Same-Sex Sealings: Inevitably to be permitted by the Brethren?
As a Latter-day Saint who experiences SSA (same-sex attraction), I've felt a substantial amount of anxiety in the past, worrying about the probability of the Church ever revealing that same-sex marriage is permissible, as part of the ongoing Restoration. Many within my community—the vast majority in my opinion—of members who experience SSA, hope or expect that the Prophets will eventually receive revelation that will one day permit homosexual sealings in the temple. I know many other SSA, “gay,” or “queer”-identifying members who have tied their faith in the Restored Gospel to their hope in this "inevitability", and some have even left their heterosexual marriages with the expectation that this change will come. Many are confident that it’s just a matter of time and patience, and the Church will change, eventually. There are two main justifications for this view: (1) as part of the restoration of all things, “We believe all that God … will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God”; and (2) just like the Brethren eventually abolished the ban on Black Africans from receiving the Priesthood, they will likewise receive a similar revelation extending the blessing of marriage to homosexual couples. These assumptions, however, are simply false and completely inconsistent with basic doctrine and scriptural teaching.
The short answer to these false assumptions is found on the Church’s Gospel Topics page on Same-Sex Attraction, where the question is posed: “Will the Church ever change its doctrine and sanction same-sex marriage?” The clear answer is given as follows: “Central to God’s plan, the doctrine of marriage between a man and woman is an integral teaching of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will not change.” I could end this blog post here, but let’s dig into the doctrinal teachings that refute the aforementioned justifications.
“Central to God’s plan, the doctrine of marriage between a man and woman is an integral teaching of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and will not change.”
The Priesthood Ban
Let’s start with the comparison to the Priesthood Ban: The homosexual marriage and Priesthood Ban issues are very different in a few ways. Firstly, there is absolutely no scriptural basis banning the Priesthood from those of Black African descent. The Ban was based off of 19th Century Christians’ interpretation regarding the curse of Ham and Cain, but scripture never clearly explains what exactly the curse was or its bearing on one holding the Priesthood; that’s left strictly up to conjecture. (See the Gospel Topics essay on Race and Priesthood.) There is, however, very clear scriptural doctrine condemning same-gender sexual relations, coming directly from Jehovah’s mouth (Leviticus 18:21-22, 20:13) and in the Pauline Epistles (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-10). (See my article breaking down the scriptures directly from the clear Greek and Hebrew.) So, the Ban was based off of erroneous, cultural interpretations; whereas, the Church’s modern teaching regarding same-gender sexual relations is grounded in unmistakable scriptural teaching from two previous dispensations.
“The Ordination of Q. Walker Lewis” by Anthony Sweat
In connection with there being no scriptural basis for the Ban, there was absolutely no revelation received to justify the Ban. Brigham Young’s declaration to the Utah State Legislature restricting Blacks from being ordained was a policy, not a revelation. The Church has made it clear that there was never any known revelation on the matter, and that it merely evolved out of several cultural issues that transpired after Joseph Smith’s death. Joseph had already ordained at least two Black men to the Priesthood, showing the Lord’s will concerning the issue. Conversely, again to reiterate, there is clear revelatory basis for the prohibition against homosexual sex, and there never was any scriptural example of it ever being acceptable.
Lastly, although it’s clear that there never was any revelation, and should have never been a Ban in the first place, it was clear from the beginning of the Ban, that it was always meant to be temporary. President Young taught that Black Africans would eventually be entitled to receive all rights to the Priesthood and temple ordinances; what Spencer W Kimball referred to as “the long-promised day.” No such promise was ever made regarding homosexual marriage. Same-gender sex has been condemned through-and-through since Sinai, to Paul’s day, and in our own day.
Image credit churchofjesuschrist.org
The Ongoing Restoration
Regarding the ongoing restoration of all things: As I taught frequently when I was a full-time missionary, a restoration is the bringing back of something to its former condition or the returning of that which was lost or taken away.
Consider the “unique” doctrines of the Restored Gospel, which are mentioned in whole or in part in the Bible: Eternal marriage is alluded to in a few places, from Adam & Eve being married before the Fall (Genesis 2:25), to Paul’s teaching that “in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman” (1 Corinthians 11:11); the Degrees of Glory is taught in a couple places (1 Corinthians 15:40-42; 2 Corinthians 12:2); baptism for the dead is clearly taught in a couple places (1 Corinthians 12:29; 1 Peter 3:18-21); the Temple Endowment is alluded to in several scriptures in the Old & New Testaments; even Heavenly Mother is alluded to from God’s very title, Elohim, which is a plural title that can include both masculine and feminine persons, per the plural ending.
