Deseret News | Reader comments: LDS women need to protect families, Beck says

Reader comments
LDS women need to protect families, Beck says

Thinking between the lines.. | 4:44 p.m. May 1, 2009

Is this a call for L.D.S. women to step up and speak out against homosexual and lesbian marriage? If families are under attack from pornogaphy and other forces that tear down the family should'nt L.D.S. women protect families against the greatest threat of all?

m | 4:51 p.m. May 1, 2009

I love how she never minces words. Awesome talk.

Marriage is what it is | 5:13 p.m. May 1, 2009

I think it was very specific about asking us to defend the definition of marriage and thereby uphold the family. Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. Family is a sacred bond between married parents and their children.

There really is no such thing as a marriage between persons of the same sex, because that is not what marriage is (refer back to original definition I gave above). I don't know how this can be any more clear. Redefining marriage to be for persons of the same sex really makes the word something else entirely. I like how Beck explains that we risk defining terms out of existence. Not in my family we don't.

Comments continue below

ludlow | 5:50 p.m. May 1, 2009

I'm for strengthening all families including the one I know with 2 kids and 2 moms and the one I know with one dad and one kid.

Cathy T | 6:05 p.m. May 1, 2009

Oh yeah, here we go telling LDS women what they should do. Like none of us have a brain...DUH! Maybe the LDS men need to get rid of their harness and leashes.

dev | 6:21 p.m. May 1, 2009

To Cathy T. Sister Becks talk was not telling any one what to do. It was giving us purpose and direction like all Church leaders do. We all have free will and choice. Juding ALL LDS men as having harness's and Leashes is really wrong. I don't know where you come from but my LDS home life growing up and in my marriage has not ever been like that nor have I ever heard it preached over the pulpit that men should harness or leash thier wives or Families. The Opposite has always been said. You obviously have issues and are bitter. Have you ever heard of Forgivness. Being angry and bitter at anyone or thing only hurts you. I say judge no ye be not judged it really helps you live a lot better in this world. At least it works for me.

Wendy | 5:34 a.m. May 2, 2009

Thank you Sister Beck for your leadership, valiancy and faith! You were prepared for "such a time as this". May you be blessed!

CptMni | 8:52 a.m. May 2, 2009

Cathy T: If you don't like the group you're with, you're always free to leave! You made the mistake of belonging to a church whose leaders receive divine guidance and communicate it to the members. Someone like you would be much more comfortable in any of the thousands of other organizations out there whose leaders don't have any guidance to give, and the members are therefore left to their own devices. That seems more your style. Why don't you give that a try and stop maligning the Church's leaders and members?

Janet Groneman | 9:01 a.m. May 2, 2009

It is reassuring to hear the standards of the Lord upheld before the world (though in an LDS gathering). It is heartbreaking to see the numbers of babies being aborted worldwide and the callous disregard for unborn life, and also to see the number of LDS women who limit their children, yet still profess that they trust Father in Heaven to take care of them. It is my experience that He knows the children who have been promised to each family, and will never overburden families who have utmost faith in Him, but will give us the opportunities we need to provide for them as we seek to know and do His will.
I have been blessed with seven wonderful children, and have seen the roles they each have played in our family's lives, with one another. I can't imagine our family being as strong as it is without one of them, and no, they are not all active, but someday they will be, I believe, because of their faith in Christ and his teachings, which they still believe. Faith and fear cannot exist in your heart at the same time. Trust that he knows us.

Larry | 10:38 a.m. May 2, 2009

Given the problem of over population, I see lower birth rates as a positive not a negative.

brookieanne | 1:03 p.m. May 2, 2009

Hey Larry. I'm not sure where I heard this, or I'd give credit. But I read somewhere recently that the entire population of the United States could be divided into families of 4 and each family could live on a 2 acre plot of land inside the boundaries of the state of Texas. That doesn't sound like over population to me. And in Isaiah 45:18 it tells us, "he [God] formed it [the earth] to be inhabited". God wouldn't create a world without enough room for all his children.

