Opinion | Heather M. Collins, Twitter
One popular theory in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding homosexuality is that those who experience it will have those desires healed/cured/removed during the resurrection.
This idea has been repeated on all levels of the Church, at every level of leadership. I can see why this would be a popular idea for our people to latch onto. It allows us to distance ourselves from violent rhetoric surrounding homosexuality without actually having to change or do anything. The problem will just “work itself out.”
But here’s the problem: our scriptures don’t support this assertion. In fact, they blatantly contradict the idea that anyone experiencing homosexuality can be “fixed” by God in this way, or that God has any intention of doing so.
I’m bringing this up because I’ve spent time deconstructing this idea, as part of a Topical Guide revision project. Because LGBTQ members and their families encounter this so much, I would be remiss not to address it.
Let’s look at the theological framework surrounding this idea:
1. Homosexuality as an attraction is not a sin. It requires no repentance.
2. Nevertheless, it is a deviation from “the Plan” of God. It must be resolved.
3. Jesus Christ has the power to “fix” homosexuality.
4. He will express that desire and power through the resurrection–presumably because homosexuality is part of some physical dysfunction within the body that Christ needs to “heal.”
Examining each one of these points in isolation, they each fall apart under closer scrutiny. The house of cards we’re trying to build for our LGBTQ friends and family members to occupy cannot stand.
The first point really should be more salient to people. If there is no sin in being attracted to the opposite sex, how can it possibly follow that acting on that desire is wrong? Especially in light of what Christ said in Matthew 5:27-28. According to Christ himself, a sin does not take place upon a person actually doing it. It happens the moment we even desire to do it.
If we’ve reached a place where we don’t believe homosexual attraction is a sin, it should logical follow that acting on it isn’t either.
Second point: if homosexuality needs to be resolved by Christ as part of his plan, there should be evidence somewhere in the scriptures that he believes this. ESPECIALLY FOR US. We have an open scriptural canon. If ANYONE should have evidence of this, it should be us. The closest thing we have, in terms of modern revelation that condemns homosexuality, is the Family Proclamation. And given that we haven’t voted on that as a church (the official process of accepting new scripture and revelation), even it technically isn’t part of the scriptural canon. There haven’t been any new additions to the scriptural canon (as we understand it) directly addressing homosexuality since the New Testament. Not in the Book of Mormon. Not in the D&C. Not the Pearl of Great Price. I’ll get more into what I think this means later.
These last three points all converge together, so let’s just dive in.
If LGBTQ people don’t get to go to heaven, we should see evidence of this being a deal breaker for God. There should be firm lines in the sand, no sign of budging. At minimum, wouldn’t there be an enumerated list somewhere of everyone who isn’t allowed in.
Under no circumstances should we see God being as open armed to as many people as possible, complete with mission statements committing himself to being way more inclusive than we’re prepared to be.
Scriptures help us to understand how encompassing the love and mission of God, through the Savior is:
“He layeth down his own life that he may draw ALL men unto him.”
2 Nephi 26:24
“Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.”
2 Nephi 26:25
“Hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.”
2 Nephi 26:26
“All men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.”
2 Nephi 26:28
Either God doesn’t seem to care as much about kicking people out, pushing people away, and “hating the sin, not the sinner” as we do… Or someone forget to tell him this isn’t what it looks like when God cares more about law than he does about people. I mean… do we really think God has THIS MUCH TROUBLE STAYING ON MESSAGE?
Or. Or Or Or. OR.
Was God serious as a mf heart attack when he told Peter/the entire Christian world “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common,” and we’re all just REALLY BAD at following directions and accepting change? (See Acts 10:15)
But let’s get to the main point of this thread. IS GOD GOING TO “FIX” THE GAY IN THE RESURRECTION?! COULD HE DO SO EVEN IF HE WANTED TO?!
The answer, as it turns out, is no.
Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the World. And even He doesn’t get to use the resurrection to fundamentally change someone’s identity or divine outcome.
And let’s dig into this idea here. Because there are two ways of looking at it: “Gay” as a physical mortal flaw attached to the body, and “Gay” as an intrinsic part of someone’s identity. You might say, someone with a “gay” soul. Now, anyone who has ever bothered to listen to someone who experiences homosexuality would know that “gay body, straight soul” is not a thing. But maybe you believe that is a thing. You’re wrong, but let’s address it anyway.
We’re going to be informed by the same scriptures where we talk about “gay” as an eternal identity. Mostly because they’re so clear about how this process is going to play out.
“That same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.”
Alma 34:34
Now, in context, this verse is talking about sin. Can Christ actively prevent us from the consequences of our actions via the resurrection, as it relates to sin? Answer: No. But the language here, I think, reaches beyond just sin. It speaks to the sum total of who we are.
Follow with me to Alma 40:23
“The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.”
Alma 40:23
and Alma 41:2-4
“I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.
And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—“
Alma 41:2-4
Is it possible to read these verses and believe God gets to tamper with the fundamental parts of our identity, the sum total of who we are and what we decided to make of ourselves–whether as a consequence of biology OR identity?
NO!
IT LITERALLY DOESN’T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY, whether it’s a biological force or an eternal part of someone’s identity. It doesn’t matter. Jesus cannot “cancel out” who we are, in favor of making into who he wants us to be instead. If God was in the business of “overhauling” people’s personalities as part of the resurrection, why are we using the word “restore” here? Jesus’ job, in the resurrection and the judgment, is going to be to perfect whatever version of myself I hand over to Him. He is going to work with whatever raw materials I gave Him–which only seems fair, because that’s what I’ve been doing with what He gave to me.
We don’t get to completely redefine everything we know about Resurrection in order to erase “gayness” from heaven. We certainly don’t get to do that to perpetuate unacceptable attitudes and behaviors towards our LGBTQ friends, neighbors, and family members today. And if we insist on continuing in that line of thinking, we need to remember one thing: Jesus isn’t going to magically fix that about us before we go into our final interview. He will restore that crusty attitude right back to us, where it belongs. We each need to think about the person we want to be when we meet Jesus again. What do I want Him to restore to me from my life here on earth? Now is the time I have to decide who I want to be.
And being awful to LGBTQ folks… that ain’t it, y’all.
The last thing I want Him to ask me in that judgment day is “Why were you so comfortable with the suffering of others?” Because I’ll tell you what, I can’t think of a single good answer to that question.
