Week 3: Threats to Marriage

Do we, as Latter-day Saints, blow out of proportion the redefining of marriage? No, we don’t. I really like this quote from Elder Russel M. Nelson. I think it touches on a very important point about marriage.

“God is the Father of all men and women. They are His children. It was He who ordained marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Marriage was not created by human judges or legislators. It was not created by think tanks or by popular vote or by oft-quoted bloggers or by pundits. It was not created by lobbyists. Marriage was created by God!” ¹

The Lord set the pattern for marriage, and that pattern was set for a very good reason – the creation of children, and thus, families. For myself, this is one of the greatest reasons we should have for opposing same-sex marriages. Children cannot be created in such unions. We understand that one of Satan’s greatest purposes is to undermine the Plan of Salvation. Marriage between man and woman, and the creation of children from those unions, is central to that plan. If Satan can get the world to accept same-sex unions, he is having some success.

I find it interesting that those assenting votes used family and children as one of the basis for their vote.

“A third basis for protecting the right to marry is that it safeguards children and families and thus draws meaning from related rights of childrearing, procreation, and education.”²(pg. 14)

Their viewpoint, that parents of the same gender are having as much success as parents of different genders in raising families, side-steps the fact that children cannot be created by same gender parents.

As the creator of all mankind, the Lord knows what is best for us. He knows that the ideal place to raise children is in a family that includes a loving mother and father who are committed to each other and their children. Life may throw circumstances at us that are less than ideal, but we should still strive to teach and live the pattern the Lord set. 

There is a quote from the U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Same-Sex Marriage that I thought showed and understanding of these divinely given principles. Chief Justice Roberts states:

“This universal definition of marriage as the 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.”³

 I just want to share one other quote. It come from a statement put out in 1995,  by the First Presidency of the Church, entitled The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Paragraphs 7-10 say:

"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed."

"We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."

"We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society." (4)

I think this pretty much sums up why we, as a nation, need to be concerned with the outcome of the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage.

Sources: 

1. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/russell-m-nelson_disciples-jesus-christ-defenders-marriage/

2. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf

3. 576 U. S. ____ (2015) ROBERTS, C. J., dissenting (pg. 4-5) http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf
4.  https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng