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The issue is chastity not gender


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Posted
5 hours ago, Teancum said:

 

What you should say is "Marriage according to the gospel I believe...."


See not everyone thinks you have the true gospel.

I refuse to alter the way I speak to coddle morons with inferiority complexes.

Posted
16 hours ago, Rivers said:

No. Those things are not breaking the law of chastity. 

 

15 hours ago, The Nehor said:

Yep. There will not be any form of equality between the two types of relationships. Sorry.

 

So Elder Holland was incorrect when he said that it is about chastity, not gender.  Gender changes the requirements.  A boy and a girl can go to a stake dance, hold hands, slow dance in each others' arms.  A boy and a boy cannot.

 

Posted
On 3/9/2016 at 5:38 AM, Monster said:

Its about control. When the church loses control over the sexual habits of its believers it has lost much of its leverage.

That is a hard statement. 

But I suspect many LDS males who endured "worthiness interviews"--especially in their teenage years--wherein a bishop would ask directly or indirectly as to whether they masturbated...  Well, you look 'em in the eye & you tell 'em a lie.  And then you feel *really* bad about yourself and any doubts you have about the Church and its claims--they are obviously your own fault, manifestations of your own deceit and secret unworthiness.  The problem isn't the Church--the problem is YOU.  I was there.    

Any such males might be inclined to agree--more truth than poetry in the above.  It's about control.  It's all about control.

--Erik

 

Posted
23 minutes ago, Five Solas said:

That is a hard statement. 

But I suspect many LDS males who endured "worthiness interviews"--especially in their teenage years--wherein a bishop would ask directly or indirectly as to whether they masturbated...  Well, you look 'em in the eye & you tell 'em a lie.  And then you feel *really* bad about yourself and any doubts you have about the Church and its claims--they are obviously your own fault, manifestations of your own deceit and secret unworthiness.  The problem isn't the Church--the problem is YOU.  I was there.    

Any such males might be inclined to agree--more truth than poetry in the above.  It's about control.  It's all about control.

--Erik

 

That is an experience that I suspect is more common than anyone realizes. Yet, however traumatizing it may be for a young man, or woman for that matter, in the end we will find that we have either been "controlled" by the commandments or by our own appetites and passions. To argue instead that the church is trying to control its members' sexual habits, or anything else, is blatant and willful speculation with no basis in reality. As one who has had his fair share of struggles with the flesh, I can attest that I am a better and happier man for having been "controlled" by the church (regardless of the guilt and self-loathing I had to endure) than I ever was when I was truly controlled by own my impulses. In the process, I have gained some measure of self control; and if I was wrong all along about the church, that is a prize I wouldn't trade for anything.

Posted
4 minutes ago, Wanderer7 said:

That is an experience that I suspect is more common than anyone realizes. Yet, however traumatizing it may be for a young man, or woman for that matter, in the end we will find that we have either been "controlled" by the commandments or by our own appetites and passions.

...

Appreciate you saying that, Wanderer7.  But to be clear, I don't think I was ever subject to control "by the commandments"--I merely think I was manipulated by certain men at a vulnerable age. 

--Erik

 

Posted
31 minutes ago, Wanderer7 said:

That is an experience that I suspect is more common than anyone realizes. Yet, however traumatizing it may be for a young man, or woman for that matter, in the end we will find that we have either been "controlled" by the commandments or by our own appetites and passions. To argue instead that the church is trying to control its members' sexual habits, or anything else, is blatant and willful speculation with no basis in reality. As one who has had his fair share of struggles with the flesh, I can attest that I am a better and happier man for having been "controlled" by the church (regardless of the guilt and self-loathing I had to endure) than I ever was when I was truly controlled by own my impulses. In the process, I have gained some measure of self control; and if I was wrong all along about the church, that is a prize I wouldn't trade for anything.

Oh it can be controlling, it shouldn't be like that.  We shouldn't treat the gospel as if it's meaning is the church.  It's only one thing, it's Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection.

I still hold onto that belief at least, but the thought that the church might be wrong has shook that belief.  That's where the fuzzy line of what the gospel is in church can cause many to have faith crisis in the belief of God and Jesus.  The LDS church needs to make sure that it's members understand that the Gospel means one thing only.  It doesn't take the place of being the church.  That delineation is critical! 

Posted
On 3/9/2016 at 11:53 PM, JulieM said:

Well, the law of chastity states to keep sexual relations within a "legally and lawfully" bound marriage, correct?  Why doesn't this apply equally to gays who are married?

