In the past, while I was presenting and defending my stance on homosexuality in various internet forums, there probably isn’t my position that caused greater outrage among proponents of gay sexuality than the one I’m going to present here today.
I’m bringing this topic to the attention of readers of this blog for a good reason. I believe that yesterday’s release of the first in the series of interviews with faithful Mormons about same-sex attraction proves my position. And I’m sure that new interviews that are in the pipeline for the release will make that position even stronger.
Something special and unique
There probably isn’t a soul that frequents the North Star web site who doesn’t know that the interview is part of the Voice(s) of Hope project at www.ldsvoicesofhope.org, which is an extension of Ty Mansfield’s book of the same name. It is hopefully a successful attempt to gather at least one thousand video and written testimonies of gay Mormons who strive to conduct their lives in accordance to standards of the Restored Gospel proclaimed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As it is widely known, the Church teaches that any sexual behavior outside traditional marriage – which is one man and one woman bonded in a holy matrimony – is not acceptable to our Heavenly Father.
As I was watching the first interview and listening to the words of Blake Fisher, a 25-years-old student at Brigham Young University and a fellow North Star sojourner, I couldn’t help but to conclude that I was witnessing something special and unique. I was witnessing brand new perspective in the universe of gayness slash homosexuality slash same-sex attraction.
A faithfulness of a brother
That new perspective consists of a testimony that integrity of a soul is worth any sacrifice. He is a witness that whatever circumstance, a brother can be faithful to a brother so much so that his “faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death” (D&C 121:44). In Blake Fisher’s case, that faithfulness hasn’t been tried to the point of fall. But even when if it had been – as it will be seen in future interviews and future testimonies of those who tasted gay sexuality – it could have been fully restored and made whole through the precious blood of our Savior.
I believe there is love and appreciation between two men or two women not *aside* but *beyond* sexual intimacy. I also believe there is no greater respect and affection for a friend or a stranger than to say: “I feel strong attraction towards you. Nevertheless, I would rather cease to exist than to behave in any other way but within limits that God has set.”
New and important revelations
Brutal faithfulness, brutal honesty and brutal sincerity in difficult matters pays off depending on the level of their difficulty. The more one has at stake while trying to be right and proper, the greater reward (as well as responsibility).
The outrage that I mentioned at the beginning of this post is caused by my assertion that only by means of the Mormon doctrine, new and important revelations about the meaning and the purpose of same-sex attraction can be obtained. I’m confident that in times ahead, Mormons will make key contributions in greater understanding of what we know as homosexuality.
If the ONLY thing that would have resulted from all the time, effort, stress, tears, and money that I’ve invested in the Voices of Hope project so far would have been THIS article? It would have totally been worth it. THANK YOU for “getting” what it is that drives me about this project.
What a beautiful and lasting piece. It is such a good representation of what this project seems to be doing. The last line really rang a note with me. This is Beautiful.
I very much appreciated the video message by Blake, but I think you are taking liberties that the brethren of the church would not take. I’m not outraged by your remarks. I think you are misinformed and you make several claims that are unsubstantiated. The cease to exist sentiment that you write about is a very dangerous one. This is the kind of rhetoric that makes people feel like they should kill themself because they don’t know how to deal with being gay. That is not scripture and that is not counsel of the church. Also, there is no scripture to back up your assertion that the more brutal the trial the better the reward. Difficulty is subjective and that is not the doctrine of the church. You clearly do not understand the Atonement and Christ’s Grace. It is not about us proving ourselves through enduring the most difficult trials, and then getting a greater reward. The gospel is a gospel of hope and what you are writing is about despair. You also promote an arrogant I can overcome this through my superior will power mentality. Where is Christ in your post. He is the almighty redeemer who has overcome the world. Also, the limits that The church has set about same sex attraction has changed as I have mentioned to you before. When I was a kid even having the feelings was a sin, now it is only acting on it that is a sin. Whose to say things won’t change again? You wrote your post from a first person perspective and these are your thoughts and feelings. You do not speak for the church, nor do you speak for Heavenly Father, nor Jesus Christ. You only speak for you.
Hey, January, thank you for your comment. I hope you are aware that I do not think that my position in the matter is exact same as Church’s position. I understand that the brethren wouldn’t write what I wrote, and I’m okay with that. Thankfully, I’m not the brethren, so I can write whatever I like.
Concerning suicides among gay Mormons, I believe the main responsibility and fault for that does not reside on the brethren or victims of suicide, but on cruel and heartless members of the Church who does not get what the Gospel is all about. Those who want to know what the Gospel is really about should go and visit mormonsandgays.org. We don’t need any new doctrine in regard of homosexuality, we only need to strictly apply what we already have.
And let me close with the following remark. The principle of integrity of a soul, I believe, applies both to those who chose to follow the path of the Restored Gospel and to those who choose to accept and follow more traditional gay lifestyle. I do not condemn any of them, because I believe they believe it is their path of keeping their soul’s integrity intact. I’m just saying that we need affirmation of everyone’s and anyone’s integrity as each of us sees it.
I pretty much agree with the post by January Morning.
Also, use of the word “tasted” in referring to those who have engaged in homosexual behavior probably isn’t the best descriptive word to use in that sentence…or maybe it was intentional??