NOM

In November o 2017 in a Q & A devotional at BYU, Elder M. Russell Ballard said:

We believe that the core rights of citizenship should be protected for all people – for LGBT people, for people of all faiths and for everyone else. In essence, this means fairness for all. We condemn, in the strongest terms, bullying or harassment of any kind. Every person is a child of God. Everyone is entitled to love and respect. We may not agree, but we must never be disagreeable.

Do you think:

a) the church actually condemns bullying and harassing LGBT people and that they are a Christlike example of showing "love and respect" toward them?

b) Elder Ballard really believes the church condemns bullying and harassing LGBT people and that they are a Christlike example of showing "love and respect" toward them? (in other words is his statement sincerely deluded/conflicted, or intentionally hypocritical, or something else?)

c) Elder Oaks would agree with Ballard's statement?

d) other?

It's a political answer that mirrors every other answer they give publicly about issues where the church is clearly in the wrong (or at least against societal norms)...

It's always some form of "We believe in free choice for all" or "We don't teach that, it hasn't been revealed yet" or "Those weren't doctrines but the thoughts of imperfect men" wrapped around flowery language at shown here. It's not sincere and doesn't match their actions.

This is of course not the fairest or most well thought out comparison, but it's like an abusive spouse telling his wife's family/friends how much he loves her and wants her to be happy and have all the opportunities in the world to pursue her dreams as he constantly knocks her down emotionally/physically and cuts her off from the outside world behind closed doors.

The message needs to be highlighted in General Conference and then be part of the lesson manual for priesthood and Relief Society for it to make a difference. At the same time, hateful rhetoric that demonizes groups of people needs to stop. A kinder, gentler Church would be good for everyone.

moksha wrote: ↑Sun Jan 20, 2019 1:59 pm The message needs to be highlighted in General Conference and then be part of the lesson manual for priesthood and Relief Society for it to make a difference. At the same time, hateful rhetoric that demonizes groups of people needs to stop. A kinder, gentler Church would be good for everyone.

Yes, but talk is cheap. It needs to be reflected in policy. It's kind of like a GA giving a talk about how much we love colorful shirts while denying priests who wear them to bless the sacrament.

Yes, but talk is cheap. It needs to be reflected in policy.

As a high school teacher, I've known several LGBT young people who were shunned very badly by their own parents, pushed out of their homes, and their extended relatives ( siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.), were forbidden from associating with them, lest the LGBT teen indoctrinate them with what the parents referred to as "the gay agenda." Shunning is very cruel; it's a form of bullying, and it is still very prevalent in many TBM homes.
The current attitude (unoffcially) seems to be, "Love the sinner; hate the sin." Shunning will not stop until there are policy changes in place. JMO -- Wndr.

Wonderment wrote: ↑Sun Jan 20, 2019 10:38 pm

Yes, but talk is cheap. It needs to be reflected in policy.

As a high school teacher, I've known several LGBT young people who were shunned very badly by their own parents, pushed out of their homes, and their extended relatives ( siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.), were forbidden from associating with them, lest the LGBT teen indoctrinate them with what the parents referred to as "the gay agenda." Shunning is very cruel; it's a form of bullying, and it is still very prevalent in many TBM homes.
The current attitude (unoffcially) seems to be, "Love the sinner; hate the sin." Shunning will not stop until there are policy changes in place. JMO -- Wndr.

I was told that the church condemned kicking your LGBT kids out of the house. Has that actually happened? Or is someone just reading it into other statements.

I would think that if bullying is inappropriate then leaving your child homeless should also be rejected, but that may not follow in some people's minds.

blazerb wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 2:43 pm

Wonderment wrote: ↑Sun Jan 20, 2019 10:38 pm

Yes, but talk is cheap. It needs to be reflected in policy.

As a high school teacher, I've known several LGBT young people who were shunned very badly by their own parents, pushed out of their homes, and their extended relatives ( siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.), were forbidden from associating with them, lest the LGBT teen indoctrinate them with what the parents referred to as "the gay agenda." Shunning is very cruel; it's a form of bullying, and it is still very prevalent in many TBM homes.
The current attitude (unoffcially) seems to be, "Love the sinner; hate the sin." Shunning will not stop until there are policy changes in place. JMO -- Wndr.

I was told that the church condemned kicking your LGBT kids out of the house. Has that actually happened? Or is someone just reading it into other statements.

I would think that if bullying is inappropriate then leaving your child homeless should also be rejected, but that may not follow in some people's minds.

Some parents are SO afraid of the gay agenda, that they become totally irrational. So, no matter what the church says about we should continue to show love to our children, they react with what they think will make the child change their mind about being gay. So, punishment can be very harsh because the parents are sure it is a choice and they are trying to force the child out of that choice, so yes, getting kicked out of their homes does happen. They think this is love because they are doing what they think is best in the long run to force their child back into who they want the child to be. So, you can SAY to love them, and kicking them out on the street is love in the parents mind.

alas wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 7:54 pm So, you can SAY to love them, and kicking them out on the street is love in the parents mind.

This is incredibly tragic. I can't even express how I feel.

blazerb wrote: ↑Tue Jan 22, 2019 4:59 am

alas wrote: ↑Mon Jan 21, 2019 7:54 pm So, you can SAY to love them, and kicking them out on the street is love in the parents mind.

This is incredibly tragic. I can't even express how I feel.

I think Achilles shared an article on the old NOM board about how a lot of those kids end up getting sex trafficked. Growing up LDS meant they were taught not to question authority figures. They are also very naïve about the world outside the bubble. It's so heartbreaking.