I have read on here that some interpret this to mean "laws of God" (lawfully), but is that doctrine?  And what about the "legally" part?  Certainly this applies to gays who are married now.

Or is there a different Law of Chastity for gays to obey?

You left out some important words--"...husband or wife to whom you are legally and lawfully wedded," is the covenant. And sorry, a man does not qualify as a wife, nor does a woman qualify as a husband.

Posted
1 minute ago, ERMD said:

You left out some important words--"...husband or wife to whom you are legally and lawfully wedded," is the covenant. And sorry, a man does not qualify as a wife, nor does a woman qualify as a husband.

Yes, "husband or wife".  Gays who enter into a legal and lawful SSM, do have a "husband" or  a "wife".  No one is claiming that a man has to qualify as a wife or that a woman has to qualify as a husband.  

Posted
19 minutes ago, ERMD said:

You left out some important words--"...husband or wife to whom you are legally and lawfully wedded," is the covenant. And sorry, a man does not qualify as a wife, nor does a woman qualify as a husband.

 

14 minutes ago, ALarson said:

Yes, "husband or wife".  Gays who enter into a legal and lawful SSM, do have a "husband" or  a "wife".  No one is claiming that a man has to qualify as a wife or that a woman has to qualify as a husband.

Just another reason the law of chastity covenant should never have been changed or the covenants for men and women combined from separate.

Posted (edited)
16 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

Just another reason the law of chastity covenant should never have been changed or the covenants for men and women combined from separate.

I agree (if it is to be clear).  I wonder if they will change the wording again? 

.

Edited by ALarson
Posted
30 minutes ago, ALarson said:

Yes, "husband or wife".  Gays who enter into a legal and lawful SSM, do have a "husband" or  a "wife".  No one is claiming that a man has to qualify as a wife or that a woman has to qualify as a husband.  

Take that up with the Lord when you see him.  He will disagree.

Posted
2 hours ago, Five Solas said:

That is a hard statement. 

But I suspect many LDS males who endured "worthiness interviews"--especially in their teenage years--wherein a bishop would ask directly or indirectly as to whether they masturbated...  Well, you look 'em in the eye & you tell 'em a lie.  And then you feel *really* bad about yourself and any doubts you have about the Church and its claims--they are obviously your own fault, manifestations of your own deceit and secret unworthiness.  The problem isn't the Church--the problem is YOU.  I was there.    

Any such males might be inclined to agree--more truth than poetry in the above.  It's about control.  It's all about control.

--Erik

 

This.  It is the most damaging thing in the church and needs to be changed..regardless of sex/chastity.  The compounded guilt and fear should not be in any gospel.

Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, ERMD said:

Take that up with the Lord when you see him.

A man in a SSM does not have a husband?  A woman in a SSM, does not have a wife?  Hmmmm.....

It states "husband OR wife".  SSMs meet that criteria as shown above.

 

He will disagree

You don't know that.  I believe God will agree.  So, we both have our beliefs.

Edited by ALarson
Posted
10 minutes ago, ALarson said:

A man in a SSM does not have a husband?  A woman in a SSM, does not have a wife?  Hmmmm.....

It states "husband OR wife".  SSMs meet that criteria as shown above.

 


He will disagree

You don't know that.  I believe God will agree.  So, we both have our beliefs.

You are changing the covenant.  You tread where I dare not.  Good luck with that one.

Posted (edited)
2 minutes ago, ERMD said:

You are changing the covenant.  You tread where I dare not.  Good luck with that one.

How am I changing the covenant?

The wording of the covenant could apply to SSM too.  That's all I'm saying.  I know that is not going to happen though, at least for now.

Edited by ALarson
Posted
7 minutes ago, ALarson said:

How am I changing the covenant?

The wording of the covenant could apply to SSM too.  That's all I'm saying.  I know that is not going to happen though, at least for now.

The question here is whether the wording of the covenant is based on policy or whether policy is based on the wording of the covenant.

The wording of the covenant changed when the policy of the Church changed.
If you believe the covenant was given by God through his prophet Joseph Smith when the endowment was restored then several possibilities present themselves:

  1. President Grant received a revelation instructing him to change the wording
  2. The wording should never have been changed
  3. Policy OR revelation could lead to a future change that more clearly precludes SSM
  4. The current wording of the covenant could be interpreted to accept SSM
  5. ...and many others

God is not the author of confusion - perhaps they should have left it as restored to Joseph Smith.

