Homosexuality and the Church of Jesus Christ

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Questions

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• The Church is accused of rejecting people who experience same-sex attraction.
• The Church is accused of rejecting people who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.

Related topics

• Boyd K. Packer October 2010 conference talk
• Mormonism and politics/California Proposition 8
• Same-Sex_Dynamics_Among_Nineteenth-Century_Americans:_A_Mormon_Example/Index
• Specific_works/8:_The_Mormon_Proposition

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Detailed Analysis

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I emphasize this, I wish to say that our opposition to attempts to legalize same-sex marriage should never be interpreted as justification for hatred, intolerance, or abuse of those who profess homosexual tendencies, either individually or as a group. As I said from this pulpit one year ago, our hearts reach out to those who refer to themselves as gays and lesbians. We love and honor them as sons and daughters of God. They are welcome in the Church. It is expected, however, that they follow the same God-given rules of conduct that apply to everyone else, whether single or married.
—President Gordon B. Hinckley, Why We Do Some of the Things We Do, October 1999 General Conference

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The Church distinguishes between having same-sex attraction versus acting upon those feelings

Elder Dallin Oaks notes the distinction between having feelings of same-sex attraction and acting upon those feelings,

[W]e should always distinguish between sinful acts and inappropriate feelings or potentially dangerous susceptibilities. We should reach out lovingly to those who are struggling to resist temptation. The First Presidency did this in their 14 November 1991 letter. After reaffirming the sinful nature of “fornication, adultery, and homosexual and lesbian behavior,” the Presidency added: “Individuals and their families desiring help with these matters should seek counsel from their bishop, branch president, stake or district president. We encourage Church leaders and members to reach out with love and understanding to those struggling with these issues. Many will respond to Christlike love and inspired counsel as they receive an invitation to come back and apply the atoning and healing power of the Savior. ^[1]

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Answer

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The Church does not reject those who experience same-sex attraction. It is possible to experience same-sex attraction and be a faithful member in full fellowship. If those feelings take the form of an intimate physical relationship, then this is considered a sin in the same manner as fornication or adultery between a male and female.

Further reading

FairMormon Answers articles

FairMormon web site

External links

Printed material

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Notes

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1. [note] 1995 Dallin H. Oaks Statement, Official Site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.