Pride
- Wade Robins
- Jun 24, 2018
- 3 min read
Every June, millions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and/or Supporting people gather across America to celebrate Pride in being what they are. On the opposite side of pride is embarrassment and shame. I would like to begin by admitting one of my greatest embarrassments. Growing up I was very homophobic. I believed that all LGBT people were corrupt evil sinners who were deceived by Satan and chose to sin and could change if only tried praying more. Thank God I realized the truth. I am now more than ever an unabashed and unapologetic ally and advocate of all LGBT people. And I’m PROUD! I’m proud of them and me and anyone who understands that any variety of sexuality of informed consent is wonderful and healthy. I’m proud of the progress society has made and continues to move forward. However, I still feel embarrassment for those who continue to shame and discriminate “sinners” according to their doctrine supposedly revealed from some god.
As a Mormon I once thought that Satan tempted people gay; let me illustrate the fault in that idea. According to the doctrine of scriptures, Satan tempts the natural man with desires they want. Want that money? Steal! Want to avoid trouble? Lie! Want your neighbor’s wife? Commit adultery! Want that person dead? Murder! Want that coffee? Drink! Can you imagine Satan tempting you with something you really didn’t want? For example - Want to suspend your body by meat hooks piercing your skin? Ummm… yeah, I’m gonna respond with a solid no, but thanks anyway, Satan. There is zero temptation for me to do that and Satan has failed. However, some people like body suspension (look it up, it’s a real thing). So, if Satan tried to tempt me to have sex with another man I would likely pass. However, if a “natural man” was born with a homosexual orientation they might take Satan up on that offer. No one chooses the attributes they’re born with. Homosexuality is not a choice. A just and benevolent and omnipotent God would not allow someone to be born gay and then require them to change. This is not God working in mysterious ways, but working in malicious and sadistic ways. I can’t pray to change my eyes brown and also I can’t pray my natural born heterosexuallity to change.
Mormonism is a changing and evolving religion. They apologize for these changes by claiming “modern revelation”, but the truth is they must update their doctrine to avoid legal trouble with government or avoid losing followers. The FLDS church has found loopholes to avoid breaking polygamy laws, but the LDS church decided that might not be the popular vote. In the case of racism the Mormon church literally voted on allowing black men the priesthood (look it up, it’s a real thing). Given the history of the church I wonder when or IF they will ever “reveal” that homosexuality is not a sin anymore. I can imagine that the government will eventually put some pressure on religions or maybe even create new laws, but whether or not the Mormon church will respond is uncertain. Maybe they’ll take a vote on it, ha ha! “God just revealed this new teaching, but just to make sure let’s vote.” If the Mormon church doesn’t change and evolve like it has before, what will be the end result I wonder?
But Wade, I agree with you. I think all people deserve equal respect and support, so what would you have me do? Great question! It is not enough to love the sinner and hate the sin. We must denounce the belief that homosexuality is a sin. Don’t just tolerate LGBT people, support and encourage them to live as they see fit. Jesus told the adulter to “go and sin no more”. I would like to believe that if Jesus was here today he would say “go and continue to be gay if you want to because it’s not a sin anyway.” - Gospel of Wade
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