LDS Church is succumbing to pressure to "tweak" edict

[Avatar4321]

John Dehlin never claimed authority to speak for the church. He did speak for the disaffected. He certainly has every right to speak out on this issue. The pressure to tweak the policy grows.

He certainly has a right to speak his mind. However,there is no reason why anyone should give him any credence with regard to the church. He's someone who, while still nominally a member, and while publicly identifying as a member, made a profession of publicly coming out against the essential doctrines and policies of the church. As he obviously didn't believe these doctrines and policies, if he were honest, he would have left the church of his own accord, rather than waiting to be excommunicated.

Anyone with a thinking mind gives John cred when talking about the LDS and trying to retain its membership. He was honest about his feelings and was handled for it. The world a long time ago to check the church's left hand when its right hand is held out in friendship.

If by honest you mean found lying again and again, then you have a weird definition of honest.

 

[Spinster]

Times change, cultural standards evolve. The church, every institution really, can either adapt to that or wither and die on the vine as the humans that make up the church decide they can go somewhere else.

That's the thing. Religion isn't supposed to evolve. If it does it's of Man and not God.

Exactly. It's particularly important in this religion. It is a matter of established doctrine that we are led by a prophet who receives instruction from God. God may changes his policies somewhat, in accordance with the needs of the times, but there are underlying principles that he will not alter, and there is no mortal authority to alter them. It is pointless to try to protest, and put pressure on our mortal leaders to change this or any other policy—they don't have the authority to do so. Only God has that authority.

From the point of view of someone who understands the doctrines of this church, and who believes in them, this policy makes perfect sense to me. Among the crucial doctrines are some important values regarding marriage, family, and the proper place for sexual intimacy. Homosexuality is an affront to these values, and “gay marriage” an exceptionally foul mockery of that which we hold sacred. It really isn't possible to willingly have anything to do with it, and at the same time, be a faithful member of this church.

Even if not by their own will, children who are caught up in this evil really aren't in a position to freely accept and participate in the gospel. The policy isn't about punishing anyone. It is the “parents” who are harming the children, not the church, and as long as the children remain under the authority of these “parents”, there is really nothing the church can do for them.

The can and should step in, IMO, and do whatever they can to stop the parents from harming their children--like excommunicate parents for their wrong doing especially when it involves children. The church has a moral obligation to try and protect kids.