Does Gender Matter?

            There is much talk of gender in the world today. Many people believe that there are more than two genders and that they can choose their genders according to how they think or feel. Men who think they are women are setting all kinds of records in women’s sports. So, we ask the question: does gender matter?

            The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says that gender does matter. In fact, the Church teaches that gender is in our DNA, that we brought it with us when we came to earth, and that we will take it with us into the next world. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” states: “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” Each of us is either a son or a daughter of Heavenly Parents – in our pre-earth life, in mortality, and in our post-earth life. Our gender does not change.

            Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the Seventy says that the confusion about gender and same-sex attraction comes as the result of activists pushing the homosexual agenda in an effort to make their deviant behavior acceptable and legal. He shares four misconceptions that were pushed on the unsuspecting public: (1) “Same-sex attraction is an inborn and unalterable orientation,”

(2) If you are born gay, there is no need to change; and since you have a permanent condition, you can’t change anyway,” (3) “Most Americans favor same-gender marriage,” and (4) “There are no rational, non-religious reasons for opposing same-gender marriage.” Elder Hafen explains why each of these ideas are false, but these wrong concepts confuse many people.

            The activists pushing these false ideas succeeded widely with their agenda because homosexual acts are no longer illegal, same-sex marriage is legal, and too many people think that they can change their gender. However, it does not matter what changes are made by governments or societies because no man-made laws or policies will change the seriousness of breaking the laws of God.

            The Church of Jesus Christ “does not take a position on the cause of same-sex attraction,” but it does say that same-sex attraction is not a sin unless acted upon. It teaches that “sexual purity is an essential part of God’s plan for our happiness” and that “sexual relations between a man and woman who are not married or between people of the same sex are sinful” and violate the law of chastity. This standard applies to everyone.

            All of us can avoid breaking this law by keeping our thoughts and actions pure. Those who fail to live the law of chastity can be forgiven by both the Church of Jesus Christ and God, but they must fully and sincerely confess their sins and forsake them. Repentance unlocks the doors to the Savior’s Atonement and makes it active in our lives. Jesus Christ paid for our sins and asks only that we keep His commandments.

            Heavenly Father loves us so much that He sent His Beloved Son to die for us, and the Son loves us so much that He gave His life for us. Each of us is valuable in their sight, and They will help us to overcome our weaknesses and repent of our sins. They want all of us to return to their presence to live with them for all eternity.