Dear Andrew, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints doesn't tell you who to vote for, EVER! But this issue on Gay marriage is not a polical issue but a moral issue that will alter our society like nothing you have ever seen. All good people and people of faith need to stand up like never before in the history of the earth for truth and proclaim with thier mouths that a marriage is between a man and a woman. Don't be fooled by the wording that these groups are trying to trick us with. The truth is and always will be the truth. Marriage is someone that has always been since Adam between a man and a woman in every society and every culture and every faith and every race from the creation of man. God ordained marriage as such. Wickness and confusion is filling the earth like never before. It's time for you and me and billions of others to make our voices of reason and truth heard or it will be too late and the earth will come under such darkness and evilness like never before. Andrew this is a moral issue and every faith should make a stand no matter what happens or what treats these groups make, it's so vital and important to say the truth. You know the truth so speak it and embrace it and never be fooled or feel shamed that you know the truth. But the news media or the groups that want you to believe in a lie are working over time at this time in history and it's time we work over time to spread the truth, but not hate. We still need to love these people, they could be our brothers or sisters or friends, but they need to know the truth that it is wrong and sinful, plain and simple and God doesn't care how they package it, it's not holy or pure and it will never be accepatable, EVER!

I heard on the news tonight that Florida is the ONLY state that forbids homosexual adoptions. I was shocked! The news also said that Florida's law is being challenged. It's remarkable how much progress the homosexual community has made within a relatively short period of time. 
 
Since the passing of Proposition 8 in California, we have been confronted with outrageous behavior by many homosexual activists in California, as well as other states. Proposition 8 was a California State ballot proposition that amended the state Constitution to restrict the definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman. The anger of the homosexual community over the passing of Prop 8 has often been directed toward Christians and Mormons; however, even within the Christian community, there are various opinions as to how Christians should react to the homosexual community's relentless drive towards "normalization". 
 
Among Christians who believe that a marriage should only be between a man and a woman, some believe that we should be tolerant toward the practice of civil unions and providing rights to people in homosexual relationships that would typically be found in a marriage. I believe that there should be a vigorous discussion within the Christian community as to the extent to which we should be "tolerant" of homosexual behavior. It is one thing to love the sinner, but quite another thing to be tolerant of the sin or to encourage sinful behavior. 
 
When I was a boy, homosexuality was considered to be either a mental illness or a sin. Back then, homosexuals were still called homosexuals, and most of them were still "in the closet". They mostly kept a low profile, but they were still active. There were numerous times, as I was growing up, when I was approached by homosexuals. It was not a common occurrence, but it happened often enough that I began to wonder if there was something in particular about me that brought me to the attention of homosexuals. 
 
Now, as an adult, I don't think that there was anything different about me or my behavior. I now think that it was probably a habitual pattern for homosexuals to be prowling around looking for someone who might be receptive to their advances. I definitely was not comfortable with such advances, and avoided such people like the plague, once I realized what they wanted. 
 
I mention these early experiences to counter suggestions I have seen, by members of the homosexual community, that children are at least as safe around homosexuals as they are around normal ("straight") people. They like to point to examples of abusive behavior by normal people as reasons why children are not necessarily safe, even when in a normal environment. 
 
In 1973, I remember hearing that the psychiatry had decided to no longer classify homosexuality as a mental illness. I don't know how or why they reached that decision, but I suspect that it resulted from gradual infiltration into their ranks by members of the homosexual community. The homosexual community has used that technique very effectively over the years to expand their influence. 
 
Homosexuals started coming out of the closet, and going public with their abnormal behavior. They started calling themselves "gay", even though the consequences of homosexual behavior have historically been nothing to be gay about. Since then, they have mounted a relentless campaign to "mainstream" and normalize homosexual behavior, with the apparent goal that their behavior will not be considered abnormal by society as a whole. 
 
In recent years, an increasingly activist homosexual community has been aggressively pursuing the right to legally marry members of their own sex. Even though the more conservative Christian members of society have been mostly successful in their efforts to resist these attempts to redefine marriage, the younger generation seems to be moving in the direction of a more "tolerant" attitude toward marriages between homosexuals. The approach of gradual persuasion continues to be effective. 
 
There is a dark side to the goal of legalizing marriage between homosexuals that is not getting much public discussion.. One primary motivation for marriage within the homosexual community may be that it enables them to more easily adopt or become foster parents of children. These helpless children will then be subject to continual indoctrination into abnormal behavior. 
 
Historically, homosexual behavior has been considered to be, if not mental illness, then certainly sinful behavior; however in recent years, the homosexual community has been trying to cast themselves in a different light. They are now claiming that a homosexual is "born that way". It is very important to their children-related goals to persuade the general public of this concept; because they hope to counter society's fears that homosexuals might influence their children to become homosexuals. 
 
