Kenngo1969 Posted January 25, 2015 Posted January 25, 2015 A brother from my ward was excommunicated for homosexuality when I was bishop. He was supportive of the disciplinary process up until the actual disciplinary council itself (stake level), when he told me he was going to just resign. What difference does it make? he asked. I told him there was a huge difference between voluntarily resigning and submitting to the priesthood in the disciplinary process. He attended, and it was a good experience (he bore a strong testimony that he knew that God exists and has felt his love, but that God had to give up on him. Not out of malice or impugning God's love or mercy, but simply that God had to finally give up on him). Surprisingly, he announced at the end that he would never again go through the doorway of an LDS Church again. Surprising, because he had expressed nothing like this previously or during the council. He told us all that he also wanted no further contact with the Church. I was surprised after this to find him still regularly attending Church. I left him some space for a couple of weeks, given his adamant wishes he had made known. Finally, I asked if he had a few minutes after sacrament meeting. I told him I was thrilled to see him at church, and asked him if he minded sharing why (given how adamantly he had expressed his intentions). He told me that the Church is true, all of it, and that there was simply no other thing for him to do other than continue to come to church. He did make it clear that he had no intention of doing what he needed to do to be re-baptized, but that he would continue to attend. I thought of this given your above question in the OP, Stone holm. Reminds me of this scripture (John 6:65-69): 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Rob Osborn Posted January 26, 2015 Posted January 26, 2015 TRIPE? You are talking about my life here. I had very extensive discussions with my church leaders about this very subject. I was specifically told that if I wanted to be a member in good standing, I could not live with another man even if we never had sexual relationships. I could not kiss him. I could not hold his hand. I could not even go to the movies if I viewed it as a date. If they had offered the choices you now offer, perhaps I could have stayed in the church. I wanted it to work. There is a difference between loving everyone and being in love. Being in love is not on the table for gay members. Adultery is also not on the table for any member regardless of our attractions to others besides our spouses. Its a gospel about morality and restraint and overcoming the natural man.
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