Mark E Petersen, LGBT Are Worthy of Death

Over time, the LDS Church’s perspective on homosexuality evolved from a stance of subdued disapproval to one of pronounced institutional homophobia. In the 1950s, church leaders increasingly characterized homosexuality as both a crime and a treatable mental disorder. In 1968, they further intensified their stance by including “homosexual acts” as grounds for excommunication, effectively aiming to eliminate the possibility of gay individuals within the Mormon community.

Church leaders have even talked about treating gay people with the death penalty. Here are some examples from Apostle Mark E. Petersen. Petersen criticized the gay rights movement and described homosexuality as unclean, urging readers to resist attempts to make it appear respectable. He also referenced biblical condemnation of homosexuality and criticized those who formed political groups or churches to advocate for gay rights. LDS Apostle, Elder Petersen lists homosexuality as one of the “strong delusions” of the Great Apostasy and the modern era. This sentiment is still strong today in the church with policies made to exclude LGBT families and multiple apostles calling for more musket fire in defending the church and the “traditional family” they currently espouse – as opposed to the polygamous families the doctrine and history espouse as God’s true and everlasting covenant.

No True Worship without Chastity

“Legislators are being asked to rule that adultery should no longer be considered a crime, that homosexuals and other deviates should be allowed to practice their depravities legally and without restriction... Apostasy through immorality is at least as bad as returning to paganism... Paul says of those who deviate from the path of virtue into some of the great perversions,
"they which commit such things are worthy of death."” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, General Conference Talk, April 1965 | wasmormon.org — Legislators are being asked to rule that adultery should no longer be considered a crime, that homosexuals and other deviates should be allowed to practice their depravities legally and without restriction… Apostasy through immorality is at least as bad as returning to paganism… Paul says of those who deviate from the path of virtue into some of the great perversions, “they which commit such things are worthy of death.” – LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, General Conference Talk, April 1965

The Apostle Paul said that this apostasy was characterized by mankind becoming “… lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: …” (2 Tim. 3:2-5.)…
There are moves in at least two states in America to ease up on laws regulating immoral behavior. Legislators are being asked to rule that adultery should no longer be considered a crime, that homosexuals and other deviates should be allowed to practise their depravities legally and without restriction, and that the age of consent for a child to enter public prostitution should be lowered to sixteen years.
Apostasy through immorality is at least as bad as returning to paganism. God still says: “Thou shalt not commit adultery; …” (Exod. 20:14.) Christ still says: “… whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matt. 5:28.) And Paul still says of those who deviate from the path of virtue into some of the great perversions, “… they which commit such things are worthy of death.” (Rom. 1:26-32.)
Let our so-called progressive Christians beware, lest like the ancient scribes and Pharisees they find that their house, too, has become desolate… Again he appeals for virtue — complete, chaste, unblemished purity — on the part of his followers, for no unclean thing can come into his presence… By modern revelation he tells us that sex sin is next to murder in the divine category of crime. (See Alma 39:5.)
LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, “No True Worship without Chastity,”
Improvement Era, Jun. 1965, 503-505 or Conference Report, Apr. 1965, 34-37
https://archive.org/details/conferencereport1965a/page/36/mode/2up

The Strong Delusions

“... the "new morality" that is being flaunted now; a lowering of the standards of virtue, a philosophy that anything goes these days. This is a doctrine of Satan. Not only does this delusion include sex before marriage, the abolition of marriage altogether, and assent to infidelity, but it embraces the now widespread movement of homosexuality.
The homosexuals claim that God made them that way and hence are powerless to change, which is a complete fabrication and a deep delusion, for it was the Lord who provided the death penalty for these people in ancient times.” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, Church News, January 14, 1978 | wasmormon.org — “… the “new morality” that is being flaunted now; a lowering of the standards of virtue, a philosophy that anything goes these days. This is a doctrine of Satan. Not only does this delusion include sex before marriage, the abolition of marriage altogether, and assent to infidelity, but it embraces the now widespread movement of homosexuality. The homosexuals claim that God made them that way and hence are powerless to change, which is a complete fabrication and a deep delusion, for it was the Lord who provided the death penalty for these people in ancient times.” – LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, Church News, January 14, 1978

