Mitt Romney- questions for the would-be citizens of Mass and those who are

Would you have re-elected the guy as governor?

I find it amazing that the People's Republic would elect a Mormon in the first place. The only conceivable reason is to beat their chest about their diversity.

But since he was for gay rights in 1994 as a devout Mormon, were the people just plain ignorant on what Mormons believe about this? Or, being that Mass. is obviously the brains of of political intelligence and progressive movements (cough) in America, it appears they may have just been duped. Shocker!

Utah is not Massachusetts and his stance against the Gay Political Machine just seems to me would have resulted in them spending everything in the cookie jar to oust him.

 

Of course, you're an idiot.

 

Can't even answer the question. What a guy.

(as if I didn't know the answer you'd give).

But YOUR kind got duped in 1994, didn't you?

 

Well he may be Mormon but he's got really nice teeth.

 

He borrowed them from Donny Osmond - but, back to the point at hand.

 

What do Mormons believe about gay rights, Mr. Yawnathon Smith?

And if you go against the church's belief, do you have to turn in your white shirts and black ties?

 

I don't own any black ties. never have.

 

This should be the board's default Yawn reply.

Post-Preview-Spell Check-BobbleheadYawn Reply

 

Somewhere, a corner stool is missing it's occupant.

 

He got elected because he was a good candidate, and because he had name recognition after running against Ted Kennedy for the Senate. (A Republican named Joe Malone got elected treasurer a decade earlier through the same dynamic, running the good race as the cannon fodder against EMK.) Romney's religion, during the governor's race, was immaterial. He was elected as a manager -- "saving the Olympics" and his work for Bain Capital, which bankrolled Staples, a popular megastore hereabouts -- and as a check on a Democratically controlled legislature, and because his Democratic opponent had the charisma of a handball. He also got elected because he espoused views on hot-button social issues that he's sprinting away from now.

 

The Mormon View on the issue:


A 1991 letter issued by the First Presidency to all members of the Church states, "there is a distinction between [1] immoral thoughts and feelings and [2] participating in either immoral heterosexual or any homosexual behavior."1 An individual usually has no fault in the emergence of the feelings that trigger the homosexual attractions. Since he made no conscious choice for them, he should not feel guilty for having them. However, he can choose how he responds to the attractions and should not deliberately feed the feelings by fantasizing and turning them into lustful thoughts. The First Presidency letter continued, "However, such thoughts and feelings, regardless of their causes, can and should be overcome. . . ."2 The individual is responsible for his agency in the thoughts he entertains. In an article in the Ensign magazine about same-gender attraction, Elder Dallin H. Oaks clarified that "although immoral thoughts are less serious than immoral behavior, such thoughts also need to be resisted and repented of because we know that ‘our thoughts will also condemn us’ (Alma 12:14). Immoral thoughts (and the less serious feelings that lead to them) can bring about behavior that is sinful."3

Sexual behavior

The scriptures are clear in condemning homosexual practices. We read in Romans, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet" (Romans 1:26– 27; emphasis added).

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, "Prophets of God have repeatedly taught through the ages that practices of homosexual relations, fornication, and adultery are grievous sins. Sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage are forbidden by the Lord."4 The First Presidency declared, "The Lord’s law of moral conduct is abstinence outside of lawful marriage and fidelity within marriage. Sexual relations are proper only between husband and wife appropriately expressed within the bonds of marriage. Any other sexual contact, including fornication, adultery, and homosexual and lesbian behavior, is sinful."5

Overcome thoughts and behavior

The letter from the First Presidency further stated, "We commend and encourage those who are overcoming inappropriate thoughts and feelings. We plead with those involved in such behavior to forsake it. We love them and pray for them. We are confident that through repentance and obtaining needed help, they can experience the peace that comes from conforming their lives to God’s teachings."6 President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Our hearts reach out to those who struggle with feelings of affinity for the same gender. We remember you before the Lord, we sympathize with you, we regard you as our brothers and our sisters. However, we cannot condone immoral practices on your part any more than we can condone immoral practices on the part of others."7

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "The struggles of those who are troubled by same-sex attraction are not unique. There are many kinds of temptations, sexual and otherwise. The duty to resist sin applies to all of them."8

Help those who are trying to overcome

After speaking in a general conference on the subject of same-gender attraction, President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Having said this, I desire now to say with emphasis that our concern for the bitter fruit of sin is coupled with Christlike sympathy for its victims, innocent or culpable. We advocate the example of the Lord, who condemned the sin, yet loved the sinner. We should reach out with kindness and comfort to the afflicted, ministering to their needs and assisting them with their problems."9

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said that "each member of Christ’s church has a clear-cut doctrinal responsibility to show forth love and to extend help and understanding. Sinners, as well as those who are struggling to resist inappropriate feelings, are not people to be cast out but people to be loved and helped (see 3 Ne. 18:22–23, 30, 32)."10 Elder Oaks continued, "Church leaders are sometimes asked whether there is any place in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for persons with homosexual or lesbian susceptibilities or feelings. Of course there is. The degree of difficulty and the pattern necessary to forgo behavior and to control thoughts will be different with different individuals, but the message of hope and the hand of fellowship offered by the Church is the same for all who strive."11 Elder Oaks further explained that "all should understand that persons (and their family members) struggling with the burden of same-sex attraction are in special need of the love and encouragement that is a clear responsibility of Church members, who have signified by covenant their willingness ‘to bear one another’s burdens’ (Mosiah 18:8) ‘and so fulfill the law of Christ’ (Gal. 6:2)."12

 

Idaho, no doubt it feels lonely to have your political leanings in your state.