“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regrets today’s decision. California voters have twice been given the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage in their state and both times have determined that marriage should be recognized as only between a man and a woman. We agree. Marriage between a man and a woman is the bedrock of society.
“We recognize that this decision represents only the opening of a vigorous debate in the courts over the rights of the people to define and protect this most fundamental institution—marriage.
“There is no doubt that today’s ruling will add to the marriage debate in this country, and we urge people on all sides of this issue to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different opinion.”
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My buddy, Liz, talked in Sacrament Meeting not long ago about the difference between the Pioneers' struggles and ours. She spoke of how if someone came to us and told us that we would physically die if we didn't deny our God (as in, they would kill us themselves!), chances are, we would actually refuse to deny. We would probably be like the Pioneers, who, through their suffering actually gained greater courage! They ignored the jeering mobs and the extermination order, the martyrdom of their Prophet and continued to believe --even more strongly than they had before. Their physical trials brought upon them spiritual cleansing and blessings.
However, in our lives, we're not threatened with death. We are threatened with ease. The "easiness of the way," as it were. It starts simply. Perhaps we gossip a bit too often. Then maybe it moves onto wasting our time with things that don't matter, like computer time, or gardening, or even cleaning the house. Before we know it, we've stopped praying, we make excuses and justify our inability to go to the Temple or to church. We ignore the promptings to serve. These things inevitably, if left unchecked, is what will cause us to deny our God. We'll quickly find ourselves running --RUNNING --to the great and spacious building, and we'll start mocking the very things we once held sacred.
So, when it comes to the gay marriage issue, it would be really easy for me to say that gay marriage should be okay. It would be easy because of all the people I love so very much who are gay. It would be easy because it's such a divisive issue and has caused a lot of pain on both sides. It would be so easy because our politicians and leaders and media and celebrities support gay marriage. It would be so easy to just give up. Just say "I'm sorry, I was wrong, you're right, this issue should be equal for all, go ahead and change the definition of a silly word."
It would be so easy!
But I can't do it. I won't do it.
I may be fighting against the tide, and I may be fighting against people that I truly love, but it won't change my mind. I can't stop fighting for what I know to be true. Marriage is ordained of God and has been, and is, and will be between a man and a woman. It's the whole point. It's the reason we're here. Many may disagree with me--many will have valid reasons why. But it won't change my mind. And, I daresay, it never will.
7 comments:
Well said Cheryl. Very true about the "ease" of our life. I think about it all the time.
Cheryl, you wrote this so well, it brings tears to my eyes. It was so hard the first time around, I am scared for the second...thank you for putting it this way.
Very true. It is what it is.
I couldn't help but notice that "cleaning the house" being one of the things that doesn't matter! I guess you don't need a house cleaner after all! :)
And, ditto, about everything else, too.
Just this week we were reading Mosiah 29 as a family, I thought verses 26-29 were particularly applicable.
The first time we faced this issue in Nevada was in 2000. It was tough at first because I didn't really have a testimony of it's importance. I was circulating petitions out of faithfulness and obedience not personal conviction.
But my husband and I were teaching new member discussions at the time. One night we taught about temple marriage and why it is important to be sealed for eternity. When the lesson was over I asked the new member if she would sign the protection of marriage petition. She didn't want to sign it.
It was an a-hah moment for me. I totally got it! Satan wants to binds us into relationships that can never be eternal. He wants to destroy our chance for eternal increase. It's all about attacking the very foundation of the plan of salvation. Of course!! It's so obvious.
But it's still hard because the vast majority of the people advocating for gay marriage have to understanding of the plan and with out the plan their arguments make a lot of sense. It's tough. But I'm glad you're fighting cause you're right and it is worth it!!!
Earlfam, you just gave me my a-ha! moment. Thanks!
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