The Church Is One, Big Playground Bully

Wow. This is why I choose not to go to church anymore. This is why I do not watch General Conference.  Elder Packer, I could punch you in the face right now and not feel the least bit guilty.  You are a mean and intolerant human being who only demeans and brings down others.  You are not being spiritually uplifting in the slightest.

In the wake of all the recent gay suicides in the past few weeks, you would think the Church would try to be a little more understand and sympathetic towards the gays.  I guess that was too much to ask.  Instead the Church keeps going on a rampage against gays.  Packer basically states that those who are gay, are that way because they have sinned in some way and are being punished for their "abominations."  How dare you, you pretentious jerk!  You think by saying this, you are bringing comfort to those who have tried and tried for years to suppress and deny their innate feelings?  No!  You are just making them feel worse about themselves and driving them deeper into the closet.

This amounts to nothing more than playground bullying.  As Ellen says in the video I posted below, "there are messages everywhere that validate this kind of bullying and taunting, and we have to make it stop. We can't let ignorance or intolerance take another kid's life."  Elder Packer's talk is one of those messages that "validate" and reinforce teenage bullying.  This needs to stop.  My worst fear is that this talk could result in more gay suicides.

For those of you who listened to Elder Packer's talk and feel like you may want to do something harmful, please, please, do not do anything rash.  This is one man's thoughts; there are so many more out there who love you and support you.  You are not this way because of your "sins and abominations."  You were born this way.  That is something only we can truly understand.  God loves you, no matter if you are gay, straight, bisexual, asexual, transgender, whatever you might be.  God makes no mistakes - you are beautiful and perfect just the way you are.  I love you, and want you to be okay.  You may not know it (I didn't for the longest time), but there are people so close to you that feel the same way you do. They are also suffering in silence.  It may not feel like it now, but you are not alone.

If you feel like you may do something harmful to yourself, please call 1-866-488-7386.  The Trevor Project is a free, national suicide hotline for gay teens.

Quote of the Week - 4/3/2010

"It's not love to be static like the desert, nor is it love to roam the world like the wind. And it's not love to see everything from a distance, like [the sun] . . . . The world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse. And that's where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are."

~~ from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (pp. 150-151)

At the recommendation of Jeremy, I began reading The Alchemist this week, and I love it! It is such a beautifully written story with such profound wisdom about life and each individual's "Personal Legend" or destiny. I haven't even finished it yet, but I am certain it will become one of my favorites. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it.

Love

Is it the face of a child? Is it the thrill of danger? Is it the kindness we see in the eyes of a stranger? Is it more than faith? Is it more than hope? Is it waiting for us at the end of our rope?

I say it's love! I say it's love!

Is it the one you call you home? Is it the Holy Land? Is it standing right here, holding your hand? Is it just like the movies? Is it rice and white lace? Is it the feeling I get when I wake to your face?

I say it's love! I say it's love!

Is it the first summer storm? Is it the colors of fall? Is it having so little, and yet having it all? Is it one in a million? Is it a chance to belong? Is it standing right here, singing this song?

I say it's love! I say it's love!

Is it a veil or a cross? Is it the poet's gift? Is it the face that has launched over thousands of ships? Is it making you laugh? Is it letting you cry? Is it where we believe that we go when we die? Is it how you were made? Is it your mother's ghost? Is it the wish that I'm wishing for your life the most?

I say it's love! I say it's love!