Traditional Marriage

This is a sensitive topic. I will use respect and kindness to express my beliefs. If expressing disagreement, please do so respectfully.

Sheri Dew said, "[a]t the heart of becoming disciples is doing what we promise to do every time we partake of the sacrament—which is to “always remember” the Lord (see Moroni 4:3; 5:2). This means remembering Him when we choose what media we’re willing to expose our spirits to. It means remembering Him in how we spend our time and when choosing between a steady diet of pop culture or the Word of God. It means remembering Him in the middle of conflict or when temptation looms. It means remembering Him when critics attack His Church and mock truth. It means remembering that we have taken His name upon us" (Mosiah 5:7). 

I support and believe in traditional marriage. I believe a child has the right to be born in a home with a mother and a father who are committed to one another and who honor their marital covenants. 

In the case Obergefell vs Hodges (2015) Supreme Court of the United States it says, "From their beginning to their most recent page, the annals of human history reveal the transcendent importance of marriage. The lifelong union of a man and a woman always has promised nobility and dignity to all persons, without regard to their station in life. Marriage is sacred to those who live by their religions and offers unique fulfillment to those who find meaning in the secular realm. Its dynamic allows two people to find a life that could not be found alone, for a marriage becomes greater than just the two persons. Rising from the most basic human needs, marriage is essential to our most profound hopes and aspirations." 

I believe in freedom of speech and religious liberties. In 2015 Alexander Dushku gave a speech at Religious Freedom Annual Review. He discussed how when abortion was first made legal, there were opinions that were polar opposites. There wasn't legal or cultural backlash on those who were pro life. There were extremest on both sides. Within those differing opinions, one being against legalizing abortion, citizens were able to still live civilly with opposing views. Can't we also have this same civility on support for traditional or same sex marriages? Protecting the rights of all people and religions and their right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This includes those who support traditional marriage.

Justice C. J. Roberts, a Supreme Court justice dissented in the Obergefell vs Hodges case stating, "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." He went on to say that the well being of children come from a stable home with parents who love and respect one another and stay together. He also said, "for the good of children and society, sexual relations that can lead to procreation should occur only between a man and a woman committed to a lasting bond." 

President Russel M. Nelson said, "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!" 

From the very beginning marriage has been between a man and a woman. Traditional marriage wasn't created with the intention of discriminating against same sex couples, but rather the means to populate the earth and allow children the right to a home with parents who love and respect one another and who love and respect their children. Why has marriage been historically defined between one man and one woman? Because we have thousands of years of history proving that it works. It sustains life and produces well-rounded adults who contribute to society. 

Justice C. J. Roberts said, "In short, our Constitution does not enact any one theory on marriage. The people of a State are free to expand marriage to include same-sex couples, or to retain the historic definition." I know same sex couples want the same rights as traditional couples, but it remains the right of every individual to define marriage in whatever manner they choose. Whether that be same sex, traditional, polygamy, or even objectophilia. We may not all agree to the different forms of marriage, but there are so many differing views. I ask that we not seek to overthrow these views and force a mandate on beliefs regarding marriage, but rather we seek understanding and respect to individuality and the freedom to define marriage by whatever beliefs one has.