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In "The Family: A Proclamation To The World," the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles state:
"All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose."
Question: What does this mean to you when you consider people who are intersex, transgender, or those who find that their physical genitalia and internal sense of gender do not match up? How do you define one’s “eternal gender?”
Leave your comments here and they may be included in the next newsletter publication, or send them in an e-mail to theldsleft@gmail.com.
In debates about gay marriage, some Mormons are quick to point out that the Church doesn’t discriminate between heterosexual and homosexual members because it requires all unmarried members to live the Law of Chastity. Some heterosexual members of the Church remain single – and therefore celibate – throughout their entire lives and so it is not unreasonable to require the same of homosexual members, it is argued. However, where dating and companionship are concerned, it seems that Church policy differs, depending on whether one is straight or gay.
Straight members, for instance, may remain single and chaste their entire lives, but they are free to date and engage is non-sexual behavior such as:
• Hand holding
• Innocent kissing
• Hugging and caressing
Unmarried couples can sit in church or attend school at BYU and engage in such non-sexual courting behavior without facing discipline. A chaste homosexual couple, on the other hand, would likely encounter trouble from their bishop or authorities at BYU for an open display of affection. It seems, therefore, that gay members are required not only to be celibate, but alone.
Question: Do you think heterosexual and homosexual members alike be permitted to engage in non-sexual displays of affection deemed acceptable outside of marriage without being subject to discipline from the Church? Why or why not?
Leave your comments here and they may be included in the next newsletter publication, or send them in an e-mail to theldsleft@gmail.com.
