I remember this vividly. I remember the confusion and the worry that crossed my mind as I considered what this meant for our country, and the repercussions that would inevitably come from this decision.
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| photo retrieved from here |
We understand that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God" (source, emphasis added) and it is the only marriage that is permissible and acceptable in His eyes.
These things we know as members of the Church. We understand the religious, spiritual destruction that will follow the legalization and eventual acceptance of same-gender marriage. But do we understand the temporal and societal consequences as well? Do we know how to explain these consequences to those not of our faith?
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| Cathy Ruse photo retrieved from here |
Cathy Ruse, an attorney with the Family Research Council, spoke at the World Congress of Families on October 28th, 2015. She begins her speech by talking about the importance of motherhood. She says, "As a mother I know that no man can be a mother... just as I could never be a father. And children need both. All mothers know this... But the elites in society today - in academia, in the media - they laugh at that proposition. They scoff at it. They say 'Everybody knows it doesn't matter whether children are raised in same-sex households, in opposite households, it's all the same. And if you disagree, you're a bigot and you're on the wrong side of history.' Well, I disagree... As a mother, I know that two fathers is not the same as a mother and father. And if two fathers is the same as a mother and father, that means mothers are dispensable. They are unneeded. They are unnecessary. They can be disposed of. And that is a lie. As a mother I know that is a lie" (to watch her full speech click here).
But why is this an issue? Besides the chance that someone will get their feelings hurt, what is the problem with the United States legalizing same-sex marriage? Does it really matter? It does.
One of the biggest temporal problems that comes from this is the issue of religious freedom. To learn more about religious freedom is, watch the following video clip (about 4 minutes).
So how does this apply to the issue of legalized same-sex marriage? According to Ruse, "Those who brought about this change in marriage law did so for one purpose only: to create public sanction... official societal sanction for conduct or a relationship that was not sanctioned in history, that was not sanctioned by private religion, and that was long regarded as immoral, unhealthy, and unsafe. That is the whole reason that we see this drastic transformation of marriage. Because tolerance was not enough. Live-and-let-live was not enough. Official societal approval was required... Americans did not ask for this change" (source). She goes on to describe the chain of events for the 15 years leading up to the Supreme Court's ruling.
In 32 states, the people voted and chose man-woman marriage to be the law of their land. Despite the more than 50 million Americans who voted to keep traditional marriage as law, in 2015, five Supreme Court Judges (who I should point out are not elected officials) were able to overrule all same-sex marriage bans in all 50 states.
Now, perhaps you still don't see a problem with this. Moral rights and wrongs aside, perhaps there wouldn't be one. But Ruse brings to light just how our religious freedoms are being violated. She says, "We must fight for the right to live and work according to our beliefs. Our enemy in this fight is not our neighbor. Not even the 1.6 percent of our neighbors who identify themselves as gay... Our enemy are those who would be our masters. The judge who jails a clerk for failing to give her signature" (to read about this story, click here) "The magistrate who takes the house of a baker for want of a cake" (to read more about this story, click here) "These are our enemies in the fight ahead. No government official can force us to bend the knee at the alter of a foreign god. It's as simple as that" (source).
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| Chief Justice Roberts photo retrieved from here |
the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia... Just who do we think we are? ... Understand well what this dissent is about: It is not about whether, in my judgment, the institution of marriage should be changed to include same-sex couples. It is instead about whether, in our democratic republic, that decision should rest with the people acting through their elected representatives, or with five lawyers who happen to hold commissions authorizing them to resolve legal disputes according to law. The Constitution leaves no doubt about the answer" (source).
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| Justice Scalia photo retrieved from here |
As we've learned about this issue this week, I cannot help be feel that people really really don't understand the purpose of marriage. Ruse comments in her speech that the government doesn't care about love, or at least, they haven't in the past. One of the big legal questions on this issue is - why is the government involved in marriage at all?
Chief Justice Roberts has a simple answer:
"This universal definition of marriage as
a union of a man and a woman is no historical coincidence.
Marriage did not come about as a result of a
political movement,
discovery,
disease,
war,
religious doctrine,
or any other moving force of world history -
and certainly not as a result of a prehistoric decision to exclude gays and lesbians.
It arose in the nature of things to meet a vital need:
ensuring that children are conceived by a mother and father committed
to raising them in the stable conditions of a lifelong relationship"
(source, emphasis added).
