100 Years of Seminary. And BTW Gay Marriage

Last updated on: January 22, 2012 at 11:38 pm by Bored in Vernal

100 Years of Seminary. And BTW Gay Marriage 2012-01-22T23:38:47-05:00 Bored in Vernal

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In 1971, Elder Boyd K. Packer gave a talk in which he stated:

The gospel might be likened to the keyboard of a piano—a full keyboard with a selection of keys on which one who is trained can play a variety without limits; a ballad to express love, a march to rally, a melody to soothe, and a hymn to inspire; an endless variety to suit every mood and satisfy every need.

How shortsighted it is, then, to choose a single key and endlessly tap out the monotony of a single note, or even two or three notes, when the full keyboard of limitless harmony can be played. (BKP, The Only True and Living Church, Ensign, Dec 1971)

This quotation was directed toward other churches; however, over the years it came to be used as a caution to avoid “gospel hobbies.”

Tonight, as the keynote speaker at a Seminary Centennial broadcast “100 Years of Seminary,” President Packer extraneously hit the note we’ve heard all too often from his pulpit: homosexuality.

42:08 I want to speak now in the Marion G. Romney pattern of straight talk about another matter. One thing that I have learned about young people through all these years, you not only can take truth, but you want to know the truth.

We know that gender was set in the premortal world. The spirit and the body are the soul of man. The matter of gender is of great concern to the brethren, as are all matters of morality. A few of you may have felt, or have been told that you were born with troubled feelings and you’re not guilty if you act upon these temptations. Doctrinally, we know that if that were true, your agency would have been erased. And that cannot happen. You always have a choice to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and live morally pure and chaste, one filled with virtue.

President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the following in a General Conference, “People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves gays or lesbians. My response is, Do we love them as sons and daughters of God? They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have temptations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as others do as members of this Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to church discipline, just as others are. We want to help strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties, but we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity. If they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make a light of a very serious and sacred foundation — God sanctioned marriage and its very purpose in rearing the families.”

President Hinckley was speaking for the Church. The first gift that Adam and Eve received was agency. Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given thee. You have the same agency. Use it wisely. Deny acting on any impure impulse or unholy temptation that may come into your mind is a blessing. Just do not go there. If you’re already there, come back out of it. Deny yourselves of all ungodliness. Do not tamper with the life-giving powers in your body, or with members of either gender. It is a standard of the Church, and it will not change.

When President Packer spoke about gays in his sermon given at the 180th Semiannual General Conference entitled Cleansing the Inner Vessel, he stated, “Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural. Not so! Why would our Heavenly Father do that to anyone? Remember, God is our Heavenly Father.” In response to protests, his words were edited and softened, but at the next General Conference he reiterated, “Some suppose that they were unfairly singled out for a specific temptation. This is the purpose of mortal life — to be tested. We must, and we can, resist temptations of any kind.”

Church leaders and members worldwide are concerned that President Packer continues to frame his understanding in an doctrinal manner, regardless of the concessions that have been made to modern research and understanding of the nature of homosexuality by other Apostles and by Public Affairs officials of the Church. In this latest speech, he again specifically uses the word “doctrinal” in his exposition.

As I looked around at the youth from my stake who were gathered to honor the Seminary program, I wondered how appropriate this topic was. Children as young as 12 years old had been invited to the program. President Packer warned these youth that they were growing up in enemy territory, and spoke pointedly of Satan and his influence. He admonished them to listen to the impressions of the Holy Ghost, so they would not be deceived. He mentioned pornography at least 4 times. Then it came; a full-blown rant on the gay issue from his bully pulpit. I wondered which of the youth were being more personally affected by his words, and how they were processing them.

I realize that I, and many of you who are reading my words, have sustained Boyd K. Packer as a prophet, seer, and revelator. I know we are living in troubled times, and such men are called to guide us through them. But to this audience, on this day, to commemorate and celebrate 100 years of the educational program of Seminary? How relevant were the notes from this particular piano key?

Previous Post

January 20, 2012

If the Book of Mormon is dull, the New Testament is duller

Next Post

January 24, 2012 Mr. Speaker! FPR live thread of the 2012 State of the Union

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2013 Scriptures Administrative Apologetics Atonement Bible Book of Mormon Book Review BYU Doctrine Extra-Biblical Literature Family Feminism Guests History LDS Church History Leadership Marginalia Metaphysics Mormon Culture Mormon Studies Personal Issues Political Philosophy Politics Scripture Sexuality Speculation Spotlights Studying Religion Ten Tidbits The Tenure Track Theology Tips on Applying Series Tips on Being an Independent Scholar Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz