Mormon Apostle Tells Faithful That Same Sex Attraction Can Be “Overcome” And That LDS Church Must Continue To Fight Gay Marriage, Bishop Eddie Long Continues Charade

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Boyd K. Packer, the president of the Mormon Quorum of Twelve Apostles, said Sunday in sermon that same sex attraction can be overcome, and that any type of union other than the traditional marriage between a man and woman is morally abhorrent, saying “There are those today who not only tolerate but advocate voting to change laws that would legalize immorality, as if a vote would somehow alter the designs of God’s law and nature. A law against nature would be impossible to enforce. Do you think a vote to repeal the law of gravity would go any good?” Packer reiterated an argument that the sole purpose for marriage is act as conduit for reproduction, saying that the power to create offspring “is not an incidental part of the plan of happiness. It is the key –the very key.” Alluding to Proposition 8 – and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unprecedented involvement in the California gay marriage ban, Packer said “Regardless of the opposition, we are determined to stay on course. We cannot change; we will not change. We quickly lose our way when we disobey the laws of God. If we don’t not protect and foster the family, civilization and our liberties must needs perish.” Laura Compton, the director of Mormons4Marriage, an organization of LDS members who opposed Proposition 8 and who support marriage equality in California and throughout the nation, expressed concern at Packer’s preaching, saying “So many Mormons have worked hard to increase understanding is and what it means to be faithful. Now we have this (anti0gay) message coming from the pulpit in General Conference by the president of the Quorum of the Twelve. It seems like hitting a brick wall ... When we are sitting next to the mom of a gay son or daughter whose best friend just came out, or the bishop who knows 10 people in the ward affected by homosexuality, how will we reach out and help them? How are we going to make them feel the love of Christ?”

Anti-gay, self-loathing New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Eddie Long said Sunday that he is “not going to be pulled into a street fight,” and that he doesn’t hate anyone, quoting (but misattributing) a Biblical passage: “Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be more,” according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Long stands accused of sexual coercion, luring four young men, all of whom were a part of his congregation, and at Sunday services he never mentioned directly the charges, promising that the legal matter would not prevent him or the church he founded from doing its work. “I ain’t going to stop living,” he told those in attendance, amid applause, unaware, apparently, of the irony of the statement.