“Here it was that the greatest person who ever lived delivered the greatest sermon ever given—the Sermon on the Mount” (“The Way Home,” Ensign, May 1975, 15).
The greatest sermon ever given would certainly have something in it for every person in every period of time. I don't claim to have THE interpretation of what Jesus was teaching in the last 11 verses of Matthew 6, as I think that there are multiple ways that Jesus intended us to understand and apply His words. In fact, I think that Jesus taught with the understanding that those words would mean different things to us at different times in our lives, and assist us in different ways at different times. Today I wish to take these verses in application of an understanding of same-gender attraction.
First and foremost I wish to make clear a few things. I concur completely and totally with the LDS view on same-gender attraction, which is as follows:
"The Church’s doctrinal position is clear: Sexual activity should occur only between a man and a woman who are married. However, that should never be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but never cruel. His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear down.
In short, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirms the centrality of doctrines relating to human sexuality and gender as well as the sanctity and significance of marriage as the union of a man and a woman. However, the Church firmly believes that all people are equally beloved children of God and deserve to be treated with love and respect. Church apostle Elder Quentin L. Cook stated: “As a church, nobody should be more loving and compassionate. Let us be at the forefront in terms of expressing love, compassion and outreach. Let’s not have families exclude or be disrespectful of those who choose a different lifestyle as a result of their feelings about their own gender.”
The Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and behavior. While maintaining that feelings and inclinations toward the same sex are not inherently sinful, engaging in homosexual behavior is in conflict with the “doctrinal principle, based on sacred scripture … that marriage between a man and a woman is essential to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”
Because the Church believes that the sacred powers of procreation are “to be exercised only between a man and a woman lawfully wedded as husband and wife, … any other sexual relations, including those between persons of the same gender, undermine the divinely created institution of the family.” Accordingly, the Church favors measures that define marriage as the union of a man and a woman. However, “protecting marriage between a man and a woman does not remove Church members’ Christian obligations of love, kindness and humanity toward all people.” (http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/same-sex-attraction)
Oftentimes those who experience same-gender attraction will place labels on themselves. They will say, "I am gay" or "I am lesbian" or "I am bisexual." Placing "I am" before anything is an extremely significant and powerful statement. You are saying that this is your existence, this is who you are, this is what I am defined by. While I do not claim to perfectly understand the same-gender attraction that people experience, I do understand in a small way the power of Jesus Christ and His words, and I do understand in a small way God's love for each and every one of us as His children.
Here is where Matthew 6:24-34 comes into play. The Savior begins this passage by explaining that, "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
If we break this verse down, we find that the term "master" means "he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding...the owner; one who has control of the person..." (Strong's Concordance). "Mammon" is a term that alludes to worldly or material things. In other words, I think that Jesus is saying that we can either allow God to be our Master, or we can allow worldly things to control us. This is a most fitting precursor to what He says next.
Verse 25: "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/6?lang=eng)
This is where my title comes into play. When we define ourselves as certain things, we basically say that the definition is our life...it is all of us. Jesus teaches in this verse that life is "more than meat, and the body than raiment." In other words, our lives are more than just a fulfillment of the basic fleshly desires that we experience. Who we are, and what life is all about is far more than that. We are not defined by one particular thing, or by one particular desire. That is why if you are experiencing feelings of same-gender attraction that it may not be in your best interest to define yourself as "gay" or "lesbian," or any other term.
Sexuality is certainly a large part of who we are, but it is most certainly not ALL we are. We have many different desires, dreams, values and loves. We cannot simplify ourselves into the narrow space of defining ourselves by one aspect of our being, particularly not one that tends to discount our many other facets.