In "The Pink Swastika", a book that documents the extensive influence of homosexuality on Hitler's Nazism and the Jewish Holocaust, the following quote addresses the claim that homosexuals are "born that way": 
 
In a letter to the editor of the Toronto, Ontario, Globe and Mail newspaper, February 26, 1992, Dr. Joseph Bergen Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, writes, "in my 20 years of psychiatry I have never come across anyone with innate homosexuality. That notion has been a long proclaimed gay-activist political position, intended to promote the acceptance of homosexuality as a healthy, fully equal alternative expression of human sexuality. It has zero scientific foundation, though its promoters latch on to even the flimsiest shreds of atrocious research in their attempts to justify the notion." 
 
Agencies responsible for placing homeless children with adoptive or foster parents must certainly have guidelines that would become very challenged by prospective homosexual parents. For example, it is unlikely that a single man could adopt or foster parent a young girl due to the risk of sexual abuse. For the same reason, it does not seem reasonable that homosexual men should be able to adopt or foster parent a young boy. The same reasoning applies to homosexual women who might want to adopt or foster parent a girl. It is a matter of common sense that a young child is more likely to find the safest haven from sexual abuse with a parent of their same sexual orientation (e.g., a girl with her heterosexual mother). 
 
There is no legitimate reason for Christians to be tolerant towards the homosexual rights movement. While we must certainly try to love the sinner, we must reject and discourage the sin in every way possible. There is no more reason to condone homosexual behavior than there is to condone adultery, polygamy, or pedophilia; yet that is exactly what is happening as the homosexual community relentlessly tries to influence public thinking. In the same way that the Christian community champions the cause of unborn children, we should be equally vigilant in protecting helpless young children who no longer have responsible parents available to protect them. The Christian community must start pushing back more forcefully, or else suffer great harm to not only the institution of marriage, but also to our children and families.

We take a stand for what we believe in. We believe marriage is sacred between a man and a woman and that it and the family unit are important not only to Heavenly Father's plan, but to the success of a society itself.  
We don't believe in being spectators. We are encouraged to be involved in what is going on in the world.  
Someone once said "If you don't stand up for something, you'll fall for anything."

I am mormon and i know that my views may be looked down upon.  
 
Our country was founded on freedom of religion. That is why we are able to practice this fantastic religion. But others choose not to believe what we believe in. Therefore they will have different views on homosexuality. And they are rightly entitled to their opinion as we are also. Why should they be punished for their views. I personaly would be devistated if i could no longer practice my religion. Plus i have gay friends who are very religios and good people. Homosexuality is in no way a mental illness. People cannot help who they love. And they do not wish to marry to adopt children, but to merely have the rights they are entitled to have when in a commited union with a chosen life partner.

In our faith Marriage is a sacred ordinance between an man and woman only. This sacred ordinance is extremely important to the LDS Church (in fact we believe that marriage is essential to achieve the most happiness in heaven).  
 
We also believe that Marriage is an eternal ordinance that cannot be altered or changed since it is made by God.  
 
Because of this the Church does not support Same Sex Marriage and they supported Proposition 8 to amend the California Constitution to protect the sacred nature of Marriage between a man and a woman.  
 
 
The Church is not homophobic nor do they hate gays as some try and proclaim. We are defending a extremely sacred and important institution of God.  
 
The Church also is against discrimination against any persons for any reasons.  
 
They do not want to see people without the same civil protections that marriage provides heterosexual couples. They will not allow those protections to happen by changing a sacred ordinance of God into something it is not suppose to be.  
 
 
The real problem here isn't the Church but the illegal intrusion of the State into religion. Marriage is a religious institution and for the state to change it is a violation of the 1st Amendment in my opinion.

This is not a guarantee if the State makes marriage a right (which it is not, no part of the Constitution of the US or any state give anyone a right to marriage) then they could legally force religious organizations (such as the LDS humanitarian or adoption services) to recognize same sex couples as married which is making the Church condone something sinful.  
 
I understand that the JW do not have any involvement with politics or government believing the Watchtower is the only legitimate government. The LDS Church is the opposite though "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law." This is a reason why while the Church is politically neutral they strongly encourage there members to be politically active!

As far as I know the Church got so involved with Prop 8 because the Church would have been directly affected. If gay marriage would have been allowed, that means that the Church would no longer be able to not allow gay marriage and also keep their tax exempt status. Also, schools would have been affected. They would have changed the way they taught marriage in school, which would have had a huge impact. I think there was a lot more to Prop 8 than just gay marriage. That is what I have heard and read.

I am highly impressed that so little know the reason that the LDS church got involved with proposition 8. There have been several similar propositions before and after this that the church has not gotten so directly involved with. So why this one? It's very simple.  
 