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| photo retrieved from here |
All spiritual reasons aside, that is what marriage is for: to act as a protection for all of those children that inevitably come when a man and woman are married.
Regarding parenthood and religious freedom, Ruse gives us a call to action. She urges, "In the days ahead, mothers will have to proclaim the importance of motherhood and fathers of fatherhood. We have to do it better. We have to say that children need mothering and fathering, not just two adults in the house. This is an important truth that we can't take for granted anymore. This has to be taught... And if we cannot secure [our religious freedoms] in law, then we must live it in civil disobedience of the law" (source).
But what do our church leaders have to say about the issue? Naturally, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supports our rights to religious freedom. In addition, the Church takes a firm stance on marriage and it's proper definition (which is, between a man and a woman). But do they agree with Ruse's call to civil disobedience?
Elder Dallin H. Oaks, apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is often in the spotlight to speak on these difficult issues. He is often heard speaking about the "rule of law" and in October 2015, shed some light on this topic. He said:
"There should be no belligerence between religion and government...
Governments and their laws can provide the essential protections
for believers and religious organizations and their activities.
Believers and religious organizations should recognize this
and refrain from labeling governments and laws and officials
as if they were inevitable enemies...
Office holders remain free to draw upon their personal beliefs
and motivations and advocate their positions in the public square.
But when acting as public officials
they are not free to apply personal convictions -
religious or other -
in place of the defined responsibilities of their public offices...
A county clerk's recent invoking of religious reasons
to justify refusal to issue marriage licenses
to same-gender couples violates this principle"
(source).
As the video on religious freedom showed, the 11th Article of Faith states, "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may" (source). This obviously speaks about our strong belief in religious freedom.
However, the 12th Article of Faith reads,
"We believe in being subject to kings,
presidents,
rulers,
and magistrates,
in obeying,
honoring,
and sustaining the law"
(source).
So what is to be done? How can we ensure our religious freedoms are protected, while still obeying and honoring the laws of the land?
Elder Oaks calls for a truce of sorts when he says, "Both sides in big controversies like this should seek to understand the other's position and seek practical accommodations that provide fairness for all and total dominance for neither" (source).
In following the laws of the land (even those that may not agree with our beliefs in marriage), it is important for us to always hold to the truths we know. President Russell M. Nelson, president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reminds us of this ever important principle. He reminds us that men and women were created to work together and that neither mothers nor fathers are replaceable or interchangeable. He reminds us that children are entitled to a mother and a father to raise them.
During his August 2014 Commencement speech at BYU, President Nelson (then, Elder Nelson) explains, "As you go forth through BYU, you will likely encounter increasing debate about the definition of marriage. Many of your neighbors, colleagues, and friends will have never heard logical and inspired truths about the importance of marriage as God Himself defined it. You will have many opportunities to strengthen understanding of the Lord's side of that argument by the eloquence of your examples, both as individuals and as families" (source).
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| photo retrieved from here |
Will you be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Can you honestly say that you are "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16)? Will we stand firm for those truths that we know? Will we defend the gospel, regardless of the persecutions that may come (and they will come)? Will we be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ?
"Disciples of the Lord are defenders of marriage.
We cannot yield.
History is not our judge.
A secular society is not our judge.
God is our judge!...
The future of marriage and of countless human lives
will be determined by your willingness
to bear solemn witness of the Lord and live according to His gospel"
(source).
How can we defend marriage? How can we act as disciples of Jesus Christ?
We live in amazing times. Through the use of the internet and social media, it has never been easier to announce those things which we know to be true. Don't hold back. Explain the ever important role of marriage. Defend it to the very end. "Proclaim your love for God! Proclaim your love for all human beings... They as children of God are our brothers and sisters. We value their rights and feelings. But we cannot condone efforts to change divine doctrine. It is not for man to change" (source).
Now is not the time to sit quietly and watch as marriage is redefined and rewritten. Now is the time to speak up for the sanctity and sacred nature of marriage. As you do so with pure intent, the spirit will guide you to know what to say. It may not soften the hearts of those around you immediately, but the spirit will work to teach them about these ever important doctrines. You are the instrument the Lord will use to further His work and proclaim His truths. "Be strong and of good courage" (Joshua 1:7) and the Lord will bless us beyond what we can comprehend.
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