Hi... you,
I need to get a little something off my chest. I am not concerned that what I am about to write might make me look a bit out of touch. I just want to write it and get it out there. Okeydoke?
Gay marriage. First of all, I am a Mormon. A card-carrying, believing Mormon. One who loves my church, it's doctrine, the journey it has taken from the early days of Joseph Smith, and where it stands today.
Right now, the gay community hates us. We are largely being blamed (along with other religions and minority groups) for the passage of Proposition 8 in California (an amendment to the state constitution that outlaws gay marriage). As it turns out the Mormon vote was reletively small, but the Mormon man-hours and money equaled about 50 percent of the contributions raised. So their hate is understandable, if not justified. This year has been a rough year for Mormons. We have been quite maligned for what we believe in. What with Mitt Romney, the polygamists in Arizona and Texas, and this Prop 8 stuff. But, you know what they say, if you can't take the heat, stay out of Missouri.
Let me explain why I think that the Mormon Church did what it did in respect to gay marriage. Before I do that, let me point out that the church teaches that being sexually attracted to the same gender, without acting on it, is not a sin (the same thing is said to unmarried heterosexuals about the opposite sex). Also, the church supports domestic partnership rights.
First, Mormon doctrine says that sex should be expressed only between a legally married man and woman. And that any other type of sex is sin. Sin that must be repented of. The chuch is against institutionalizing sin (see Utah's gambling and liquor laws).
Second, Mormons believe that the church is run by prophets and apostles whose job it is to declare truth to the world.
Regardless of how you personally feel about the church's leadership, there is no doubt that they (the leadership) truly believe that this is the job they've been called to do. And, the faithful membership of the church will follow them. Mormons believe that they can personally go to God for answers and that God will let them know what is right (this is why Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon, Modern Prophets and Apostles, and the church in general--they believe they have spiritual proof).
Also, Mormons believe that the President of the Church will be given direction for the church. So, when a letter from the First Presidency asks Mormons to contribute time and money, faithful members contribute time and money. The leaders truly believe that they have been directed by the Spirit, and the members concur.
Some would call this dillusion. Religious people call it faith.
Third, twelve years ago the leadership of the church published a statement that contained the belief that calamity would be brought on by the deteriorization of the traditional family. So, it has become a side mission of the church to protect the traditional family unit (meaning: Dad, Mom, and children) as a foundational part of society.
Finally, in 1979 Neal Maxwell, a church leader who passed away a few years ago, made the following statement:
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.
"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as un-trendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "A More Determined Discipleship", Ensign, Feb. 1979
The message of that quote is that the church will take stands of principle even if they appear to be unenlightened. To a church that fully believes itself to be God's Kingdom on Earth (all churches should feel that way, or what's the point) it is imperative that they stand for what they believe God would have them stand for.
A few years down the road gay marriage will likely be legal. But, there will be a clear record of where the church has stood.
My belief is that we are all children of God who loves all of us equally. Because we are children of God we speak his language and if we truly tune in to what he wants of us, we'll know what that is. He wants only the best for all of us. I believe that we are here on this Earth to learn how to make wise decisions. The type of decisions that sacrifice what we want now for what is most important later. These are hard decisions to make, especially in today's society where what we want now is almost always available.
I do not believe that any one is fully defined by who they want to sleep with or marry. We are better defined by the content of our character (MLK Jr.). Some day we will stand before God and he will be as merciful as he can with us, without compromising his laws. This means that we are responsible for what we understand. I think this means that there may just be a good number of gay men and women who will partake of Christ's atonement and be saved and a good number of religious folks who through pride, hate, and spiritual blindness will not. Meanwhile, we must do the best we can with what we understand.
That's all I have to say about that.
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