{"id":460,"date":"2009-07-07T13:08:00","date_gmt":"2009-07-07T13:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/2009\/07\/members-should-find-solutions-and-answers-themselves\/"},"modified":"2012-09-24T22:27:27","modified_gmt":"2012-09-25T03:27:27","slug":"members-should-find-solutions-and-answers-themselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/2009\/07\/members-should-find-solutions-and-answers-themselves.html","title":{"rendered":"Members should find solutions and answers themselves…"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

In regards to <\/span><\/span><\/span>seeking counsel from the bishop or stake president<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, the Church handbook says that \u201cmembers should make a diligent effort, including earnest prayer and scripture study, to find solutions and answers themselves.\u201d What may be okay for one member may not be for another. That doesn\u2019t mean the core principles don\u2019t apply to each member, it just means that the adherence to a principle can be manifested in infinitely varying ways.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

For example, Nephi felt compelled by the Spirit to cut off Laban\u2019s head to preserve the scriptures. Could that principle, namely the preservation<\/span><\/span><\/span> of God\u2019s word, been fulfilled by other less \u201cfatal\u201d means? Probably. Does that make Nephi\u2019s<\/span><\/span><\/span> action sinful? Absolutely not.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

I think the key with issues of sexuality is finding what the principle is that needs to be promoted and then choosing a behavior that best promotes that principle. For example in marriage, an important core principle of sexuality is that it should powerfully bond the husband and wife. Can masturbation<\/span><\/span><\/span> help achieve that end? I\u2019d say the answer is it\u2019s up to those involved. For a single person, <\/span><\/span><\/span>perhaps<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> one of the principles regarding sexuality is to choose behavior that best prepares for a healthy sexual relationship<\/span><\/span><\/span> in marriage. For the youth, the Church encourages them to abstain from masturbation<\/span><\/span><\/span> and believes that to be the best route for honoring the principle of healthy sexual intimacy in marriage. I think it\u2019s possible, however, that outside the youth, singles may find circumstances<\/span><\/span><\/span> where masturbation<\/span><\/span><\/span> could promote the eventual goal of healthy sexuality in marriage. Again, it\u2019s up to the individual. For someone who has lost a spouse, maybe masturbation<\/span><\/span><\/span> is a healthy way to remember and preserve past feelings of sexual intimacy with their spouse. I\u2019m not arguing that\u2019s always the case, my point is just that God\u2019s core principles \u2014 those that deal with our relationships<\/span><\/span><\/span> with others and with God \u2014 can be fulfilled through many different manifestations <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em>and behaviors. I think that\u2019s one of the reasons different members receive different counsel.<\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
I appreciate your comments and well written response. I agree that there are many different situations and stages of the developmental<\/span><\/span> cycle. And although gospel teachings apply to all, HOW those gospel teachings apply are incredibly personal and sacred to each individual. This is why the core beliefs we have regarding personal revelation, proper stewardship and being non-judgmental of others are all key concepts to leading a life that leads each individual down the path of becoming closer to God.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In regards to seeking counsel from the bishop or stake president, the Church handbook says that \u201cmembers should make a diligent effort, including earnest prayer and scripture study, to find solutions and answers themselves.\u201d What may be okay for one member may not be for another. That doesn\u2019t mean the core principles don\u2019t apply to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":766,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nMembers should find solutions and answers themselves...<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In regards to seeking counsel from the bishop or stake president, the Church handbook says that "members should make a diligent effort, including earnest\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/mormontherapist\/2009\/07\/members-should-find-solutions-and-answers-themselves.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta 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