“Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reaffirms opposition to conversion therapy”

We attended a session at the Orlando Florida Temple today with our next door neighbors, who happen to be visiting Orlando quite independently of us.  Afterwards, with a local friend who was delayed and who therefore only arrived too late to the temple, all of us enjoyed a really good lunch at the Seasons 52 on Sand Lake Road.

Attending the temple here has extra meaning for us not only because one of our children was married in the Orlando Florida Temple but because our first grandchild was born here and, a few days later, died here.  We came out to help with and to celebrate a birth and, as it happened, I ended up conducting a small graveside funeral service.  Not our happiest trip.  To my shock, as I drove in to the place where we’re staying I realized that it’s the very same place where we were staying for the baby’s birth and during the horrible days leading up to her death.  Oh well.  Good to face it.

The ordinances and the promises of the temple take on special significance at such times and with such memories.

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In somewhat related news,

“Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple Opens Doors to the Public: Temple has been renovated and refreshed”

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“Religious Freedom and Public Morality Must be Centre Stage, Elder Cook Counsels: Apostle speaks at Pembroke College, University of Oxford”

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“First Presidency welcomes Cuba’s US Ambassador to Temple Square: Ambassador Cabañas reaffirms that the Church is welcome in his country”

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said a spokesman, is concerned by what that spokesman said are inaccurate news headlines about its stance toward so-called “conversion therapy” for people who experience sexual attraction toward others of the same sex.  I myself have seen discussions of the topic that have been based upon spectacularly incorrect interpretations of the Church’s position, and sometimes upon inflammatory rhetoric that has essentially no basis in statements actually made by Church leaders.  So a clarification has been issued.  Those who seek to discuss the matter in good faith, and not merely to score points (or even to generate hostility) against the Restoration, will pay careful attention to it and orient their arguments and adjust their rhetoric accordingly.  Those who don’t care won’t:

“Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reaffirms opposition to conversion therapy”

Posted from Orlando, Florida