Boyd K Packer - October 2010

I don't know if anyone out there will even read this, but I want to say my 2c worth. I have thought about the controversy flying around the media and cyberspace over this talk, and feel that there is a lot of emotion around this topic, but not nearly as much reason. First of all, though I have a few things to be clear on:
1, I sustain President Boyd K. Packer as an Apostle of the Lord
2, I agree with the church's official response to the human rights people
3, I think that those who suffer from homosexual temptation, and still live the Gospel faithfully are amazing, and clearly love the Lord (John 14:15)

There are a lot of things I would like to say, but it seems to me that those people who are so oversensitive as to take any opportunity to argue over things taken out of context, make that task impossible to do peacefully. So I'm just going to say that obviously the people getting all angry have ignored (perhaps on purpose) the actual message of the rest of the talk, which was love and hope in Christ through the Atonement. The one single line that everyone is getting so upset about wasn't even specific to one group, and I would go into others who may fit that description, but I'm sure someone would get all agro about it and accuse me of saying things I'm not actually saying (just like they have with Pres. Packer).

There are plenty of biblical scriptures that support, directly, in context what President Packer said, so those complaining about it clearly are either not considering or not caring that it is God they are whinging against, and not just His servants. Are those who say he isn't telling the truth, therefore denying the rest of his talk, about the Atonement? The power and infinity of the Atonement to help these people overcome a very difficult thing? If the Atonement isn't strong enough, then that means it isn't infinite, and if it isn't infinite then God would have to be a liar, so either the Atonement IS infinite and covering everyone, including those precious souls who struggle with these temptations (as Boyd K Packer says), or the power and infinity of Christ and His sacrifice is being denied.

Unfortunately many people seem far too emotional to see the love behind this talk, and the scriptures that support it. Why be so unreasonable as to take out a single sentence out of context, and ignore both it's actual meaning and the rest of the talk? That just shows an extreme mentality (as evidenced by extreme reaction). There was nothing "hateful" in President Boyd K Packer's talk, in either manner or context, so I think the media, and those "hateful" against the church need to get some new adjectives.

I don't write this to bash anyone or offend anyone (seriously, some people are WAY too easily offended), I was just honestly surprised that something so simple, said so many times before, and in a very gentle and loving manner, was even taken the way it has been. I simply want to add my support and testimony that I have found out for myself the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I sustain His servants and His doctrine, and I love Him enough to keep His commandments (John 14:15, Joshua 24:15) I hope everyone can see that the message of the talk in question, and of the Gospel itself is that there is always hope in Christ for everyone who is willing to come to Him.

"I will always maintain a true principle, even if I stand alone in it" - Joseph Smith Jr, 1844