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| (Frederick Morgan, Off for the Honeymoon) |
Over the Christmas break there were some major happenings in Utah about same-sex marriage. One judge – one – overturned the voters in Utah to legalize same-sex marriage. That judge refused a stay on the order as did a circuit court. The Supreme Court did issue a stay. Now the matter will be under review of an appellate court. And while it is under review the law reverts back to what the voters decided – marriage is to be between one man and one woman.
I am a huge supporter of traditional marriage! I believe, and research has shown, (links to studies at the end of this post) they make the strongest families and give children the best opportunities for a successful life. My support of traditional marriage comes as no surprise to my blog followers as I have held a celebration for the past four years on The Family: A Proclamation to the World. This document was divinely inspired! Given back in 1995 before gay marriage was even an issue it has been a guide and help to members of our church.
I am also thankful for words of our modern day prophets and apostles, whom I support and sustain as called of God, who continue to teach about God’s law vs. man’s law. Here are a couple of quotes from this past General Conference held in October 2013.
“Civil governments are heavily influenced by social trends and secular philosophies as they write, rewrite, and enforce laws. Regardless of what civil legislation may be enacted, the doctrine of the Lord regarding marriage and morality cannot be changed. Remember: sin, even if legalized by man, is still sin in the eyes of God!” (Elder Russell M. Nelson, Decisions for Eternity, Oct 2013 General Conference)
“Our twelfth article of faith states our belief in being subject to civil authority and “in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.” But man’s laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral. Commitment to our highest priority—to love and serve God—requires that we look to His law for our standard of behavior. Laws legalizing so-called “same-sex marriage” do not change God’s law of marriage or His commandments and our standards concerning it. We remain under covenant to love God and keep His commandments and to refrain from serving other gods and priorities—even those becoming popular in our particular time and place.” (Elder Dallin H. Oaks, No Other Gods, Oct 2013 General Conference)
After everything that has taken place in Utah, our church has issued a statement regarding our stance on the matter. I’ll only quote a couple of paragraphs but please read the entirety of the statement.
“Changes in the civil law do not, indeed cannot, change the moral law that God has established. God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society. His law of chastity is clear: sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We urge you to review and teach Church members the doctrine contained in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”
“Just as those who promote same-sex marriage are entitled to civility, the same is true for those who oppose it. The Church insists on its leaders’ and members’ constitutionally protected right to express and advocate religious convictions on marriage, family, and morality free from retaliation or retribution. The Church is also entitled to maintain its standards of moral conduct and good standing for members.”
In all these statements an emphasis has been placed on following the moral law God has established. Even when man changes law to suit their fancy or whims if it is against God’s law it is still immoral even though it may be ‘legal.’ Abortion is one such law that comes to mind.
As a mother I am also thankful for my constitutionally protected right to practice my religion, to teach my children God’s morals no matter what the philosophies of man may say, and to stand firm in my beliefs.
“No matter how the wind may howl, the mountain cannot bow to it.” – Emperor, Mulan
Part of those beliefs are to love everyone, yes! And we do! But loving does not mean condoning that which is morally wrong. I will continue to do all I can to support and defend traditional marriage and family. Is that old-fashioned? You bet.
Studies about the effects of Homosexual Marriage or partnerships on children:
New Family Structure Studies
Review of the Economics of a Household (Canada)
Homosexual Parenting: Is it time for change?
More of my thoughts about traditional marriage and families:
Sharing the Family Proclamation
Never Check Your Religion at the Door – Defend the Family!
Defending Marriage
Gender is Essential
I Support Traditional Marriage
AMEN!!! Thank you for posting everything I’ve wanted to say about the issue.
My children and I watched Elder Nelson’s talk again this morning in our devotional, and I marvelled at the prophetic counsel he gave, mere months before the judge in Utah decided to legislate from the bench.
Man’s laws may fluctuate and change, but God’s laws NEVER change.
I believe in marriage ONLY between a man and a woman, and I applaud the leaders of the Church for standing up with steadfast morals, and yet expressing compassion at the same time.
I want to stand with you and be counted, and join with you in standing up for the family as God himself ordained it to be!!! I don’t care if I am “on the right side of history.” I will stand on the LORD’s side above all else.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Lots of love,
Rachel
My testimony of the divine importance of family has grown so much in the last 3 years. I was thinking about it yesterday and wondered if it was part of the prophesy that “the hearts of the parents would be turned to their children”. I’ve always heard that that was about family history, but turning our hearts to see how important our family and home is to our children could certainly be a part of it. Wonderful post, thank you again!
A courageous and well-written post. Well done, Cocoa!
Yes yes yes! Thank you for standing up for the family!
Great post! I never have anything intelligent to say about these kinds of topics, but I’m glad that those who can write intelligently take the time to speak up about this issue. I completely agree with you!
