Category: Christ

Why This Mormon Rejects “Love the Sinner; Hate the Sin”

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Bridges, Christ2 Comments

Related imageThere was a time I accepted the phrase “Love the sinner; hate the sin,” but I always felt uncomfortable using it. Eventually, I started giving the expression second thought, and I realized the parallelism of the phrase suggests a balance between the ideas of love and hate. But love and hate don’t balance one another. Just as light cannot be where there is darkness, love cannot be where there is hate.

Of course, once I became aware of this difficult dichotomy, that voice of contrariness we probably all know popped into my head, insisting it is possible to love a person and, at the same time, hate what that person does. But is it? Continue reading “Why This Mormon Rejects “Love the Sinner; Hate the Sin”” →

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The Members are True; the Church is True.

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Christ, Epistles to the SaintsLeave a comment

Christ synagogueSeveral weeks ago, a Gospel Doctrine teacher stated that “The Church is true, but the members are not.” Judging by the nods of assent, I’d say those sitting with me agreed with her. My natural inclination, as a language person, is to pick apart the word “true” until there’s no meat left on its bone. But I’ll spare you that. I do, however, want to to focus on the underlying assumption of the statement, namely the inference that the Church, as an institution, is better than its people. I’m not sure we really mean that. Continue reading “The Members are True; the Church is True.” →

Why Don’t They Just Say God Loves All His Children?

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Bridges, Christ, Epistles to the Saints, homosexuality, Inclusion107 Comments

general-conference-tvEarlier this week, I spoke to a mature, faithful, conservative LDS mother about her family’s experience with the April 2015 General Conference. She said, “Sunday’s talks filled me up. But Saturday’s hurt a little.” She then told me that, after Elder Packer’s talk Saturday morning, one of her teenage daughters turned to her and asked point blank, “Why don’t they ever say how much God loves his gay and lesbian children?” By the time Elder Perry finished his talk, her other teen daughter likewise pressed her mother to explain why apostles of the Lord didn’t speak with compassion and encouragement about a group of his followers who are often maligned. I wonder the same thing. Continue reading “Why Don’t They Just Say God Loves All His Children?” →

Love is a Behavior: A Conservative Mormon Reminder to Love our LGBT Community

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Bridges, Christ, Inclusion, Outreach14 Comments

convention-2I am a Texan, a conservative, a practicing Mormon, and an ally of the LGBT community. Two recent events have unfolded in my peripheral vision that have struck an emotional, intellectual and spiritual chord in me, leaving me both disheartened and heartened.

First, Texas Republicans held their 2014 state convention in Fort Worth, a process that establishes the party’s platform plank by plank. One of those planks will include language that rejects homosexual relationships as legitimate or valuable to society. The plank will also specifically support reparative therapy, an odd inclusion but for California and New Jersey’s recent outlawing of such therapy for minors. The fiscally conservative group, Log Cabin Republicans of Texas (who were denied booth space at the convention), optimistically finds progress in the party’s compromise to drop from the platform the words “homosexuality tears at the fabric of society.” I appreciate their optimism and patience, but feel sorrow over the party’s rejection of the skills, talent, and voting power that could potentially follow once Republicans open their arms to conservative-minded members of the LGBT community. Although supporters of the anti-gay, supposedly “pro-family” plank of the Texas Republican party will argue their stance is a godly one, I find it not only uninspired but judgmental, self-righteous, and crippling to the foundational fiscal messages of conservatism.

The second event that has moved me (this time, positively) was seeing the 400-450 strong delegation of Mormons Building Bridges marching in the Salt Lake City Pride Parade. Families came with their small 10468125_10154172548700234_2745884498499884104_ochildren. Faithful members who have served at all local levels of leadership put their best foot forward in support of love and inclusion. Continue reading “Love is a Behavior: A Conservative Mormon Reminder to Love our LGBT Community” →

Look Upon Him: A Christmas Devotional

On By lisatorcassodowningIn Christ2 Comments

baby-jesus-mary-joseph-by-dewey-623x400The winters in Judea are cold and dark, and on the cusp of the millennium of Christ some 2,000 years ago, the people of the City of David, called Bethlehem, spent most of their time indoors, protected by their warm fires. The livelihood of many of these Judean families was entangled in the wool of sheep, a commodity entirely adverse to the rigors of such a cold winter. Like their masters, the sheep of ancient Bethlehem spent the frigid winter days and nights sheltered, holed up in barricaded caves, called sheepfolds, which the shepherds cut into the limestone slopes surrounding the city. Here the sheep were fed grains and dried grasses until the spring sun warmly invited new blades of grass to rise from the rich soil. Continue reading “Look Upon Him: A Christmas Devotional” →