[POMAH_K]

The Associated Press: LDS leader's speech on gays modified on website

Boyd K. Packer is the 2nd highest ranking officer in the Mormon church; and its most outspoken critic of homosexuality.

In the LDS General Conference last week, he gave a speech that steadfastly insisted on calling homosexuality unnatural. He said other things about gays that were equally critical.

OK. Fine. Mormon dogma says being gay is bad. Their choice entirely.

But, the church has "modified" Packer's comments on their official website. They simply wish to wash away history. Oh, the crux of his comments are still there; but, a few choice words have been changed to soften the blow.

I will leave Utah soon. When I do, I will be taxed to find any group, religious or not, that uses Orwellian methods to make themselves look less bigoted--for things they say and believe--to the extreme that the Mormon church does.

One last thing:

Packer is near death. When most high ranking Mormons are dying, they usually use their General Conference speech as a final testimony to their life. Packer most likely will be dead before the next Conference in April. I find it quite amazing that a man whose legacy in Mormonism will be based on this final speech would use it to continue the Mormon legacy of ignorant homophobia.