Posted
4 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

The question here is whether the wording of the covenant is based on policy or whether policy is based on the wording of the covenant.

The wording of the covenant changed when the policy of the Church changed.
If you believe the covenant was given by God through his prophet Joseph Smith when the endowment was restored then several possibilities present themselves:

  1. President Grant received a revelation instructing him to change the wording
  2. The wording should never have been changed
  3. Policy OR revelation could lead to a future change that more clearly precludes SSM
  4. The current wording of the covenant could be interpreted to accept SSM
  5. ...and many others

God is not the author of confusion - perhaps they should have left it as restored to Joseph Smith.

Interesting and I agree. 

When you stated above:

"The wording of the covenant changed when the policy of the Church changed."  You are referring to polygamy, not the new SSM policy, correct?

Posted
15 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

God is not the author of confusion - perhaps they should have left it as restored to Joseph Smith.

That would leave us without the possibility of receiving continuing revelation.  That's something I believe Joseph Smith would reject.

Posted
On March 9, 2016 at 8:34 AM, JLHPROF said:

No actually - follow the timeline.

March 1841 - Zina marries Henry in civil marriage
October 1841 - Zina marries Joseph for time and eternity
June 1844 - Joseph dies
June 1845 - Zina conceives her last child with Henry
Probable late 1845 - Zina admitted to anointed quorum and placed under covenant of chastity (no relations except with priesthood husband)
January 1846 - Zina is reendowed in Nauvoo temple and placed under covenant of chastity a second time (no relations except with priesthood husband)
February 1846 - Zina is resealed to Joseph for eternity in Nauvoo temple and Brigham for time in a Levirate marriage
March 1846 - Zina and Henry have their last child

I do not know if Zina and Joseph ever had relations, but I do believe that once she was placed under the covenant of chastity her relations with Henry (her civil husband only) ended.
To really understand what appear to be polyandrous marriages, we have to understand how the early saints at this time viewed civil marriage vs priesthood marriage.
As long as we apply modern concepts and weight civil marriage and priesthood marriage equally we will never understand how the relationships worked.
 

How could Brigham Young have a civil marriage with Zina when he was already married. Certainly the state would not validate that marriage.  It is also interesting that BY and Joseph were married to the same woman at the same time.  From this list of marriages and cross marriages, it was pretty wild out in the west.  Anything seemed to be ok.  They just had to say it was ok.  It is just too bad BY didn't marry Joseph.  It would certianly be more difficult for BY to give the same talk as Elder Holland today.  I think a lot of people would have a hard time keeping a straight face.

After all of that can you imagine BY standing up and saying any gay couple that is legally married will be branded apostates, excommunicated from the church and their children not baptized until they are 18 because they are not living the law of chastity??????

Posted

Chastity generally refers to a person having sex with only their spouse, waiting until they have a spouse before they have sex.  A spouse being someone to whom they are legally and lawfully married.

In the Church we carry that a step further and say that chastity refers to a person having sex "within the bounds the Lord has set" which not only includes the general idea commonly associated with chastity but also some gender boundaries, with our Lord's counsel through his mouthpieces in the Church that same gender sex is forbidden and abominable even if 2 of the same sex are legally and lawfully married by some law of the land.

So the world has it's own set of rules and laws, which sometimes vary in different locations in the world, and the Lord has his own set of rules and laws, which also sometimes vary in different locations whether in this world or in some other worlds.

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, ERMD said:

You left out some important words--"...husband or wife to whom you are legally and lawfully wedded," is the covenant. And sorry, a man does not qualify as a wife, nor does a woman qualify as a husband.

No, I didn't leave any words out.  Those who are in a legal ssm, do have a husband or a wife.  

Edit: I see others already beat me to giving this answer!!  I agree.

Edited by JulieM
Posted
1 minute ago, JulieM said:

No, I didn't leave any words out.  Those who are in a legal ssm marriage, do have a husband or a wife.  

 

Priceless.

Posted
11 minutes ago, ksfisher said:

That would leave us without the possibility of receiving continuing revelation.  That's something I believe Joseph Smith would reject.

Which is exactly why many hope and believe there will be "continuing revelation" and change for policies about SSM.

Posted
4 minutes ago, ERMD said:

Priceless.

Why thank you!  What I stated was true. (I'm not sure where you thought any words were left out of my original post?)

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