They were asked to at the request of Protect Marriage Coalition.  
 
The church is very clear in it's doctrine. Marriage is divinely sanctioned, and is between one man and one woman. This in no way absolves anyone of the commandment to love they neighbor as thyself.  
 
Same gender attraction is not a mental illness. In my opinion, it is a weakness to a particular sin. As such LDS members should love those who struggle with this or any other weakness as we all have them. 
 
The LDS church believes that government is an important role in society and can have a great influence on people, and therefore is something that members should be involved with. Especially when issues that affect morality are at hand. A government with a moral compass improves the morality of its people.

I am a gay man and I quite honestly find it reprehensible that anyone would ever claim that I am who I am only due to weakness, confusion, a lack of morality, or through my own flaws. I have never tried to "convert" anyone to my way of life, nor have I ever tried for force anything upon another. I have never had a lack of morals, nor have I ever been weak--many would say I am quite strong and of sound mind.  
 
A man I once dated had a Mormon father--stake president--who threw him out on the street for being gay. This man, who was one of the most loving and moral persons I have ever known, was discovered one night by his father after he moved 1000 miles away. You read that correctly--his father drove 1000 miles to find his son and drugged him, threw him in a car, and tried to have him "fixed." Needless to say, this did not work except to weaken someone so strong so severely that he knew he could not overcome something given to him at birth--imagine that! He was thrown out for his supposedly sinful acts at the age of 17. He worked hard without help from anyone and managed to obtain advanced degrees, a fantastic job, and wonderful friends. What became of this strong, compassionate man? Well, he was so weakened by those who are supposed to love him that he is now dead at his own hand. This was not a sign of weakness! It was not a sin! This was a man who was destroyed by the exact same attitudes as those above that he had to take his own life. He tried to "fix" himself, but it didn't work because you can't change nature! He died because people like you beat him down and told him that who he was and what he could not change was evil. He was not evil--someone who cares so much for you and tried so hard to help others is not evil and does not give in to evil.  
 
I wonder how it is that you can say homosexuals like myself are sinners and bringing evil upon the world when many are so distraught when they understand who they are that they kill themselves. This isn't a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of how people like some of those who have commented above have treated us.  
 
I was never confused in my life--people like you tried to tell me that I was only confused and I tried, oh I tried, to believe it, but it felt wrong--it was against nature because it was against how I was created. You will never understand the feeling of growing up knowing who are you, knowing that it will never change, knowing that when you try to be strong that others will pull you down, shun you will all the while claiming that they do not lack compassion for you, but only want you to follow the word of god. I am gay, I have a loving partner and we live in a lovely house, have a wonderful life together, and have only found happiness after we gave up on the petty and pathetic way we were treated when we were young. We have formed a bond that is sacred and we have much more compassion & dignity than many heterosexual couples.  
 
I have no qualms with a religion that chooses not to allow homosexual marriage in it's church, but I do take offense to being called weak and sinful. I have led an honest life filled with hard work, challenges, the need for convictions, and all of those things that every person needs to be a productive & responsible citizen, but I cannot believe that if there were a god that they would want anyone to feel so miserable. 
 
This church proclaims that it's members will live under the government that protects them and not involve themselves so highly in political affairs, yet it encourages and seeks to destroy the opportunity for couples to seal their bond when they will do so outside of it's affairs. There was never going to be any attempt to force a church to marry those it does not believe should be married.  
 
I visited Utah on business and I was given so many looks of judgement by members of this church for simply walking down the street in a suit because I look different. That isn't acceptable and is morally wrong.

Visited,  
 
I am saddened for your loss. Be assured that no offense was meant. I was trying to convey the fact that all of us have our own feelings and emotions about different things and it is not appropriate for us to judge one another. I have had my own demons that I have been quite comfortable with in the past that I have had to give up to feel better about my relationship with God. I use the term demons for my own internal struggles and I am not labeling them for anyone else's feelings. Indeed it is morally wrong for one to judge another, especially upon something as simple as an appearance. 
 
The actions that you have described of the father are certainly not in line with the example that Christ set. It is apparent from your description that both you and this father have paid dearly for his actions, and while I hate to say it so bluntly, he will one day have to account for them before his maker. 
 
In all honesty, I must admit a curious perplexity as to how you determined who was LDS and who was not. According to demographic polls only about 50% of the population of Salt Lake County considers themselves LDS. The other counties in Utah are lower, with the exception of one. There is also a strong gay community in Utah, so much that the Advocate voted Salt Lake City as the most gay friendly city in the US, so this seems out of place to me. Either way, to judge one upon the way they look is certainly not acceptable. 
 
Regardless of our differences, I sincerely do wish for you the best.