Re: [MOPO] Brokeback Mormons

[LauraLynnC]

I am very sad to see this forum used to express hate-filled prejudice and flat-out wrong information about my church.   I am a life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I can tell you without reservation that the post below is full of false assumptions and just plain wrong information.   First, Danny referred to my faith as a "repressive conservative Christian cult." I am flabbergasted. The central characteristic of a cult, as I understand it, is that an organization takes away it's members' freedom to choose for themselves.  As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I assure you that one of our most important beliefs is that every person born into this world has free agency -- or the right to choose for themselves what they will do and how they will behave.  No Mormon is every compelled to do or say anything by The Church, and anyone who says otherwise is ill-informed.   Danny's excuse for attacking my church in this forum seems to be that one theater owner in Utah has chosen not to show a movie about gay cowboys. He implies that because this one individual made this choice, the LDS Church can be held accountable. As I said, The Church never compels anyone to do anything. The decision not to show Brokeback Mountain is that of the theater owner himself, and should not be seen as a decision made by The Church.   Danny also used the personal experience of one gay person coming out to his LDS family as an excuse to condemn a church with a membership of 12 million worldwide. That one gay man's unfortunate rejection by his parents speaks of that family alone. It is ridiculous to say that their reaction to their son being gay is representative of the position of the church as a whole. That's like saying that because Ted Kennedy cheated on his wife, the Catholic Church must surely condone adultery.   It is true that members of the LDS Church view homosexuality as a sin. But as our President Gordon B. Hinckley has said many times, we reject the sin, not the individuals who engage in it.   During an interview on Larry King Live, President Hinckley was asked about The Church's position on homosexuality and he said this:   "In the first place, we believe that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. We believe that marriage may be eternal through exercise of the power of the everlasting priesthood in the house of the Lord. "People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians. My response is that we love them as sons and daughters of God. They may have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are. "We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families." I think that most LDS people would be saddened to learn that one of their children was gay, as most Christians would, but I do not believe that most LDS parents would reject their child for being gay. Most would react with compassion and would hope that someday things would change for their child. I apologize for using so much space to respond to a post that should never have come across MoPo, but this forum has been used today to slander the thing most dear to me in this world, my faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I had to stand up and correct the avalanche of false information contained in that post. I hope this forum will never be used again to highlight such hatred and prejudice. Laura Miller In a message dated 1/20/2006 3:26:17 P.M. Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: The ongoing thread of the Utah megaplex reneging a contract showing of Brokeback Mountain offers a window of understanding into my previous Brokeback post.  During the 1950's the Mormons, full title, The Church Of Jesus Christ Of The Latter-Day Saints, began a systematic recruitment in the west.  The aim was world wide but the selection at the time was to expand into western states.  The Mormons are, from my experience,  a repressive conservative Christian cult and homosexuality in NOT tolerated in any form or representation.  While watching Bareback Mountain the thought crossed my mind the movie was turning into a Mormon story.  Let me offer a first person history.  A close friend, who was from Utah, described a 1960's family horror when he was outed to his parents by an anonymous phone call.  The morning call resulted in a confrontation between son and parents to the point by the afternoon he was told to leave home.  With what he could carry he was told to leave and never return.  He was a homosexual and had deceived his parents, defiling his Mormon home.  At the door his mother told him his sins were unredeemable and as far as she was concerned he was dead.  His father blankly agreed.  He never saw his parents again.  He was 17 years old I can speak with a background because my parents, like many others at the time, were attracted to the family based umbrella of LDS doctrine, and went through a lengthy process of indoctrination education.  My family dumped the idea of putting on horse blinders and joining a false front church.  My input was I thought the Mormons were nuts.  We read the Book Of Mormon and my observation was it was an 1830 low brow science fiction. I understand the head honcho at the Jordan Crossing Megaplex refusing to play Brokeback Mountain.  It would be sinful for a good Mormon or Mormon business to allow the movie to be shown.  It would be inexcusable to allow ANYONE to view and perhaps be influenced by this film with an underlining gay theme already being called a classic. So Woo Hoo to you western dudes everywhere and to you country Ladies and backslid Mormons ------get your butts to Bareback Mountain! Danny Steward / Seattle Visit the MoPo Mailing List Web Site at www.filmfan.com ___________________________________________________________________ How to UNSUBSCRIBE from the MoPo Mailing List Send a message addressed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the BODY of your message type: SIGNOFF MOPO-L The author of this message is solely responsible for its content.