I have talked to a lot of gay people about the LDS Church, God, sin, etc. There are a variety of viewpoints out there, and people are certainly entitled to their own opinions. We are free to make our own choices, and we will live with the outcomes of our choices in both this life and the life to come. I think many of my discussions can be boiled down to this topic: faith.
The basic premise of the Gospel of Christ is simple and straight-forward: If we have faith and do the things we’re supposed to do, we will have eternal glory. Faith is the first principle of the Gospel and the foundation of all Christian churches. However, there are two areas regarding faith that cause people to stumble: 1) Not putting faith in God’s words, and 2) Putting faith in falsehoods.
Faith in God’s Words
Through the scriptures and prophets, God has made many promises to His children. Here is a list of a very small sub-sample of some of His promises:
* If we keep His commandments, we will be truly happy.
* God will not allow us to be tempted above that which we are able to handle.
* Trials, if endured well, will bring us closer to God.
* God will not allow His prophets to lead His people astray.
* If we keep our covenants, God will always do His part of the covenant.
* God remembers His people in times of affliction.
God has many promises, and this list is just a fraction of His promises to His children. We are on this earth to be tested, but His promises can help sustain us through tough times. We as humans often doubt God’s promises because we have a hard time seeing the end from the beginning. That’s why we need faith. Many Christians stumble because they do not trust in God’s promises.
Faith in Incorrect PrinciplesThe second area of danger is having faith in incorrect principle. By definition, faith is belief in things
that are true. Using this definition, it’s not possible to have faith in incorrect principles or doctrine. Here are some teachings some people put their faith in which, according to God’s words, are not true.
* If I follow God and become close to Him, I will become wealthy.
* Repentance is not necessary, and God will save me in my sins.
* God is love, so He doesn’t care who I make love too.
* God knows how hard this trial is more me, so He doesn’t care if I indulge in sin.
* There is no sin.
* I can pray away my homosexual desires, and they will certainly be removed in this lifetime.
* I am a good person, so I can commit certain sins without offending God.
* If God didn’t want me to sin, He wouldn’t have given me certain desires.
* Good people don’t have tough trials.
Putting our trust and belief in incorrect principles does not change truth. I believe ALL Christians struggle at times with failing to put their faith in God’s words and/or putting false trust and belief in things God has not said. That’s part of the human experience. However, God expects us to trust in Him, trust in His words, and not put our trust in falsehoods.
A Caveat Regarding Revelation and ExceptionsALL people have the light of Christ, and everyone is entitled to some degree of personal inspiration regarding their life. I freely admit there are cases out there where people may receive promises from God that are individual-specific and do not apply generally to everyone else. Also, there are times where the general counsel from God and His prophets may need to be altered based on a specific and unusual circumstance. We are entitled to guidance from God. However, if anyone believes they have received guidance that they are an exception to a rule as laid out by God and His inspired men, I offer these two warnings:
1. Personal revelation is personal and does not apply to your neighbor, friends, acquaintances, etc. If you believe you have received a witness from God that you are an exception to His rules, that’s great. But do not go around preaching your exception as doctrine to everyone else in the Church. Church-wide doctrine comes from the Standard Works and Church leaders. Personal exceptions—which are usually very rare—are not Church doctrine.
2. If you believe you are an exception to a commandment and God said so, then you damn well better be right—literally, or else you will be damned. Joseph Smith taught, “nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God” (TPJS p. 205).
I believe faith is the foundation for living a life in a manner pleasing to God that will lead to eternal happiness. Faith is complicated, so God has given us many tools whereby we can know where to place our faith. If we put our faith in God and His words, then we will ultimately not be disappointed with the outcome. If we put our faith in incorrect principles, those things will eventually disappear and we will reap the reward of the falsehoods.
I don’t judge people. But when I hear people preach principles and doctrine, I test their claims against the words God has said. Sometimes their words make sense, sometimes they don’t. When people claim they are an exception to God’s commandments, I realize that such an exception (even if true) does not apply to me. When someone claims God made them a promise about certain blessings or outcomes, I realize that such a promise does not apply to me or other people.
