Arson destroys Seattle LDS chapel

Photo courtesy of komonews.com

MUKILTEO, Wash -- A LDS chapel in a Seattle suburb has been determined to have been started early Saturday in response to statements made by Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer.

President Packer's speech about protecting what has been defined as a family at the LDS General Conference October 3 is thought to be the catalyst for the response when he said that homosexuality is a trial that can be overcome. "Some suppose that they were preset and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn temptations toward the impure and unnatural. Not so!," Packer continues, "Paul [the ancient apostle] promised that 'God ... will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; ... that ye may be able to bear it.'"

Activist group spokesman have also responded to the statements including Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. In an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune, Solmonese said, “Same-sex attraction cannot be repaired, it cannot be washed away and it certainly cannot be changed simply be praying more.” He continues by expressing the dangers and implications the statements may have including increased rationalized discrimination or violence as well as self loathing or suicide for those struggling with same-sex attraction.

Many protests have been organized and executed since the presiding apostle spoke to members of the LDS church within the city of Salt Lake but this seems to be the first outside the state of Utah since Proposition 8 in California. In an article for the Deseret News, Steven Lee, who attended church meetings at the Mukilteo chapel said, “It’s really devastating, this is a place of worship for hundreds of people who come here to worship as they believe. It’s just horrible to watch it.”