When I say "the LDS scriptures" I am refering to the parts of the LDS standard works that are unique to Mormonism, namely, (1) The Book of Mormon, (2) The Doctrine and Covenants, and (3) The Pearl of Great Price.
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
For your convenience, I have quoted everything that the Book of Mormon says about homosexuality, which reads in full as follows:
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
For your convenience, I have quoted everything that the Book of Mormon says about homosexuality, which reads in full as follows:
" (nothing) "
The Doctrine and Covenants:
Next, (you are in for a real treat here), I have included a copy of a manuscript which contains everything that D&C says about homosexuality:
Next, (you are in for a real treat here), I have included a copy of a manuscript which contains everything that D&C says about homosexuality:
In case you find these 19th century manuscripts difficult to read, I've transcribed its contents below. Again, this is everything that D&C says about homosexuality:
" (Crickets) "
The Pearl of Great Price:
Finally, here is everything that The Pearl of Great Price says on homosexuality (clearly this is important stuff):
Finally, here is everything that The Pearl of Great Price says on homosexuality (clearly this is important stuff):
" (Pin Drop) "
In addition to the overwhelming number of verses regarding homosexuality in the LDS scriptures that I've quoted in full above, I should mention the fact that the Bible (which we believe to be "the word of God as far as it is translated correctly") is not completely silent on the subject. The Bible's references to homosexuality include two lines in Leviticus and three more passages in Paul's letters, making a whopping total of 5 passages in the whole Bible dealing with this not-at-all numerically insignificant subject. I mean, 5 passages!! that's almost as many verses as we find condemning the ingestion of bloody meat, and we all know how important that is.
Now, to be serious for a moment, just think about it, 5 passages in a book that has more than 30,000 verses? And beside that, nothing in the LDS scriptures? If this is an important doctrinal point, is this the amount of coverage we should expect? If so, how high should this topic stand on our list of priorities? I'm not going to try to answer these questions here. For now, I just want to leave my readers with this little bit of food for thought.
Now, to be serious for a moment, just think about it, 5 passages in a book that has more than 30,000 verses? And beside that, nothing in the LDS scriptures? If this is an important doctrinal point, is this the amount of coverage we should expect? If so, how high should this topic stand on our list of priorities? I'm not going to try to answer these questions here. For now, I just want to leave my readers with this little bit of food for thought.
This is just one post in an ongoing series which is intended to explore and shed light on various aspects of the topic of homosexuality. It is not meant to provide a "final" analysis, but rather to contribute some helpful insights for Mormons who are trying to understand and properly respond to issues relating to this sensitive subject.
See also: "Does the Bible Condemn Homosexuality?"
See also: "Does the Bible Condemn Homosexuality?"