I don't mean to disparage anyone's joy at seeing even a marginal change in church position here, I only mean to raise the caution flag on what they are doing. Because, in my point of view, it's not sincere at all. And I say that based on their history of such actions, most directly the parallels in their teaching and subsequent alterations in how they treated blacks.
The progression they followed then was outright bigotry to subtle bigotry to "compassionate" bigotry to sudden revelation and acceptance with a pretense that their past never happened. Right now, they are in stage three when it comes to homosexuals.
The idea that good people will be manipulated again by the church here disturbs me because it shows a mindset of continued loyalty and allegiance to an organization that not only has long ruined and destroyed good people's lives through bigotry without even mild apology or acknowledgment of wrongdoing, but is clearly not at all what it claims to be. I view the situation as similar to battered wife syndrome: I'd hate to see those who've long dealt with the negative effects of this organization's policies and teachings turn around and suddenly forgive their entire past just by the church claiming they've changed.
And even more than that, a careful reading of this site shows that it isn't even a change at all. It's merely a public relations alteration attempting to attribute their bigotry to "God" now instead of claiming it outright for themselves. "Gee, we'd like to change, but it's just God's law! We still love you and want your tithing, though!"
As long as religions unfortunately exist, it will be a good thing each time one of them casts off old bigotry and accepts new tolerance. What won't be a good thing is if people continue to grant them authority over their lives and loyalty simply by virtue of them eventually learning which way the wind has blown.
The church, and its leaders and many members, have a long, tragic past on this issue. The damage they have done to countless lives on even this issue alone is incalculable. So even those who encourage their change should not even begin to accept any overtures they might make if they are not first accompanied by a full recognition and apology for that past. Which, of course, by virtue of their theistic claims of authority, the church can not and will never do.
And that's not deserving of loyalty or support. It's deserving of revilement and disgust.
Even those who are prone to forgive the church on this issue, or even begin to forgive them, should consider the church's own stance on what is necessary to receive repentance:
emp.byui.edu/marrottr/REPENT.pdf http://www.lds.org/new-era/1999/11/do-you-know-how-to-repent?lang=eng[1]
- Recognize
- Remorse
- Resolve
- Restore
- Relate (Confess)
Again, this is the LDS Church's own position. So where is the church to be found on this list? Nowhere. They aren't recognizing anything they've done wrong, they don't feel remorse for having done it, they are doing little to resolve it, and are doing nothing to restore what has been lost to those for whom that is still possible. And they certainly aren't confessing to any wrongdoing.
Instead, they are progressing their long path of attempting to pretend their past (sins) does not exist, and yet desire forgiveness (authority and continued loyalty) in spite of it. They even have the gall to claim to be the authority on encouraging love and acceptance, as though they have always been there, like a bully who turns to his friends who he encouraged to start the beating and now tells them to be nicer.
So again, that's not deserving of loyalty or support. It's deserving of revilement and disgust.
As I mentioned a comparison with the church's positions and attitudes on blacks with their positions and attitudes now, here is a comparison of some key points:
ON INTERRACIAL/HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE
Interracial marriage - "I think I have read enough to give you an idea of what the Negro is after. He is not just seeking the opportunity of sitting down in a cafe where white people eat. He isn't just trying to ride on the same streetcar or the same Pullman car with white people. It isn't that he just desires to go to the same theater as the white people. From this, and other interviews I have read, it appears that the Negro seeks absorption with the white race. He will not be satisfied until he achieves it by intermarriage. That is his objective and we must face it. We must not allow our feelings to carry us away, nor must we feel so sorry for Negroes that we will open our arms and embrace them with everything we have. Remember the little statement that we used to say about sin, "First we pity, then endure, then embrace." ~Apostle Mark E. Petersen
Homosexual marriage - "In recent years in the United States and other countries, a movement has emerged to promote same-sex marriage as an inherent or constitutional right. This is not a small step, but a radical change...Those who favor homosexual marriage contend that “tolerance” demands that they be given the same right to marry as heterosexual couples...Tolerance as a gospel principle means love and forgiveness of one another, not “tolerating” transgression...Because this question strikes at the very heart of the family, because it is one of the great moral issues of our time, and because it has the potential for great impact upon the family, the Church is speaking out on this issue, and asking members to get involved." ~The Divine Institution of Marriage, LDS Press Release, 2008
ON USING GOD'S LAW AS AN EXCUSE
Blacks - "The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord." ~First Presidency, 1949
Blacks - "The Church has no intention of changing its doctrine on the Negro. Throughout the history of the original Christian church, the Negro never held the priesthood. There’s really nothing we can do to change this. It’s a law of God." ~Apostle N. Eldon Tanner
Homosexuality - "From a public relations perspective it would be easier for the Church to simply accept homosexual behavior. That we cannot do, for God’s law is not ours to change." ~Mormons and Gays website
ON DEMANDING AND EXPECTING MEMBERS TO IGNORE PAST TEACHINGS AND ACTIONS
Blacks - "It is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. Forget everything that I have said, or what President [Spencer W. Kimball]…or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world." ~Apostle Bruce R. McConkie
Homosexuality - "Reconciling same-sex attraction with a religious life can present an especially trying dilemma. Anyone who lives in both worlds can attest to its difficulty. But with faith, love and perspective it can be done." ~Mormons and Gays website
ON BLACK SKIN/HOMOSEXUALITY BEING A TEMPORARY AFFLICTION TO BE OVERCOME
Blacks - "There was the doctor in a Utah city who for two years had had an Indian boy in his home who stated that he was some shades lighter than the younger brother just coming into the program from the reservation. These young members of the Church are changing to whiteness and to delightsomeness." ~Spencer W. Kimball, Dec. 1960 Improvement Era
Homosexuality - "We believe that with an eternal perspective, a person’s attraction to the same sex can be addressed and borne as a mortal test. It should not be viewed as a permanent condition." ~Mormons and Gays website
By: mocaptainmoroni
By: mocaptainmoroni
