I found this blog entry a few days after the backlash about President Packer's talk about overcoming temptation. I loved this guy's perspective so much I immediately subscribed to his blog and have loved everything he's written.
Obviously there's a lot that can be said about President Packer's talk and I think most everyone has heard most everything there is to be said. One thing I've been thinking about is how the Brethren tend to use the word "overcome". People argue we teach that same-sex attraction can be "cured". That may be the personal opinion of some of the Brethren and why they are so interested in researching "treatment" for homosexuals or whatever -- BUT I have NEVER heard ANY of them say in Conference that gay people can be made straight. (Go ahead and find me a Conference talk and I'll take it back. But I seriously cannot recall a single reference to "homosexual tendencies can be reversed.")
It reminds me of how people mistook who Christ was supposed to be. The Jews were expecting a "Savior" who would deliver them from physical bondage. When we hear the Prophets say things about "overcoming" temptation, especially same-sex attraction, we think "overcome" means "fix". But you know what? Even with pornography addicts, after they have repented, aren't going to suddenly NOT be turned on by porn. They'll just be able to resist the temptation to open up an inappropriate magazine or website. The feelings and urges and everything are still there, they just have the strength to not act on those temptations.
And that's all I'm going to say on that topic.
I could talk forever about all the things I've been thinking about and studying since before and after Conference, but it would take too long and my fingers would get really cramped. So I'm going to leave you with a scripture to ponder. I read it while at the gym today.
Helaman 4:11-13
11 Now this great loss of the Nephites, and the great slaughter which was among them, would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God.
12 And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites—
13 And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands.
14 But behold, Moronihah did preach many things unto the people because of their iniquity, and also Nephi and Lehi, who were the sons of Helaman, did preach many things unto the people, yea, and did prophesy many things unto them concerning their iniquities, and what should come unto them if they did not repent of their sins.
15 And it came to pass that they did repent, and inasmuch as they did repent they did begin to prosper.
It's all part of the pride cycle. They were just like us. Despite the fact that the Church has been around for nearly 200 years, we as members in each generation have to learn how to live the Gospel. One generation may do it well, but who knows how the next will act? Just look at 4 Nephi, after Christ visits the people. They had it figured out ... and a few hundred years later they destroyed themselves.
I've been through the pride cycle in my own life - I have moments of humility where I feel like my heart is pure and I have no desire to do anything evil. Then somehow I start to get complacent, and the next thing I know I've stopped reading my scriptures, I've stopped praying, and I'm trying to figure out why I'm depressed and overwhelmed. HMM GEE I WONDER.
PS. The wedding is in Boston/Rhode Island because that's where Shauri grew up. That makes a lot of sense. I'll add "growing up in a far away place as foreign and cool to me as the moon" to my list of things that make me jealous of Shauri (in a good way.) ;)
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