You’re right on the money, Anonymous. Although, I’m not quite sure about that first sentence. ;-)

I think the thing he is saying is that for people in gay relationships these relationships can be meaningful and fulfilling and loving and lasting and bring happiness, meaning and purpose. Just because we may not agree that gay marriage is doctrinally correct or eternally binding these people deserve respect and we should believe their claims that their relationships are meaningful to them.

I think it is difficult to have someone else tell you that the most important, meaningful, loving, happy relationship in your life means nothing is difficult to swallow. Imagine if someone told you your marriage was useless, meaningless, and fake you might be offended too.

I think many people are OK to disagree they just don’t like being dismissed. You see how that feels when Kim questions what you hold true, and dear. You want to argue, refute and prove, etc. Kim might feel the same when you question what is true and dear to him.

Or I can just stay and still have my own unique beliefs and interpretations.

Just start your own church. You can have your own unique beliefs and interpretations.

7 When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.
8 If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself (sex), then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her.
9 If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter.

Need I go on? There’s tons of things in the bible that we don’t believe anymore…because we now KNOW BETTER. You’re cherry-picking what suites you…so too is the Mormon leadership.

What about it?

22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you

I never said that the only explanation for the statement is that is under the impression that gay people cannot reproduce. I specifically quoted, acknowledged and discussed both reasons he gave, including that of posterity.

If the logical reasoning is that same sex marriage is counterfeit period full stop, then why did Elder Lawrence clarify what he meant by the statement?

Just because teaching is consistent doesn’t mean that it’s correct. I think you’d be hardpressed to find members today who believe in the Adam God Doctrine, for example, even though it was consistently taught by several presidents and apostles. Same goes for people living on the moon and sun, or blacks being descended from Cain, or polygamy (as outlined in the post), or a host of other doctrines that we now label as “folk doctrine”. Church leaders have been wrong before, and they will be wrong in the future. It’s what happens when you put flawed humans in charge who don’t have a constant, direct line to God.

I never claimed that the church is lead by revelation through me. I have never claimed to be God’s spokesperson. And it kind of puzzles me that people consistently paint me as if I have.

Further it is ironic that you seem to have faith in the exalting ordinances, but not in the consistent teachings from the same authority. And yes the church is lead by revelation, but not through you, through them. And such revelations do not flip the gospel inside out and upside down.

I had forgotten how useless it is to engage with you.