March 2013 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

IN THE NEWS
Mormonsandgays .org contains more than two hours of videos featuring Church leaders,
Church members who are attracted to people of the same sex, and family members and
friends of those who experience same-sex attraction.
Church Website on Same-
Sex Attraction Offers Love,
Understanding, and Hope
In an effort to encourage
understanding and civil conversation
about same-sex attraction,
the Church recently launched a
website, “Love One Another: A
Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction”
(mormonsandgays .org), which
features a number of videos from
people who share real experiences
from their own perspectives on a
sensitive and sometimes emotionally
charged topic.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said
the website is important because it
seeks to further understanding.
78 Ensign
Elder Oaks said that because we
don’t understand everything about
this subject it is wise to stick to the
revealed word of God as found
in the scriptures. “What we do
know is that the doctrine of the
Church—that sexual activity should
only occur between a man and a
woman who are married—has not
changed and is not changing. But
what is changing and what needs to
change is to help our own members
and families understand how to
deal with same-gender attraction,”
he said.
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
stressed that Latter-day Saints should
be an example to the world of
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHRISTINA SMITH
expressing love and hope for those
with same-gender attraction.
“As a church, nobody should be
more loving and compassionate,”
Elder Cook said. “Let us be at the
forefront in terms of expressing
love, compassion, and outreach.
Let’s not have families exclude
or be disrespectful of those who
choose a different lifestyle as a
result of their feelings about their
own gender.”
Church Preparing Online
Resources for Youth Activities
In an effort to strengthen Latterday
Saint young men and young
women worldwide, the Church is
preparing an online resource for
youth activities. The new youth
activities section of LDS .org is being
developed to help youth leaders and
their adult advisers plan meaningful
activities for Aaronic Priesthood
quorums and Young Women classes
in stakes and wards throughout the
Church.
The site is intended to support
the Church’s ongoing emphasis on
strengthening youth, which was
highlighted by the recent changes
to age requirements for full-time
missionary service, the new youth
learning resource Come, Follow Me,
and invitations for youth to participate
in family history.
For young men, the site complements
the spiritually focused Duty
to God program with resources for
physical, social, and educational
development.