Making a place for homosexuals at church

According to our church, "Merely having inclinations does not disqualify one for any aspect of Church participation or membership" (lds.org). Is that how we as members of the church see it? Would we welcome someone with open arms who is openly gay, but celibate? Would we be okay with that person holding a calling in the Young Women's or Young Men's organization? Would we be okay with that person teaching our 6-year-old in Primary? We should. As of right now, in the typical ward in the church, this person would not be accepted or integrated into the ward. We (most of us), as members of the church, have too many preconceived notions about anyone who feels same-sex attraction. We just look at what we think we know of their lifestyle and judge them to be something terrible. Why wouldn't we want a homosexual who is faithful to the commandments to teach our youth? Is it because we think that all people with who are gay (particularly men) are pedophiles? Will their feelings "rub off"? Are we afraid that they will tarnish our child? I would love to see the day when a person could come to any ward in the church (especially the inter-mountain West ie. Utah or Arizona) and be able to say, "i'm gay, but i want to worship with you and practice this religion as you do" and be welcomed and embraced and loved. I know that there are places where that would happen and many members of the church would say right now that that would be their reaction, given the opportunity. Unfortunately, i don't think that's how it is in most places. think to yourself, how many gay people are in my ward? for most, it would be none...or at least none that we know about. that's the distinction i'm looking for, to be able to be open about one's feelings. i would imagine that in most wards (whether active or on the rosters), there are people with same-sex attraction. why can't they share that struggle (feeling those feelings and deciding to live not acting on those feelings) with all of us? because the idea of same-sex attraction makes most of us extremely nervous. why? obviously, i'm not talking about everyone in the church and you're probably sitting, reading this, and saying to yourself, "i'm not like that, i would just love". If that were the case universally in the church, then we would have people in most wards who could say who they are and what they feel and still be a part of the ward, participating in every aspect. We don't see that. if someone is gay and comes to church, they feel like they must hide how they feel. many don't come at all, because they know how that would be viewed, how they would be treated. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which teaches us to love all men, He did. The people struggling along this path are just as precious to our Heavenly Father as you are...they need to be treated that way. there is nothing to be afraid of. we need to love all of God's children, and we need to be able to be honest about our struggles. We all have them. wouldn't it be nice to go to church and look around and know that these people around us are not all perfect...they're just like you, trying to do what's right? that is the point of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to give us as imperfect beings the chance to be what the Lord knows we are capable of being. we need to give that same chance to everyone else.