https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.or ... conference
IMO JRH's words have set us back, waaaaaaaaay back. Like, way back.
Random highlights:
First and foremost, the student's speech was PREAPPROVED. He didn't commandeer anything.If a student commandeers a graduation podium intended to represent everyone getting diplomas in order to announce his personal sexual orientation, what might another speaker feel free to announce the next year until eventually anything goes? What might commencement come to mean — or not mean — if we push individual license over institutional dignity for very long? Do we simply end up with more divisiveness in our culture than we already have — and we already have too much everywhere.
In that spirit, let me go no farther before declaring unequivocally my love and that of my Brethren for those who live with this same-sex challenge and so much complexity that goes with it. Too often the world has been unkind, in many instances crushingly cruel, to these our brothers and sisters. Like many of you, we have spent hours with them, and wept and prayed and wept again in an effort to offer love and hope while keeping the gospel strong and the obedience to commandments evident in every individual life.
Second, slippery slope.
Third, if we're going the slippery slope route, if Holland says things like this to BYU faculty and staff, can you imagine what will be said from the podium during October general conference? Anything goes! Unfortunately in this case much has already been said over the general conference podium.
Fourth, if we can't support the bravery of that young man then what institutional dignity is there to protect?
Too often it is church leaders that are unkind, it is church leaders being divisive. Not unlike comments made in this address.
We weep with "those who live with this same-sex challenge," we... the authors of their pain.
Say gay. Say it. Just say gay. If we can't say gay then how can we begin to weep with them?
Classic say divisive things and act in divisive ways and then when the other side resists play the persecution card and lament all the divisiveness to shame the other side into silence. Maybe I'm doing the same here.
I won't even get into the muskets symbolism that was used in the address. Maybe it's time to bury our weapons.
It's a tough time to StayLDS.