AboutMichael Kelley Expertise For a different viewpoint on Mormonism for your questions, try me. I am a staunch believer in the Book of Mormon and belong to another church (the Church of Christ)that is set up identically to the Biblical church. If there are things about traditional Mormonism that trouble you or you have questions about, just ask and you might find the answers from the Book of Mormon to be quite surprising. I have been studying the scriptures diligently for 16 years under the school of hard knocks... I may not have all of the answers but will sure go find them if I don`t. I`m strongest on Biblical and Book of Mormon doctrines, and am also somewhat familiar with Mormon history and archaeology.
Question I have a question for you not out of meanness but out of general curiosity. I am an inactive member. Why does it seem that many LDS people discriminate against gays/lesbians/pagans? I have known people like that and they seem to me to be just as kind, honest, and trustworthy as others. So why when people in the church ask LDS members to choose friends carefully do people often exclude them?
Answer Hi Dani,
I will be happy to answer your questions. Please note that I am ex-LDS and belong to the Church of Christ that believes in the Bible and Book of Mormon.
In answer to your question... most churches including the LDS or my church do not accept homosexuality as acceptable Christian behavior. This is not something the church itself has mandated but is simply following what is plainly taught in the scriptures which strongly oppose any forms of homosexuality or sexual misconduct. The same applies to pagan religions which is a form of worshipping other gods which is specifically forbidden in the 10 commandments and throughout both Bible and Book of Mormon. A few liberal churches allow homosexuality in the name of God's love but in reality they are cheating their souls. When Jesus walked the earth he rebuked many for their sinful behavior, not because He was haughty or proud, but wanted to prepare them for His kingdom. The Bible and Book of Mormon teach that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven... and the practices of homosexuals could not be any more unclean (when you think about it). Churches often frown on having close friendships with non-believers because often the non-believers will try to sway members away from the church... and they certainly will. Often the homosexual feels shame about their lifestyle and in order to justify it, they tear down the church that they think opposes them.
On the other hand while a church does not have to support sinful behavior, they certainly are not supposed to persecute those who are not of their faith. The Book of Mormon strongly states that the believers were not to persecute those outside of the church... I believe this should include homosexuals and pagans. I have had discussions with pagans online and often they are more polite than the religious folks... yet this does not mean their religion is more true... only that the impolite religous folks are not truly following their religion. On the other hand there are some acts that the scriptures describe as crimes. The Book of Mormon states that polygamy is a grosser crime. The Bible states homosexuality is a crime. Today our society considers child molesting a crime that is harshly punished. A child molestor may claim he was born this way and could not help his sin... but in reality it is an addiction that can be broken, just as other sexual crimes can be overcome. We should not allow spiritual or civil crimes to occur in the name of God's love... in reality it is a lie and we cheat the sinner of their souls because they face the judgment day in an unclean condition and would not feel comfortable in heaven.
What do the scriptures specifically say about homosexuality? Paul speaks of both pagan idolotry and homosexuality:
Romona 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (homosexuals),
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The Book of Mormon says likewise:
Alma 8 : 91 And I say unto you again, that he can not save them in their sins; for I can not deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; 92 Therefore how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore ye can not be saved in your sins.
Both books condemn all forms of sexual misconduct... whether it be simple fornication (unmarried consensual sex),or adultery, or rape, child molestation, homosexuality or even the LDS past practice of polygamy. So while the LDS may look down their noses at homosexuals for their sins, their past practice (and present defense) of polygamy is every bit as vile to God as homosexuality is. It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. On the other hand the Church of Christ (that believes in the Book of Mormon) has never supported or practiced polygamy, and just about any church out there knows polygamy is wrong... just as they know homosexuality is wrong. Only modern day liberalism is polluting many churches in accepting homosexuality, and these become apostate churches, more as social clubs, rather than representatives of God and His Word.
I hope this helps answer your questions, feel free to ask others as you wish.
