The Broken, The Beaten, and The Abandoned

[Anthesian]

This is the beginning of this essay:

Homesexuality is the sexual orientation of at least ten percent of the world population. In this world, there are Christian churches that view homosexuality as an abomination (Leviticus 20). There are other churches that claim to be accepting of homosexuals but require that those who struggle with same-sex attraction remain celibate their entire lives.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of these churches. The LDS church has had a progressive stand on the causes of homosexuality over the last few decades as psychological and biological research has granted new information. However, their position of true tolerance has been unmoved.

Latter-day Saints have been indoctrinated since they were very young on the structure of a family. This same teaching has been perpetuated through "The Family: A Proclamation to the World". Marriage is defined as one man and one woman. But what about our Saints that struggle and cope with same-gender attraction? We are taught that God has a plan for us. What is his divine plan for his children who know they are outside the marital norm as viewed by the LDS church?

In this essay, I will provide historical information, although biased, to grant insight into the spiritual and ecclesiastical abuse inflicted upon the gay and lesbian Latter-day Saints. I will also address three categories in which these members may fall under whether it be only one category or all three.