Well said, Cocoa. I find it interesting that science is now proving what common sense, human history, and scripture have said all along. Yeah for yet another testimony to the strength, wisdom and health of traditional marriages.
Respectfully, while I understand where you are coming from because of your religious beliefs, not everyone feels that way. Marriage is not a religious right. Yes, you can get married in a church, but marriage is regulated by the government, not the church. I have known many gay couples that are wonderful people, in a wonderful relationship, and have wonderful kids. I have known many that have adopted kids that you and I would never consider adopting, because they want to give them a chance. My wish is that someday people would just live their lives, follow their own religions and let others live their lives too. It will also be nice when “to love everyone” meant respect everyone too. You can’t say you love someone while trying your best to stop them from living their lives. Separation of church and state are there for a reason. The same reason you wouldn’t want someone of another religion making laws for you to follow based on THEIR religion. The bible is not the law of the land, the constitution is.
“It will also be nice when “to love everyone” meant respect everyone too. You can’t say you love someone while trying your best to stop them from living their lives.”
I disagree. I love my children and respect them as individuals but there are things I stop them from doing daily like running into a busy street, hitting or punching, ingesting a harmful substance, etc. Is that stopping them form living their lives? Certainly! Why? Because they would injure themselves or others.
We would definitely try to stop someone we love from murdering another or raping someone else. Is that stopping them from living their lives? Of course! Laws are in place to protect people.
Did you read the studies I linked to about how same-sex marriages and partnerships hurt children? The New Family Structure Study polled adults who had grown up in various family situations and asked them to describe their lives now. Overwhelmingly those whose parents were homosexual or in homosexual relationships fared worse than those raised in a traditional family setting.
The next study looked at just the economic situations of different family structures in Canada where same-sex couples have had access to all taxation and government benefits since 1997 and to marriage since 2005. Guess what? The results were the same as the first study in that children of same-sex coupled households do not fare as well.
While my support for traditional marriage is initially because of my religion it is also because I have studied the issue relentlessly and find that those who will be affected the most – children – will be worse off if raised in same-sex households.
You teach and protect your children because they are your children. You do not get to “teach” and “protect” other, full-grown, autonomous adults. This is clearly a violation of their rights to their own agency.
Let’s agree, for a moment, that we agree children fare better with their natural parents. That is fine. Let’s even agree, for a moment, that children do better when they are adopted by opposite-gendered, married parents.
But, you are arguing that gay couples should not be allowed to adopt. Period. This means, theoretically, that you believe children would be better off in the foster care system or in a group home than with a loving family (of any sort).
If you suggest that SOME children might benefit from being in a home with 2 same-gender parents… you must obviously conclude that those children would benefit from having those individuals be legally married.
This is not a “pro-family” stance. It is a “pro-perfect-family” stance.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I know I can always read your blog and feel secure in the knowledge that you support the Family Proclamation and follow the Prophets who speak for God. I live in California and I prayed about Prop 8 and knew full well that President Monson was speaking as a Prophet for the good of all of us when he asked us to do all that we could do to protect marriage between a man and a woman. He has not rescinded that letter or apologized for his position and indeed it has been reiterated over and over from the Apostles. God sees the whole picture, we do not. To those members of the Church who think it is so unfair and believe in “equality for all” etc. etc. I say they are deluded by the world’s teachings and have lost sight of the eternal consequences and that Heavenly Father knows better! Even though my husband has a Gay son who married his partner we still hold firm to the belief of God ordained marriage. We love and respect them, we do not judge them but will not support or celebrate their relationship. We have made covenants in the Temple about avoiding unholy and impure practices and we intend to do our best to keep all of our covenants.
Thank you for this fantastic post! I love the doctrine, the quotes and the studies you quoted (especially the Canadian census study with millions of people). Fascinating and not surprising info. What I am surprised about is that the Canadian study even got to show the light of day. Glad it did!
Thank you for so courageously defending the family publicly. Your post is powerful (and as are the others!) and I will be referring to them when I need more help defending the traditional family:)
I am for gay mariage! Why not? They don’t hurt anyone with this.
I do however agree that children need to be raised in a traditional family.
A couple I know (two woman by the way) have already had two children.
It is not natural an seeing as one of them is a boy, how will they be able to teach him stuff only men should know?
That they want to be together oké, but not with children
ps: I love your site!
I’m grateful for people like you that are willing to courageously defend what marriage and family should be. Allowing gay marriage, I am afraid, is greatly deteriorating what’s left of society. This is causing the greatest harm among our children. Not only to those raised by a homosexual couple, but those that are in the public schools being told they must accept it and are being force fed materials in the schools that say this is okay. It is NOT okay. So sad to see it spreading so quickly…