaches life lessons that cannot be learned any other way.
There is an empty place in everyone’s life, whether they feel it immediately or
not, when children are absent from a marriage.
It leads to true happiness and teaches us to be like Him, the most
perfect being in the Universe and beyond. This is why God teaches us thus, not
because he is a hateful or spiteful God. He loves us! Just like any other
parent, his purpose is to make his children truly happy. Only He knows how to
get there! (For more on this sacred topic, I would read, “Of Souls, Symbols,
and Sacraments,” a talk given by my dear cousin and member of the 12 apostles
of the Church, President Jeffrey R. Holland).
However, I must mention that when a gay partnership
participates in adoptions or artificial insemination to try and fulfill that
commandment, it mimics the true
commandment, which has an entirely different purpose and goal in mind. By mimicking
such a sacred bond that God has designed, the blessings of having children are
missed. In fact, the psychological and physical harm that comes to a child by
being raised in such a contradictive home is enough to not only negatively
affect his/her life, but the hundreds of lives that he/she comes in contact
with, directly or indirectly, in the future.
Now, I could write a novel on the many reasons and beliefs
behind the Church’s stance on homosexuality but I believe that our church leaders say it
best. President Boyd K Packer said…
“Pure
love presupposes that only after a pledge of eternal fidelity, a legal and a
lawful ceremony, and ideally after the sealing ordinance in the temple, are
those life-giving powers released for the full expression of love. It is to be
shared only and solely between man and woman, husband and wife, with that one
who is our companion forever. On this the gospel is very plain.
We are free to ignore the commandments, but
when the revelations speak in such blunt terms, such as “thou shalt not,” we
had better pay attention.
The adversary is
jealous toward all who have power to beget life. Satan cannot beget life; he is
impotent. “He seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” 8 He
seeks to degrade the righteous use of the life-giving powers by tempting you
into immoral relationships.”
(see Boyd K. Packer’s October
2010 General Conference talk, “Cleansing the Inner Vessel,” for his full address).
With that said, I would like to say this: The USGA said it
right when they stated that there are people who love you. There are! You
should never consider suicide as a better option than confronting the problem.
You have a right to life just like any other person! You have a purpose in life
that is greater than you know. There are supporters out there who are willing
to speak with you and work with you to overcome this trial. Most of all, God
loves you, despite your struggles and weaknesses! However, God will not allow
you to transgress His laws. There are laws and ordinances of the gospel that
MUST be abided to attain glory in the Celestial Kingdom. Anyone can argue that,
but it’s true despite what people would like to say. When one chooses to
embrace a homosexual lifestyle calling it, “who they are,” they are doing
nothing more than denying their divine heritage. There is a way to overcome every sin and temptation. Scripture,
both in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, reiterates this time and time again.
The Lord presents us with trials, but we should look as them
as challenges to step up and prove ourselves as strong and courageous people.
Looking at them as a hindrance defeats their purpose, as trials are given to us
to strengthen us by first breaking us
down. Ignore that fact, and you lose the purpose to your life and
eventually find yourself far away from the path you hoped you’d be on.
Finally and most importantly, no matter what you’ve done or
where you’ve ended up because of your choices, there is a way back. Perhaps you
have prayed to have your trials removed, (specifically to have gay feelings removed)
and your pleas seem to go unanswered. Remember that all prayers are answered in
God’s time frame, not yours. Your faithfulness with serve you well, and if you
endure, even if it takes years or even a lifetime to overcome, God will always answer your prayers that have
righteous intent. God will love you no matter what, but he will only be able to
reward you if you embrace the atonement and trust Christ, the brother that
understands every sickness, every pain, and every temptation. As much support as you seem to find amongst your peers, you will
always find more through you Savior,
who offers more than love and support, but forgiveness and redemption.
Turn to God with your hardships. Do not be led to believe
that you are simply, “born this way.” God created you with divine truths and a
divine purpose, so seek to follow His simple teachings and you will rediscover that
to which your first knowledge, your preearthly knowledge, disposed you.
****Side note: To those members of the USGA, I hope that you will further clarify your mission as BYU students and as members of the church, because I think that it was a little bit of a miscommunication to both non-member and members. However, I think that offering a support group to those struggling with the same hardships in order to find a righteous solution and a pathway to recovery is a great thing! I know it's possible to overcome same-gender attraction. You can do it! You're strong people with abilities beyond your comprehension!****
