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LDS Church backs marriage measure on California ballot
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Marriage is only one element of morality. We frown of slavery, but sexual slavery still thrives in numbers upwards in the multi-millions each year. Slavery is decried by most of us. Yet, as we continue to muddy the context of marriage and intimacy, organizations such as North American Man/boy Love Association and Butterfly Kisses continue to grow in a logical process of social acceptance. Marriage and intimacy between men and animals is another, though much of it is still in the form of jokes - so far.
Anti-slavery is not only a political statement, neither is marriage. Both are deeply moral (i.e. ethical) issues supported under the rule of law. Laws are framed with a moral context of what is right and what is wrong. Each nation�s laws and religious themes holds to this in one degree or another.
What's very clear to me in all these negative comments about the Church, is that Satan reigns in the minds and hearts of men in our day, just as he has in past generations. He doesn't skip a beat! What's sad and is so hard for me to believe, is the hold he has on some members of the Church.
I think that the homosexual community ought to consider that as children of God, they are loved, but as humans they may need to examine their choices and consider whether those choices� like those we are all required to make � are in alignment with accumulated wisdom and with the counsel given us by a God who loves us all perfectly. The Church is not the enemy of those who are attracted to members of their same sex. The Church is there to remind us all that we do have a perfectly loving heavenly Father who wants us to have joy and happiness in the same way that God enjoys it.
You could be right.
My orientation, as a heterosexual male is to have sex with any and all females that I meet... Anywhere, anytime. With or without their consent. But, due to the constraints of society together with the teachings of religion, I don't.
***Another article in today's paper states that a recent poll found that LDS church members, compared to other religions, are among the least open-minded to the idea that there are alternative paths to heaven. I find this sad.***
This marrow-mindedness may well come from the Christian Bible which says in part: "... straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat."
D&C 134: 4 (1-4).
4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul
Articles of Faith 11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may
Leave others beliefs alone!
So don't you see that laws such as this are taking away part of someone's right to choose?
You're right... God doesn't approve of many things such as same sex marriage, sex, abortion, etc. He sees them as sinful and/or corrupt... BUT He still allows us to engage in them if we choose. So if HE allows it, why are WE trying to prevent others from exercising their free agency? Isn't that going against God?
Don't get me wrong, I totally agree that marriage should be between a man and a woman... that God only recognizes that specific union. But others who don't agree should be able to do what they want. God isn't about forcing us all to live as we should, He's about us making the choices ourselves individually.
Regarding Articles of Faith 11, it essentially states that we allow men the same privilege of worshiping God according to their own conscience. The problem with homosexuals in general is that they AREN'T WORSHIPING GOD. Homosexuality is flamboyant and rarely ever practices the discipline, restraint, fidelity, trust, and partnership found in a heterosexual marriage. The only reason homosexuals want there to be a marriage clause in the constitution for gays is because people told them they couldn't get married. They're justing trying to make a point.
Who says compassion isn't a moral virtue?
Unless the letter says "Thus saith the Lord" at the end, I am under no obligation to treat it any differently than any other opinion in this paper.
The gay definition of freedom is to force society to change the historic definition of marriage to match their lifestyle. That's not freedom, that's tyranny.
Gay and Bisexual people quite often DO worship God and are just as spiritual and religious as many straight people. Sure, the majority probably think church's are mistaken to call their attractions and acts a sin... but there are also some who agree that acting on their desires is a sin and so abstain from it. Remember, if you're LDS the church's official stance is that BEING gay or Bi isn't a sin, it's only when you ACT on it (have sex) that a sin has occured.
There are many gay and Bi people fully active in their respective churches and religions.
You're also greatly mistaken in your assumption that gay and Bi people are all about loose morals and having sex willy nilly with whomever they wish. Where do you get the notion that they cheat on the one they love more than straight people do?
And no, most who want to marry aren't doing so out of spite... but rather genuine love for their partner (just like straight people). They also just want, for example, the right to have say in their sick partner's care at a hospital.
The Mormon promotion of anti-gay laws has not decreased the rates of divorce and infidelity--but it has increased the rate of Mormon suicides.
I keep hoping for more love and compassion from my Church, yet I'm afraid I will always remain disappointed.
Historically, women were property. Historically, men could marry more than one woman. Historically, marriages were set up by the parents. Historically, most marriages were for convience and property distribution.
Marriage has always had two meanings in the LDS church. There is temple marriage and there is civil marriage. Now they just want to add another meaning to it.
Why is the defination of a word more important than treating everyone equally?
Gays who want to marry are not against marriage but for it. We should support them. It is mainly the streights who disregard marriage and often treat it as some sort of freak show, like Brittany Spears recently did.
Those LDS and others who advocate a live and let live approach are correct in asserting that God is allowing such an exercise of choice. They infer therefore, that it is somehow acceptable. What they forget is that moral consequences generally lag actions so the cause and effect relationship does not void the principle of agency.
There also seems to be a willful desire to forget that it is God, through His prophets (as sustained by faithful believers) that has mandated this position. It is not some organizational policy subject to a democratic referendum.
