-Freedom to ask for hating and killing is not freedom of speech. -Freedom of forcing people believe what you do believe is not freedom of religion

I find it interesting how he was careful not to say specifically what sexualities he's regarding when he states; "...many substitutes or counterfeits for marriage. We must understand that any persuasion to enter into any relationship that is not in harmony with the principles of the gospel must be wrong." and "Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural." It's quite a play on words and does infer a lot. What also disturbs me is that the text on his talk is edited on the LDS main site. This suggests an admission that his words were wrongly said. From another point of view, this could also question which of the centuries and types of marriages are to be considered counterfeit and substitute since, many marriages have been for money (wives as property), prearranged or political. Shouldn't love be the key here for marriage and isn't it about the spiritual union? If so, our body sex shouldn't matter. Further, the word "persuasion" can refer to any type of group, religion, belief, race, etc., which can also refer to a hetero group couldn't it? So, to keep in harmony with Christ would be to love all. Christ never spoke against same sex attraction. So if a couple, whatever the sexuality is being loving and faithful and true to each other, then all should be well. And it sounds like he mean that heterosexual individuals can also overcome their preset, inborn tendencies toward their attractions, if they want to. Referring to; "...Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural." Well, if what you feel comes naturally to you, then it is a natural feeling. Besides, in Genesis when God referred to humankind - it was God that named both the man and the woman Adam - which meant - "human." All babies in the womb start off with female brain circuitry and female form. Testosterone in at two stages determines the persona.

God loves us all but he did put down some spacific instructions in the scriptures.

Freedom of Speech and Freedom of religion. That is why people came to America. President Packer is speaking as a religious leader and has a right to speak. He is addressing Millions of LDS people. If anyone doesn't like it change the channel. I love God, I love the Leaders of the LDS church. I appreciate hearing what brother Packer has to say because I myself have always felt the same way. We are here on this earth. We have freedom to choose our life. We can choose to be anyway we want to be. Nothing is forcing us to be anyway we don't want to be. I choose to listen to our great leaders and I choose to listen to the LDS conference. Why do you want to take away my freedom by trying to hush up our Religious LDS Leaders. Brother Packer is a great man and the world should follow him. Many Religious leaders feel the same way. Why try and take away our freedom!!!!

Are we forgetting the constituion people? That document that states freedom of speech and religion? The church doesn't have to "correct" anything!

Being gay isn't wrong, acting on it is. I've read the bible and God makes it extremely obvious that acting on homosexual ideas is an abomination in his sight. It has nothing to do with popularity, or civil rights. It has everything to do with the laws of God. If you think that any church leader is going to change their statement because of popularity you are going to wait a very long time, because it's never going to happen. He teaches the laws of God that are clearly stated in the Bible!

God...thank you for forgiving misguided leaders of the LDS faith who choose to forget that they are a people who fled to "zion" in search of equality and protection from small-minded people who said about them the same sorts of things they now say about me and my people. about an hour ago

God...thank you for forgiving misguided leaders of the LDS faith who choose to forget that they are a people who fled to "zion" in search of equality and protection from small-minded people who said about them the same sorts of things they now say about me and my people. about an hour ago

np2729, codyjames: I hope you're honest people and that what you've posted is true. I will, of course, give you the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps some day you'll emerge from this dogma that you're fully steeped in and realize that you should not be ashamed of who you are. There is nothing immoral or wrong about being gay. Nor is there anything wrong with being happy and have a loving, nurturing relationship with someone that you're attracted to. Even if you choose to believe there is something wrong with it, supporting restricting the civil liberties and rights of others who don't believe as you do is wrong.

cjohanson, that is an interesting and timely quote from Brigham Young. Good advice to follow and it is a shame the current church leadership don't follow it. np2729, codyjames: I hope you're honest people and that what you've posted is true. I will, of course, give you the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps some day you'll emerge from this dogma that you're fully steeped in and realize that you should not be ashamed of who you are. There is nothing immoral or wrong about being gay. Nor is there anything wrong with being happy and have a loving, nurturing relationship with someone that you're attracted to. Even if you choose to believe there is something wrong with it, supporting restricting the civil liberties and rights of others who don't believe as you do is wrong.