http://www.freeread.com/archives/2147.html

This was the first time I’ve read something regarding homosexuality that was new so I thought it was interesting.

I don’t search for truth solely based on whether assumptions are hard or easy. Many truths have very difficult assumptions behind them.

I might add one more to issue to the list: the “Meta Issue.” That is, few Church leaders, general or local, seem to even be aware of the existence of the issues you list. I doubt there are many who have thought about them at all. If they have, I can’t tell from anything they do or say.

This becomes important when they issue policies and pronouncements that have a big impact on individual lives, based on foundations that may be more shaky than they realize.

Yes and no. Yes it’s different in some respects, just as each of us have different paths to walk on our personal plan of salvation. And no, it’s not different in principle – in that each of the above questions have some life-experience factor that prevents them from realizing the “fullness” of their creation.

But then again, don’t we all lack many things which prevent us from experiencing the fullness of our creation? See D&C section 93 and get back to me.

I can’t answer your question for you. I can answer my own question, based on my own personality and struggles in life though. “All these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good, if thou art faithful” (D&C 122)

We could go through more scriptures, but you’d gain so much more by digging through the D&C on your own and discovering the answers.

You’ll find that we were intelligences before this life. And that each of us had reached a different level of intelligence (ie. not “smart”) before this world and each will be at a different level after this life.

To me this means that God knows exactly what my spirit needed in order to progress to receive his fullness as promised in DC93. I’d also suggest he knows what you needed as well as the baby who died in infancy as well as the soldier who died in terrible conditions.

None of this means God smiles on the terrible acts committed upon us, or that the awful struggles we go through are happy moments. But that the life experiences we have in the midst of overcoming or even struggling in these adversities will serve our ultimate good. One day, we may truly realize the importance of the phrase for each of us – “your eyes have not yet been opened.” God bless!

Rio, I find that perspective untenable.

Are there gay men and lesbians who in addition happen to be transgendered? Yes, just as there are straight men and women who happen to be transgendered. Sexual orientation and gender identity are two very different, distinct concepts.

It isn’t at all complicated to ask God. Unfortunately God has always reserved the right to answer “no comment” at times. If not we would have answers to basically all of our deep theological and metaphysical questions by now.

Also, you don’t need a prophet to ask those questions of God for you. You are as much a child of God as any prophet has ever been. See here.