Homosexuality not a sin
This article is part of the Tough Passages series.
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24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged spontaneous relations for those that are reverse to nature; 27and the men likewise gave up spontaneous relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.29They were filled with all behavior of unrighteousness, bad, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,30slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, dis
Same-Sex Attraction
Same-sex attraction refers to emotional, physical, or sexual attraction to a person of the same gender. The intended meaning of gender in the family proclamation is biological sex at birth. The trial of same-sex attraction is not the same for everyone. Some people may feel exclusively attracted to the same gender, while others may feel attracted to both genders.
The Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and homosexual behavior. People who experience same-sex attraction or identify as lgbtq+, lesbian, or bisexual can make and keep covenants with God and fully and worthily participate in the Church. Identifying as gay, lesbian, or attracted to both genders or experiencing same-sex attraction is not a sin and does not prohibit one from participating in the Church, holding callings, or attending the temple.
Sexual purity is an crucial part of God’s design for our happiness. Sexual relations are reserved for a man and gal who are married and promise complete loyalty to each other. Sexual relations between a man and woman who are not married, or between people o
Homosexuality
Throughout history, Jewish and Christian scholars have recognized that one of the head sins involved in God’s destruction of Sodom was its people’s homosexual conduct. But today, certain gay activists promote the plan that the sin of Sodom was merely a lack of hospitality. Although inhospitality is a sin, it is clearly the homosexual behavior of the Sodomites that is singled out for special criticism in the account of their city’s destruction. We must look to Scripture’s own interpretation of the sin of Sodom.
Jude 7 records that Sodom and Gomorrah “acted immorally and indulged in unnatural lust.” Ezekiel says that Sodom committed “abominable things” (Ezek. ), which could point to to homosexual and heterosexual acts of sin. Lot even offered his two virgin daughters in place of his guests, but the men of Sodom rejected the offer, preferring homosexual sex over heterosexual sex (Gen. –9). But the Sodom incident is not the only hour the Old Testament deals with homosexuality. An explicit condemnation is found in the book of Leviticus: “You shall not lie down with a m
Same-Sex Attraction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that same-sex attraction is a sensitive issue that requires kindness, kindness and understanding. The “Same-Sex Attraction” section of reinforces the truths that, in the words of one Latter-day Saint scripture, God “loveth his children” (1 Nephi ), and seeks to aid everyone better understand same-sex attraction from a gospel perspective.
The Church does not take a position on the cause of gay attraction. In , Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “The Church does not have a position on the causes of any of these susceptibilities or inclinations, including those related to same-gender attraction.”
Feelings of same-sex attraction are not a sin. President M. Russell Ballard said: “Let us be clear: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that ‘the experience of same-sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is. Even though individuals execute not choose to have such attractions, they do choose how to respond to them. With love an