The joy of human love extends to all--even gays and lesbians

The Thanksgiving editorial in yesterday’s Deseret News spoke of the joy of human love. As I read the article, I couldn’t help but think with conviction that this joy extends to all—even to God’s children who may love those of their own gender.

My heart breaks for gay and lesbians who have been rejected by parents and siblings and as a result are unwelcome at family Thanksgiving tables. This tragedy is particularly prolific on the Wasatch Front where so many claim to be Christian, but through their behavior if not their words reject the central message of Christ’s message to love their neighbors as themselves. (And yes, their children are their neighbors.)

I can’t help but remember with hope the words of President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk."

I have faith and believe that one day soon, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members will grasp the significance of these words and understand that love will ultimately triumph. In the end, families will understand that real love creates the tolerance, civility and respect that will reunite families and build Zion for all of Heavenly Father’s children, not just his heterosexual sons and daughters.

Alan Osmond's assertions undermine the Church

While surfing the Internet this morning, I ran across a blog post by Alan Osmond of the famous LDS Osmond family reassuring parents everywhere that, “families and friends can reach out to those with homosexual difficulties [see http://thefamily.com/?p=13483].”

And how can they reach out? First, by understanding that “homosexuality is not innate and unchangeable” and that “researchers whose studies have been used to support a biological model for homosexuality have determined that their work has been MISINTERPRETED [Osmond’s capitalization. Not mine.] What is clear is that homosexuality results from an interaction of social, biological, and psychological factors. These factors may include temperament, personality traits, sexual abuse, familial factors, and treatment by one’s peers [My italics. Not his.].”

Osmond then goes on to assert that “like most methods in psychiatry and psychotherapy, the treatment of homosexuality has evolved out of eighty years of clinical experience, demonstrating approximately the same degree of success as, for example, the psychotherapy of depression.” He then claims that “other researchers note treatment success rates that exceed 50 percent, which is similar to the success rates for treating other difficulties. “

You might be a great singer and dancer, Alan, but an expert on human sexuality you are not.