One of the punishments that will come into the world in the last days, according to the Apostle Paul, is that strung delusions will arise which will further mislead the wicked.
Paul said that these who take pleasure in unrighteousness will be so deluded that they will “believe what is false so that all who have refused to believe the truth but have preferred disobedience, may be condemned.” (2 Thess. 1:1-11, American Translation, Smith and Goodspeed).
Since this condition is to be a part of conditions in the last days, and an outgrowth of the Great Apostasy, as Paul so clearly explained to the Thessalonians, what are some of the great delusions that are now in the world? There are many.
One is that it doesn’t matter to what church a person belongs, “for all roads lead to heaven.” Christ has but ono true Church.
Another is that redemption from sin may be obtained by merely coming to the “penitent bench” and there “confessing belief in Christ,” or even doing so over the radio. The gospel provides for no such thing.
Still another is the “new morality” that is being flaunted now; a lowering of the standards of virtue, a philosophy that anything goes these days. This is a doctrine of Satan.
Not only does this delusion include sex before marriage, the abolition of marriage altogether, and assent to infidelity, but it embraces the now widespread movement of homosexuality.
The homosexuals claim that God made them that way and hence they are powerless to change, which is a complete fabrication and a deep delusion, for it was the Lord who provided the death penalty for these people in ancient times (Lev. 18:22; 20:13; Deut. 23:17).
The Sacramento, Calif., Bee, on Dee. 4, 1977, said that there are 18 million homonexuals in the United States, 150,000 of them living in San Francisco alone.
The newspaper gave expert evidence that homosexuals certainly are not born–they are made–further defusing claims that they “can’t help it.”
Another fast rising delusion appears now in many school textbooks on science, giving only the evolutionist theory on the origin of life and the universe. This is adding drastically to the rapid spread of atheism among our school children.
We might include others. But these alone should pot thinking people on guard. True believers in God must recognize each for what it is, and as Paul further said, “hold fast to that which is good.” (1 Then. 5:21).
HOW FORTUNATE WE are to have among us seers and revelators to guide us in these latter days. How fortunate we are to have our modern scriptures, which fully sustain the Bible, and help us to avoid the intellectual deceptions which draw so many away from God and into paths of transgression.
LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, “The Strong Delusions”, Church News, Deseret News, January 14, 1978, p. 16
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xW1TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sYUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5478%2C3444178
https://bhroberts.org/records/0a8m5R-YWnWEb/mark_e_petersen_lists_homosexuality_as_one_of_the_strong_delusions_of_the_great_apostasy_and_the_modern_era

Calling the Kettle Clean

“The furor now arising over the homosexual issue is but one example. Legislators, like everyone else, must recognize that the unclean is unclean regardless of the attire in which it appears. Some say that this evil is no longer evil. But who has the right or the ability to change its basic definition? It was the Almighty Himself who laid down the law on this practice. He condemned it and classed it as a capital crime... Who are they that they should parade their debauchery and call it clean?” - LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, Church News, March 18, 1978 | wasmormon.org — “The furor now arising over the homosexual issue is but one example. Legislators, like everyone else, must recognize that the unclean is unclean regardless of the attire in which it appears. Some say that this evil is no longer evil. But who has the right or the ability to change its basic definition? It was the Almighty Himself who laid down the law on this practice. He condemned it and classed it as a capital crime… Who are they that they should parade their debauchery and call it clean?” – LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, Church News, March 18, 1978

Every right-thinking person should wholeheartedly battle the tendency to make unclean things and habits appear to be clean and respectable.
The furor now arising over the homosexual issue is but one example. Legislators, like everyone else, must recognize that the unclean is unclean regardless of the attire in which it appears.
Some say that this evil is no longer evil. But who has the right or the ability to change its basic definition? It was the Almighty Himself who laid down the law on this practice. He condemned it and classed it as a capital crime
If Americans will believe the Bible they will know what the divine rules are on this subject. If they repudiate the word of God do they not also repudiate God? And who in this country or any other country dares to do that?
Then on what basis do the adherents to this practice demand special privilege? Who are they that they should parade their debauchery and call it clean? They even form their own churches and profess to worship the very God who denounces their behavior and they do not repent.
They form their own political groups and seek to compel the public to respect them. Do other violators of the law of God receive special consideration? Do the robbers, the thieves, the adulterers? Any reader of Leviticus (Chapters 18 and 20) knows the answer.
The Book of Mormon says: “The kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God.”
LDS Apostle, Mark E. Petersen, “Calling the kettle clean,” Church News, Deseret News, March 18, 1978, p. 16
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3d80AAAAIBAJ&sjid=TYUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3211%2C5244411

The anti-LGBT statements made by LDS Apostle Mark E. Petersen reflect harsh perspectives that promote discrimination and intolerance. His views, articulated through various channels, including general conference talks and church publications, dehumanize and stigmatize individuals based on their sexual orientation. Petersen’s rhetoric equates homosexuality with criminal behavior and advocates for severe punishment, including the death penalty. His statements are morally reprehensible and contrary to contemporary understandings of human rights and dignity.

By perpetuating the notion that homosexuality is a deviant and punishable behavior, Petersen’s statements contribute to a culture of fear and exclusion within the Mormon community still today. These views ignore the inherent worth and humanity of LGBT individuals, instead reducing them to objects of scorn and derision. This institutionalized homophobia is harmful, fostering environments where unchecked discrimination and prejudices flourish.

Petersen’s assertions that homosexuality is a deliberate choice or a curable condition are scientifically unfounded and damaging. These claims undermine the experiences of LGBT individuals, many of whom have faced significant personal and societal challenges. By invalidating their identities and promoting falsehoods, the LDS Church’s stance, as represented by Petersen, not only alienates and harms LGBT members but also stands in stark opposition to Christian principles of love, compassion, and understanding.

The anti-LGBT rhetoric espoused by Elder Mark E. Petersen among others, and institutionalized by the LDS Church promotes harmful intolerance. The church must evolve and recognize the dignity and rights of all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation. Only by embracing inclusivity and rejecting outdated prejudices can the church hope to foster a truly compassionate community.

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