The most basic definition of who we are can be found in an encounter between God and Moses in Moses chapter 1. God appears to Moses, and one of the first things He says to him is, "behold, thou art my son." As The Family: A Proclamation to the world states, "All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny." (https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng ). Each and every one of us are children of an all powerful God who loves us and who knows us and who wants to offer us every blessing that is available, including the ability to be like Him. (see Romans 8:16-17, Revelation 3:21, Psalm 82:5-6)
You are not gay, you are a son or daughter of God who experiences same-gender attraction. Define yourselves as who you really are...that is a child of God. Thinking of things this way allows us to define ourselves as something broad and encompassing that doesn't exclude us from understanding everything about ourselves. In addition knowing who you are and defining yourself in this way can be a source of great strength and power. We can see how it helped Moses.
Right after the Lord left speaking with Moses, the devil shows up and asks Moses to worship him. Moses' response is a lesson to us about the power of understanding who we are. First of all Moses recognizes the difference in glory and appearance between God and the devil and sees that God's appearance is unspeakably glorious while the devil's is not. However, the thing that seems to give Moses the greatest strength and allows him to withstand the multiple attempts by the devil at deceiving him is knowing who he is! This response by Moses is most telling:
"13 And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?
14 For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were transfigured before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so, surely?
15 Blessed be the name of my God, for his Spirit
hath not altogether withdrawn from me, or else where is thy glory, for
it is darkness unto me? And I can judge between thee and God; for God
said unto me: Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve.
16 Get thee hence, Satan; deceive me not; for God said unto me: Thou art after the similitude of mine Only Begotten." (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/1?lang=eng)
Moses' understanding of who he was...that he was a son of God, created in the image of God (see Genesis 1:26-27) gave him strength to overcome the adversary's attempts at deception and destruction. Similarly, you and I can overcome Satan's attempts to deceive and to destroy us by remembering the fundamental truth that we are sons and daughters of God! Even when we experience extraordinary urges and temptations that are difficult to resist, we can use the power that comes by understanding who we are to assist us in refusing those temptations and difficulties.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks sums this up well in an interview that he had along with Elder Lance Wickman with the LDS Church's Public Affairs. He was asked how he would respond if his son came to him and expressed that he felt he was gay. Elder Oaks responded by saying this:
"You’re my son. You will always be my son, and I’ll always be there to help you.
The
distinction between feelings or inclinations on the one hand, and
behavior on the other hand, is very clear. It’s no sin to have
inclinations that if yielded to would produce behavior that would be a
transgression. The sin is in yielding to temptation. Temptation is not
unique. Even the Savior was tempted.The New Testament affirms that God has given us commandments that are difficult to keep. It is in 1 Corinthians chapter 10, verse 13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
I think it’s important for you to understand that homosexuality, which you’ve spoken of, is not a noun that describes a condition. It’s an adjective that describes feelings or behavior. I encourage you, as you struggle with these challenges, not to think of yourself as a ‘something’ or ‘another,’ except that you’re a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and you’re my son, and that you’re struggling with challenges.
Everyone has some challenges they have to struggle with. You’ve described a particular kind of challenge that is very vexing. It is common in our society and it has also become politicized. But it’s only one of a host of challenges men and women have to struggle with, and I just encourage you to seek the help of the Savior to resist temptation and to refrain from behavior that would cause you to have to repent..." (I would urge anyone who reads this post to reference the transcript and read the full interview to get the full impact of the teachings: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/interview-oaks-wickman-same-gender-attraction)
We will experience trials and challenges in this world, some more difficult than others. To struggle with same-gender attraction is a cross that is very difficult to bear. However, I believe that with the help of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, we can withstand the temptations that come our way. He has overcome the world (see John 16:33) and can help us to overcome any worldly thing. Remember that you are a son or daughter of God. He loves you and wants the best for you. His request that you not act on the feelings of same-gender attraction is because of His love for you. He wants to give you all that He has, and His commandments are instructions on how to receive all of those blessings that are available to each and every one of God's children.
Don't let a temptation define who you are. You are a son or daughter of God with limitless potential, which potential is unlocked through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Hold fast to that knowledge and remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (see Phillipians 4:13).