The list could go on, but it just goes to show that these restored doctrines are not anything new, but merely previously-revealed doctrines brought back and clarified. That’s the point of the restoration of all things in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times: “to bring unity to all things” (Ephesians 1:10), all truth in one from all former dispensations.
Yes, it is true, Joseph Smith taught that, “It is necessary [for doctrines to be restored] in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times” (D&C 128:18; emphasis added). So, yes, new doctrines will be revealed in addition to those being restored, but would these new revelations really, completely, undo doctrines that are “central to God’s plan” and “integral to Church teaching”? Would a new revelation be received completely negating Jehovah’s own admonition to Moses that a man “shall not lie with a male as with a woman; [for] it is an abomination”? Would a new revelation be received negating Paul’s teaching, twice given, that men who have sex with men will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:8-10)? Would a new revelation, for that matter, be received negating the commandments not to fornicate, or to commit adultery, or commit incest, or engage in beastiality, all of which are also condemned by the Lord throughout scripture alongside same-gender sexual acts? The truth is clear on this issue.
“Procreation is not an incidental part of the plan; it is the plan of happiness; it is the key to happiness”
The Lord clearly taught since Genesis that the purpose of man leaving father and mother is for him to cleave to his wife and become one flesh with her (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5). Referring to this, the Saviour admonished, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate [or change]” (Mark 10:9). Additionally, God’s first commandment given to man was to “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” Through procreation, we take part in creation with God and become more like our Heavenly Parents, modelling our lives after them. To this point, President Boyd K Packer taught that, “Procreation is not an incidental part of the plan; it is the plan of happiness; it is the key to happiness” (The Plan of Happiness, 2015). It takes a male and female, a husband and wife, to be able to procreate—there is simply no way around this doctrine. This was taught in Adam’s time, to Moses, by the Saviour, and by modern Prophets; and everything will “be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses” (2 Corinthians 13:1).
While some new revelation permitting same-sex sealings is absolutely out of harmony with the Plan, I look forward to what is yet to be revealed. I’d love to see if women will be able to pass the sacrament some day, since scripture doesn’t exclude this; I’d love to know when a spirit actually enters a foetus’ forming body; I’d love to find out how exactly the Holy Spirit can influence all of God’s children instantaneously; and how exactly transfiguration works.
The Words of Living Prophets
Let me finish with the words of living Prophets and Apostles in this Dispensation, echoing the words of the Lord and Paul anciently:
“God-sanctioned marriage between a man and a woman has been the basis of civilization for thousands of years. There is no justification to redefine what marriage is. Such is not our right, and those who try will find themselves answerable to God” (Gordon B Hinckley; Why We Do Some of the Things We Do).
“False prophets and false teachers are also those who attempt to change the God-given and scripturally based doctrines that protect the sanctity of marriage, the divine nature of the family, and the essential doctrine of personal morality. They advocate a redefinition of morality to justify fornication, adultery, and homosexual relationships. Some openly champion the legalization of so-called same-gender marriages. To justify their rejection of God’s immutable laws that protect the family, these false prophets and false teachers even attack the inspired proclamation on the family issued to the world in 1995 by the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles” (M Russell Ballard; Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers).
“Fundamental to us is God’s revelation that exaltation can be attained only through faithfulness to the covenants of an eternal marriage between a man and a woman. … That is also why the Lord has required His restored Church to oppose social and legal pressures to retreat from His doctrine of marriage between a man and a woman” (Dallin H Oaks; Divine Love in the Father’s Plan).
“Worldly trends to define marriage in some other way would sadly serve to destroy the institution of marriage. Such schemes are contrary to the plan of God” (Russell M Nelson; Nurturing Marriage).
Conclusion
How long will we continue to deny the collective witness of Jehovah himself and of his prophets ancient and modern, before we no longer seek to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand? There are many wonderful things to come. Yet, let’s avoid putting our expectations in a false hope; as false hope that will only lead to our own damnation. Let us put our hope in Jesus Christ, in his salvation, and in his words revealed to prophets ancient and modern. Crucifying our fleshy desires, losing our lives in the service of God, and seeking to do his will and not our own; these are the keys to finding our lives and experiencing joy in the journey.
