Do you believe in Generational Curses?
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.(Exodus 20:5-6; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9)
Why does God curse future generations?
Even in the D&C 124:50
And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and commandments I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.
For a long time, many believed Noah cursed Ham (Genesis 9:25)
And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.
But the church has recently disavowed this curse.
Much has been said about the new policy affecting children of gay parents. How about some poll questions?
[poll id = “536”]
[poll id = “537]
How do you explain these curses?
Wheat & Tares 
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
And the iniquity and transgression of my holy laws and commandments I will visit upon the heads of those who hindered my work, unto the third and fourth generation, so long as they repent not, and hate me, saith the Lord God.
Any individual can choose to love God. Any curse that might exist immediately evaporates when an individual chooses to love and serve God, according to the verses in the original posting.
I’d always thought of the cursing being more how some things can effect the upbringing of children to believe the same things for generations. Likewise, the teaching of a people that they are somehow better than another people can be a curse to themselves and others, also for generations.
I don’t believe God would incite such things, and also that judgments will take into account such curses brought about by other people.
It makes no sense to take many scriptures literally. This is one of the problems with Christianity today – taking scriptures literally. Stop acting like fundamentalists! It makes no sense to take them literally. If you really believe God meant this in a literal way, then we are far more moral that God. And if it was meant literally – which I don’t believe it is – then a Disciplinary Council needs to be held on him.
I recall on great Jewish scholar (forgot his name) said that when you see things in the scriptures that look outlandish or even immoral, you can bet there is some meaning deeper behind the outward appearance.
A lot of these arguments about children of gay people being shunned because of this are just gross speculation and/or hypocritical hyperbole.
How many people were outraged by the children of polygamous families being subject to these rules? Very few. Why? Because being from a polygamous family is not currently popular with the liberal wing of the Church.
Furthermore, I would argue that children of polygamous families are much more likely to convert to Mormonism than children of gay parents. Their belief system is much more compatible with mainstream LDS thought than married gay folks. Therefore there are a lot more potentially impacted children of polygamy than children of gay unions.
Finally, I actually know of two different children who were raised in polygamous families, who attended LDS meetings with friends, who were not allowed to be baptized at age 8, but who still went to church, participated in YM/YW, at 18 left home, were baptized and married in the Temple.
These folks were treated with love and kindness with no shunning or persecution. In reality, I don’t see any church unit treating children of gay families any differently.
This doesn’t fit the current ‘outraged’, ‘think of the children’ narrative, but it is reality.
jb:
It would be nice if you spoke to what the article asks about, which asks if God curses later generations or not. We know what you think about the new policy (you’re apparently all in favor of it).
You are right that the ban against children of polygamists should also be as of much concern as that of gay parents if we are to be consistent. Quite frankly, I didn’t know about the policy toward polygamist kids until this whole thing started.
I did get a kick out of your saying children of polygamist families are more likely to convert than those of gay families. Since polygamy is still within the doctrine of the church in D&C sections 131 & 132, I am sure that warms the hearts of many in the “right wing of the church.” But just what is the church going to do with polygamists and their kids when the U.S. Supreme Court eventually says polygamy is legal? it’s coming! I guess God won’t curse them anymore will he?! I just needed to point that out since God is no respecter of persons.
6 days of creation, rain for 40 days, fasting for 40 days in the wilderness, 3rd and 4th generations. ….
These are time units to express “a long time” not a literal measurement.
I don’t really believe God curses His children. Why would He? Some scriptures puzzle me.
Ezekiel seems to hold a less extreme opinion:
1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasionany more to use this proverb in Israel.
25 ¶Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
“Any individual can choose to love God. Any curse that might exist immediately evaporates when an individual chooses to love and serve God, according to the verses in the original posting.”
ji:
Well said. We need to learn to remember that when things seem to get rough.