Understanding Same Sex Attraction
**Please Note:** This article and the links that follow will take a large amount of  your time to look over but it is well worth it and necessary to be more informed on this important topic.  Please share this with others and I would love your feedback!

In lieu of recent events that have taken place in our Federal Courts of Law... This topic is one that I believe is worth discussing and understanding.  There is much debate and struggle over this issue even among members of the Church.  Many are being deceived by what society, the media and our law makers are telling them.  Statements like "redefining marriage" and being "born that way" are among the most significant and important issues to really understand because these are the issues that have the greatest impact on our society and on the doctrine of the family.  If we believe that it is necessary and morally right to redefine marriage to include marriage between two people of the same gender than we are essentially seeking to reestablish God's eternal doctrine on the family according to ancient and modern day revelation.  "Marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God" and "God has commanded that the powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife."  (The Family Proclamation).  We cannot makes these changes in the laws or our land and not expect to have some very serious consequences on our nation and on the world. "We...warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets." (The Family Proclamation)
If we believe that people are "born" with same gender attraction then we lose the ability and desire to seek light, truth and healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ regarding this difficult and sensitive issue.  We know that "Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal and eternal identity." We also know that men and women were commanded to "multiply and replenish the earth" and that is only possible with a man and a woman. It is so important for us as a society and as disciples of Jesus Christ to seek truth in this matter and the more knowledge and understanding we can gain the more we can help those who struggle with same sex attraction to reach their fullest potential.  We can't just assume that our government leaders and lawmakers are correct and the research they use to support their decisions is correct.  We must act for ourselves and seek light and truth.  Please take the time to read over the below research and discussions/videos on these important topics.
The assertion that was made based on a brief prepared and presented to the courts by the American Psychological Association first in March 2013 and then again this last year states "Not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents." (APA Brief, 2005,p. 15)  This brief has been used widely to change state and family law and was just currently presented to the Supreme Court to change federal law.  What is so very intriguing and also very sad is that there was also another brief presented to the court which examines the validity of the APA brief... and has found that the research used in the APA brief was far from being sound and did in fact have some very serious and large flaws.  This brief is not so widely used (not surprising) and not so well known and talked about in the media. Please take the time to review this....check out the highlighted parts... you will be amazed at the lack of good judgement and sound research that was used by the Supreme Court (Law making professionals) to make perhaps the most important decision in the history of our nation concerning the definition of marriage.  They made the wrong decision.
 Brief by Dr. Loren Marks

Keeping in mind all of the flaws contained in that research and the above assertion that was made by the APA based on seriously flawed research about children of homosexual parents... please take some time to review the New Family Structure Study (NFSS)... a comparative social science project led by Dr. Mark Regnerus of the Population Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin .  This is an amazing study and has been conducted using large random samples, control groups, and over the course of many years following children into adulthood.  There are some extremely helpful interactive tools on this website that make it really fast and easy to see the results they have found in their research.

This is a video:  Understanding Same Sex Attraction that takes a look at a professional counseling center's approach and beliefs about same sex attraction and how one can truly be helped to overcome this struggle if so desired.  (Currently there is a movement to change laws regarding and eradicate "reparative therapy or conversion therapy" which is therapy provided to individuals who struggle with same sex attraction and desire to change.  If this movement continues... which it most certainly will... think of the effect that will have on thousands of individuals who truly desire help and healing in their lives.)

This is a discussion between two Marriage and Family Therapists that sheds new light on the topic and introduces some of the research articles listed below...
http://stream.byui.edu/VideoPlayer/BYUIplayer.html?
StartCue=0&EndCue=1420&VideoName=Same%20sex%20attraching&VideoType=lectures

The articles below are written by social psychologist Daryl J. Bem, Ph.D (Who actually identifies himself as Gay) and were published by the American Psychological Association. It is worth noting that Dr. Bem was NOT motivated by political agenda or any other agenda other than finding the truth.  Dr. Bem has formulated a theory based on this research showing that individuals are not "born gay" but rather through a process of socialization and often mis-treatments and other factors some individuals who are born with specific traits and personalities often begin to eroticize and sexualize the same gender during adolescence.  The amount of research, evidence and findings is compelling and well worth the time it takes to read over.
Exotic Becomes Erotic: A Developmental Theory of Sexual Orientation

Exotic Becomes Erotic: Explaining the Enigma of Sexual Orientation

Exotic Becomes Erotic: Interpreting the Biological Correlates of Sexual Orientation

These next articles are written by Dr. Dean Byrd who asserts some of the same research, information and theories of Darryl Bem but also adds his own research and findings.
Born That Way - Facts and Fiction about Homosexuality

Same Sex Attraction - Science, Research and Therapy

Great resource websites for anyone seeking help with and understanding of unwanted same sex attraction:
Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction

http://www.josephnicolosi.com/what-is-reparative-therapy-exa/

FHE Ideas:
With the guidance of the spirit, discuss with your families age appropriate concepts and thoughts and feelings about this sensitive and important topic and share any information from the above resources that you may feel prompted to share.
Read over the The Family: A Proclamation to the World and the Instruction Given to the Church Leaders and Members regarding Same Sex Marriage  and discuss the important doctrine of the family.  Also discuss how we should treat others with this struggle with love, kindness and respect just as Christ would treat them.  Help your family to understand that we can offer our help and support to those who desire to change.