President Gordon B. Hinckley knew exactly
what he was talking about when, in a 1997 general conference,
he
cautioned members of the Church, saying: “I hope you will never look to the public press [or bloggers/social
media] as the authority on the doctrines of the Church.” His point was
that most commentary from such sources fails to one degree or another to
accurately represent or communicate Church doctrine, practice, and policy. The
result is that many readers are given a false impression of the Church’s
position and judge it falsely thereby. Of course, such a result (misunderstanding)
is usually what the reporter or blogger—often a gay activist—seeks. They know
there is nothing easier to sway than an outraged but misinformed audience.
The Position of the Church
The
Proclamation
on the Family teaches that “All human beings—male and female—are created in
the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents,
and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential
characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and
purpose.”
[1] The First Presidency has
stated:
We of The Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reach out with understanding and respect
for individuals who are attracted to those of the same gender. We realize there
may be great loneliness in their lives but there must also be recognition of
what is right before the Lord. As a doctrinal principle, based on sacred
scripture, we affirm that marriage between a man and a woman is essential to
the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. The powers of procreation
are to be exercised only between a man and a woman lawfully wedded as husband
and wife. Any other sexual relations, including those between persons of the
same gender, undermine the divinely created institution of the family.[2]