How Should Mormons Treat LGBT People?

To the Editor,

I would like to respond to Mr. Geoff P. Vongermeten’s letter posted Sunday, August 9, in which he criticized the LDS Church for donating money to the gay pride homeless shelter food program. He asked them to consider, “What would Jesus do?” I would like to answer with Christ’s own words.

Jesus said, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:36)

And who is my neighbor? he was asked. (Luke 10:29) Jesus responded with a parable in which the hero was from the ethnic group that “the chosen people” considered degenerate and half heathen. This Samaritan ministered to a man covered with bloody wounds and body fluids which would make a priest and Levite “unclean” should they help him.

When “the chosen people” accused an adulterous woman before Jesus, he said, “He who is without sin, let him first cast a stone at her.” (John 8:7) Then he worked out her repentance privately and personally.

To a repeat offender of the law of chastity, the woman at the well, Jesus gave the opportunity to accept his Living Water. His disciples were “amazed” (appalled) that he spoke to her (John 4:27), but this woman became a great missionary (John 4:39).

Jesus said those on his right side in the kingdom of heaven would be those who had fed him when he was hungry, ministered to him when he was in prison, and clothed him when he was naked, things which we cannot do since Jesus is never hungry, in prison, or naked, things which we can only do others. “Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)

If we consider the youth at the Gay Pride homeless shelter to be “unclean,” to be adulterers, to be some of the “least of these” our brethren, Jesus has made it abundantly clear that we should go to them in their “prison”, and we should feed them, clothe them, and offer them the true Living Water of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We should love them as we love ourselves.

On the official LDS Church website,  “Mormons and Gays,” we read this counsel, “We may know individuals with same-sex attraction…These neighbors deserve our love…God loves all his children alike, much more than any of us can comprehend, and expects us to follow.” (www.mormonsandgays.org)

Sincerely,

Nancy Wyatt Jensen

Logan