Perhaps we should simply toss out the portions of the Bible suggesting that God doesn't like gays, and we could all get along. Wouldn't we be much happier?
Or is there a difference.
In a free society, laws are based on the moral standards of the society that enacts them.
Ultimate freedom is ensured by those laws, not restricted.
For example, no one living on the earth actually created it.
Therefore, I believe that no one has a right to possess anything. The land, the water, the sunlight, and every other resource should be shared equally. Therefore, land and property laws should not exist because they restrict my freedom.
What gives you the right to pass laws that prevent me from enjoying my fair share of earth's resources?
Carried to it's extreme, unrestricted freedom, means no freedom, and reduces humankind to being nothing more than animals.
And I believe God stands by this stance. As I've said, the LDS believe God is against forcing anyone to obey His rules. Yes, He creates guidlines/rules that will lead to the maximum happiness and greatest blessings as you said... but He allows us to do what we will anyhow.
No, no more then his laws take away our free agency.
You can choose to sin but in life just like eternally you have to face consequences. Currently that means in life.. you can't marry. Eternally you can't be sealed in sin, nor can you endure God's presence.
The LDS Church stand is not to remove free agency, but to keep the consequences the same.
its akin to saying that having a baby from having premarital sex removes free agency, when its just a consequence of your actions. You chose your sins... nowhere in the scriptures do you get to do that and choose your punishment.
- JT
Our tax system, city ordinances, criminal laws, State and US Constitutions are all based on a general sense of right an wrong. The debate isn't over whether morality can be legislated, but how we legislate it.
The members of the LDS church, therefore, have the right to vote for legislation that conforms with their understanding of morality the same way the homosexual lobby or any other citizen does. The LDS church has the right to state its belief on what the definition of morality should be and encourage its members to involve themselves in movements that it deems important.
The end result of New Laws, changed State Constitution or a new Supreme Court decision will impose morality on everyone through the enforcement of laws the same way it has since this Nation was created. Choosing which morality is imposed on you is called voting.
"because some old guy in a suit told you to."
but because the Lord has asked us to.
People who lack faith often resort to this condescending attack that people who have faith...
are simply robots.
In reality, people who have faith have simply learned an important lesson, that people like you are still learning.
That there are two ways to learn life's lessons:
Through the school of hard knocks.
or
From the Master Teacher.
You've chosen the school of hard knocks.
I've chosen, though I still make plenty of mistakes, to learn from an omniscient Master Teacher.
What in the world do you think every church, every sunday, saturday or what ever does???
And what is a church??? It is a group of individuals with like beliefs. Why do you think it is so inappropriate for the leadership of the LDS church to voice an opinion on a subject but it's OK for a Hollywood seleb to get on their soap box in the many public airwave venues and express their views on any and every subject?
Now, California wants to write an admendment to their constitution that would legally block all gays from marrying a person of their same sex. This actually is against the 14th amendment to the Constitution of the USA: "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States;.."
Do you really want to pass a law that states that some citizens are not equal? Really, think about it.
A word lesson: "discriminate" means "to distinguish by discerning differences..."
Discrimination, therefore, is not itself bad. It is ignorance to speak as if it is. Instead, address the reasons for the discrimination.
Gay couples are simply unnecessary to society. Committed heterosexual couples, however, are indispensable. That is why government got involved in the pre-existing institution of man/woman marriage: to create incentives for that upon which society uniquely (the reason for discrimination) relies.
To irrationally broaden this incentive will destroy it, as it has already done in Scandinavian countries.
I, a single man, could just as rationally as a homosexual couple claim all marriage benefits for myself since I benefit society as much as they do. It would be idiocy for me to yell that I'm being discriminated against in a bad way. I DON'T GET MARRIAGE BENEFITS BECAUSE I'M SINGLE. YOU DON'T GET THEM BECAUSE YOU CHOOSE THE SAME SEX, AND NEITHER OF US UNIQUELY BENEFITS IN A WAY THAT DESERVES MORE.
Seems like a more Christ-like position would be in order. (If you really ARE Christians)
"...We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."
I feel confident saying that if the family is disintegrated, then America will see WORSE things than we ever have by way of natural disasters and programed disasters. I feel confident predicting many hard times and future problems, and the people will scratch thier heads and ask why? Then there will be the group that will have another rationalization, then there will be the followers of Christ and prophets who will say, its too bad, but, they were warned.
It takes a man and a woman to create a child. Every child should have the right to be born into a family with a mother and a father.
How great the goodness of our God who set up familial units to have a mother and a father! How great His wisdom and His love that invites us to follow in ways of happiness! How disturbing the ways of man, who pervert and go against the perfect ways of their God! How disrespectful, conceited, and selfish! You don't claim to know what God speaks, and yet do you suppose you somehow know better than God? Does God who created both male and female not know what would bring His children the most happiness in their respective roles? Do I hate you for wanting more for you, or do you hate yourself by relegating yourself to less?
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