Same-Gender Attraction

Do you know, clearly, how the prophets understand this issue?

In light of yesterday's ruling, I feel a need this morning to reiterate the invitation I made in my last post. Please take 30-minutes to review the Church's position - presented in the form of an interview with Elder Oaks and Elder Wickman - on and understanding of same-gender attraction.

Here's the link: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/same-gender-attraction

Inclinations, Feelings, and Behaviors

Visual of part of Elder Oaks' explanation on newsroom.lds.org

I recently read through the LDS Church's explanation of their position on and beliefs concerning same gender attraction. The article is great - I recommend it for everyone's review and consideration for two reasons.

Willingness to Receive Gifts

Seasonally, we're about as far away from Christmastime as you can get. So let me take the downtime to talk about what usually gets talked about at Christmas but perhaps gets overlooked (or "underconsidered") even then because of the hustle and bustle.

How do you feel about receiving gifts?

We often say it's better to give than to receive. My feeling is that we may say that so much that we could possibly begin to dislike receiving gifts, even emotionally "deny" them.

How do you feel about receiving gifts from heaven? How willing are you to receive? I think this question helps us understand the attribute of humility.

Do you deny them? Do you receive them grudgingly? Do you receive them with thanks? Do you ask for them regularly? Do you rely on them to get through the day?

These questions seem to represent a continuum between the proud and the humble. To be humble is to recognize your ultimate reliance upon the gifts from heaven (Moroni 10) and to ask for them regularly.

Formula for Success

Last month I referred to President Monson's "Formula for Success," primarily the first of his three suggested steps. I thought it would be worthwhile to speak to all three of the steps more explicitly, and share some of the thoughts I've had this week while I've been considering them.

The three steps President Monson recommends are

1. Fill your mind with truth
2. Fill your life with service
3. Fill your heart with love

June's Christlike Attribute: Hope

Understanding the scriptures engenders hope.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15: 4)

The Eyes of Our Understandings ... Were Opened

In referring to the reception of the February 1832 vision that he and Sidney Rigdon experienced (D&C 76), Joseph Smith described that it was "by the power of the Spirit" that their "eyes were opened and (their) understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God."

How cool is that? Who wouldn't enjoy that sort of experience? I can imagine that great peace was derived from having that enlightening comprehension.

So what did they do to qualify for this enlightenment, and could we possibly follow the same steps to increase our own comprehension? I've been able to identify a few things they did.

Strengthening Marriage

Today, Jess and I acted on a prompting my counselors and I had in last week's bishopric meeting: to speak to the adult ward members about what the prophets have taught about how to have a successful marriage.

Luckily she and I weren't left only to our own memory or experience. We drew most of our material from the Strengthening Marriage manual produced by LDS Family Services.

Other talks and quotes were drawn from the Eternal Marriage course text from the CES Religion 234 and 235 courses.

Another great resource provided by the Church is the Marriage and Family Relations Sunday school manual.

Our intent was to provide some practical suggestions from these manuals, supplemented with examples from our peers, to be implemented and habituated by the many newly-married couples in our ward while their marriages are just beginning. We also knew the content would potentially revitalize and redirect some of the less new marriages in the ward. Our hope is that the recommendations are taken a bite at a time, step by step, even though they were poured out pretty quickly.

What I didn't expect before the moment of speaking, was the insight that this discussion would lend to understanding the nature of God. I thought that was really cool. It helped me envision the true attributes of our perfected prototypes.

Joseph Smith revealed that, in heaven, the "same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy."

We will all be "gloriously" married in the eternities if we come unto Christ and keep our covenants. None of "enjoy" that now. Knowing that is our end, whether we're currently married or single, should direct our efforts of preparing for eternity.

Great Talks About Women

Happy Mother's Day to all you sweet women!

Here are some great talks and documents worth reviewing this time a year - for both men and women.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World - First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Three Goals to Guide You - President Thomas S. Monson
The Touch of Human Kindness: Women and the Moral Center of Gravity - Elder Bruce C. Hafen and Sister Marie K. Hafen
The Women in Our Lives - President Gordon B. Hinckley
The Sanctity of Womanhood - Elder Richard G. Scott
The Divine Nature and Destiny of Women - Elder Glenn L. Pace
Women, Feminism, and the Blessings of the Gospel (MP3 only) - Elder Bruce C. Hafen
Over 10 years of archived BYU Women's Conference transcripts

Personally speaking, I have the deepest love and respect for women. I'm grateful for my wife, mom, sister, sisters-in-law, grandmas, aunts, and daughter. When I was on my mission surrounded by a bunch of other guys, I felt their absence. Love and beauty were deficient, even among that group of consecrated disciple-boys, trying to do their best to serve the Lord. Nothing can replace the grace of womanhood. I love it. Thank you, you good women, for embracing that which makes you beautiful - your divine nature. I'm so grateful for prophets who help us all understand the source of that nature, and the destiny to which it leads.

May you have a great day.

Reverence, Revelation, Righteousness, Power

A couple of Sundays ago I had an insight.

Since conference, many of us priesthood leaders have been stirred to action by President Packer's talk, in particular this comment:

"distributing the authority of the priesthood has raced, I think, ahead of distributing the power of the priesthood. The priesthood does not have the strength that it should have and will not have until the power of the priesthood is firmly fixed in the families as it should be."

I've personally given it a lot of thought. We're to strive to increase our personal access to the powers of heaven--the powers of our covenants--through righteous living. President Packer told us just what to do:

"power in the priesthood comes through faithful and obedient living in honoring covenants. It is increased by exercising and using the priesthood in righteousness."

Praying for Knowledge

Now in May, our ward theme suggests we pursue the Christlike attribute of knowledge. 


In what ways can "knowledge" be considered an obtainable attribute, as opposed to just a thing? What do you think?


Preach My Gospel chapter 6, which we're using as the base reference for much of this attribute-seeking, clarifies that the attribute we're encouraging is more a thirst for knowledge, to be a knowledge seeker. (Page 119) "Seek knowledge, especially spiritual knowledge."


We should pray to be like Abraham who desired "to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and possess a greater knowledge." (Abraham 1:2)


So, the idea with the ward theme is to help us truly worship Christ through emulating Him and striving to develop His characteristics. I think we will become more like Christ by praying earnestly this month for a desire to be a knowledge seeker.


I'll be doing it. Will you join me?