Neil L. Anderson said, "You will always be you. 'Well, I don't like myself.' Sorry. You can shape who you become. You can be more than you are today. But you will always be you" (CES Fireside 1/10/10).
The idea that I will always be who I am is interesting. Before, I always that when the day of resurrection finally happened, I would be magically changed into a straight man. But, I will always be me. I cannot imagine my life being physically and sexually attracted to women. Yes, I can imagine me having a life with a woman, but the extent of that is like an episode of "Will and Grace".
Many MOHO bloggers have expressed ideas similar to my own. Others have ideas that are completely opposite. Some believe that when we get resurrected, our sins and our unhealthy desires will be taken from us, because they are not natural. Others propose that this is how God made them and their soul, meaning, that if this is the way they were created, nothing can change that.
Honestly, I am on the fence on this one. Will I be attracted to women come death and the twinkle? Or, will I just be me?
What do you guys think? Do you think that we will be "cured" or "made normal" again when we are resurrected? (I use those terms in the broadest sense).
Let me know!
I was thinking along similar lines recently. I was saying to Aaron my boyfriend, that it will be cool on the day of the resurrection and I have toned abs. He doesn't believe it will happen that way. He had a good point, when has God ever given something for free. I'd have to work for the abs much in the same way I would now.
ReplyDeleteOur sins and unhealthy (or healthy) desires won't just be taken away. Because Satan is bound, it does not mean we can't sin. I believe God would help us overcome them (just as he does now). But he hasn't ever just taken away stuff like that.
He forgave the sins of the woman and told her to sin no more. He didn't say, "I take away your desires to sin."
I don't know what part us gays play in the Plan of Salvation. But I'm pretty sure that if our homosexuality is taken away... it won't be in a twinkle and it won't be easy.
We learn from the Book of Mormon that as we draw closer to the Saviour we become more like Him and receive His image in our countenance. While we will always be us, we do change as we draw nearer to Him and we become better through the atonement. I don't know enough about Homosexuality to say what will happen with these that in the afterlife, but I am sure that unhealthy temptations will be lessened, because Christ has promised that we will become perfect through Him. Perfect isn't always what we think it will be, it's probably not the body of a greek god, but I am sure that as our desires, passions, temptations will change as we grow into more perfect beings, just as they are different from when we were small children.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a more fundamental question: Is sexual orientation an eternal characteristic?
ReplyDeleteIf the answer is "yes" then it does not make any sense that we would be homosexual in this life and then magically turned heterosexual in the next. Amulek taught "... for that same spirit which doth bpossess 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)
I think that we will learn what real love is. And I mean all of us. Think about polygamist wives. Emma Smith HATED that her husband married other women. And I mean HATED it. I think that we will learn and gain testimonies of the importance of whatever it is that God thinks we need to know. We will all learn what real love it and we will learn how to really care for each other in a celestial way.
ReplyDeleteGod made you, you.
I don't know if He will just take it back and say, "Satan really had you there. Thinking you were born this way! Ha! What a joke!" NO! He wouldn't. He made you the way you are. What if the "made perfect" you, is You? Flaws and all.
The gay part of me has always been there. Trying to kill it off made me miserable. Embracing it has brought happiness I never thought possible; it has actually helped turn me into a real Christian instead of the poser I was before. This is why I think straight people who call it a "weakness" or a "burden" don't know what the hell they're talking about, and I give them no credence whatsoever. The fruits of coming out for me have been nothing but wonderful and life-affirming and joyful. Why would I ever want that taken away, in this life or in the eternities?
ReplyDeleteThis is the question that I am struggling with and the only one that I desparately want an answer to. What would God's purpose be in creating certain random people gay? I don't have anything to offer in the way answers or speculation. But I have additional questions to think about which may provide another way of looking at things. Will a child who was born as a boy but with female brain (who wishes their penis would fall off) be male or female in the next life? What about hermaphrodites? What gender are their spirits? Is there such a thing as a unisex spirit? Is sexual attraction, homosexual and heterosexual, simply a condition of mortality? (I recall hearing a stake president say that there is no sex in the terrestial and telestial kingdoms.) Although there are no answers, one thing I think is fairly certain: at some point the reason for why certain people are the way they are will be revealed.
ReplyDeleteThe whole "magically-changed" thing never made any sense to me. Either it's a burden, sin, or trial that needs to be dealt with like any other challenge, or it is an integral part our eternal soul. The current change "doctrine" seems to originate from nothing more than an Ensign article by Elder Holland in the late 90s... which leads me to believe it is more a way to deal with a striking lack of information from God.
ReplyDeletewhich leads me to believe it is more a way to deal with a striking lack of information from God.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm more pessimistic than you - when church leaders talk about homosexuals turning into heterosexuals in the next life, I don't think they're talking to us. I think they are offering what they perceive to be words of comfort to the straight family and friends of homosexuals. It, somehow, makes it easier for them to deal with it if they believe it is a mortal condition.
But, this does give me an idea for a poll question on MoHo Polls - be sure to vote.
I don't really see my attraction to men as a central part of my character. So yeah, i believe in the next life, I'll be attracted to women. Of course the only people who will have the equipment to act on it will be those in the celestial kingdom. Sure hope I make it there.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean, "equipment"? Is this a true doctrine? Two of you have said that there will be no sex in the Telestial and Terrestrial Kingdoms...does anyone know the scriptural and doctrinal evidence for this?
ReplyDelete@Andy: No, it's not doctrinal. It's assumed by many, based on D&C 132:15-16, which say that those who aren't sealed will no longer be married in the next life (and if they're not married, they won't be having sex, because sex outside of marriage is sinful, and there's no sin in the next life--and some take this a bit further and say if there's no sex, there's no need for sex organs, so nobody but the exalted will have them).
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't buy it. Especially the sex organ part--resurrection is supposed to restore us to a perfect state, not castrate us.
I don't know if it is doctrine or not either. I had a crazy seminary teacher (she thought that vanilla extract was a sin to use in cooking because it has alcohol in it) who told us that once. I have disregarded alot of what she said.
ReplyDeleteI should look though.
You should study it out in your mind and pray about it. :)
BigRedHammer--Come on...I'm pretty sure that you and I will both had Brad Pitt's abs in the next life.
ReplyDeleteEnigma--I always tend to forget that one piece of essential, simple doctrine: Our soul will be the same in Heaven as it is here.
Katrina--God has a sense of humor, right?
Alan--I need to get to the point where 100% completely accepting of my homosexuality. You are a great example to all those, including myself, who are on this journey.
Anonymous--I choose to not wish to think about those who have gender identity issues, or who are hermaphrodites, or...whatever. It causes me too much stress and pain to think that they are in a much more horrible situation that I am in. But, it's certainly a valid question...just not one I wish to search for the answer.
El Genio--it's like the stupid no caffeine thing that emerged in the 70's. Stupid Mormons :)
I honestly don't know what will happen in the next life as it pertains to homosexuality or much of anything to tell the truth. I have decided to try to be the best 'me' that I can be now and leave the rest to the Lord.
ReplyDelete