Shirley L. | 2:31 p.m. May 2, 2009

Dear sweet Sister Beck, how I love her for her service and her words of counsel to us. If you are an LDS sister who finds problems with her words, I would advise you to pray about it and feel the calm and peace that come from knowing that her words are inspired. It is wonderful. God bless you all!!

Jerseymom | 3:42 p.m. May 2, 2009

Love to hear sis. Beck's word of counsel. Life sometimes can be confusing and it is reassuring to know our responsibilities as daughters of God.

Oremman | 4:34 p.m. May 2, 2009

CptMni,
Pretty harsh words for a Mormon and a Christian.
And sorry, but MANY other organizations have plenty
of guidance to give. When was the last time you went to a different church...just out of curiosity?
Try it. I found out that we aren't THAT much different.

Provomom | 5:26 p.m. May 2, 2009

The gay civil-union issue is NOT, I repeat, NOT anti-family. It is NOT anti-Christ. How offensive. Isn't some kind of family better than NO FAMILY? Just wait until your child comes to you (on the verge of suicide) and confesses they're gay. Wait until he or she pours out their soul to you about NO FUTURE in this church,and according to Sister Beck NO HOPE of ever having a FAMILY of any kind or any companionship for the next 60 years. Isn't some family better than NO family for my child? This movement is NOT SELFISH. The selfish argument is very offensive to those who are dealing with this issue. EMPATHY!

Amy | 7:03 p.m. May 2, 2009

Sister Beck does not say anything against homosexuals or same-sex marriage. Read the article again...she only says that we need to protect families against those who want to redefine them. We need to uphold our values and teach them to our children. There is nothing wrong with teaching our children how to choose the right and to defend families.

It's funny that some of the people who are asking for tolerance of same-sex marriage are not so tolerant of opposing points of view. Everyone has different challenges in life and maybe same-sex attraction is the challenge some people have to bear. But that doesn't mean that we should stop valuing marriage and family because some people don't choose to live that way.

RaeLynn | 7:15 p.m. May 2, 2009

Sister Beck's council is RIGHT ON THE MARK! Look around at the worlds view of Family. Women teach children values, principles, and have the power to teach them to be good people. Righteous, influence, spreads throughout the world. Families are the root of our society. Women rock the cradle, and they teach future generations.

She.... | 7:31 p.m. May 2, 2009

puts it right on the mark, very honest and straight forward. That's the way I like it. Sister Beck is awesome...

Provomom | 8:25 p.m. May 2, 2009

She may not say she's talking about the gay issue but every comment points toward it. Dear Amy and RaeLynn, read my comments again with a softer heart,with a compassionate heart. I'm not being intolerant. I'm standing up for my son. I'm not saying anything against traditonal marriage. Of course that would be best. We're all for it! But that just doesn't work for all people. We have to give our gay children some stability. The same thing you will want for your children.

To Provomom | 8:39 p.m. May 2, 2009

Sounds to me like your "empathy" is nothing more than a flaxen cord. No one is telling anybody not to love their children, but loving them doesn't include condoning wrong behavior. If any of my children were to tell me of any kind of morality problem, I would do my best to make sure they knew I still loved them and always would. But at the same time, I would make sure that I do not agree or approve of their behavior/decisions. I would try to help them work through their struggles, not pave the way for them to make more wrong choices.

Provomom | 9:43 p.m. May 2, 2009

Choices?
Ok. I'm done.
There's no compassion here.

To Provomom | 9:54 p.m. May 2, 2009

Don't worry. When I was young everything inside and outside the church seemed "black and white". With age comes understanding. I can't help but think some of these comments come from people who are not quite as "seasoned" in life. It'll happen.

Anonymous | 10:12 p.m. May 2, 2009

Provomom: When you and your son see the Savior again, he will take you in his arms with love and compassion, but I doubt he will condone marriage between two same sex people because it stops progression for your son. What a condition to be dealing with. You have my empathy.

Jacob | 10:36 p.m. May 2, 2009

To Provomom,

Some self-righteous, arrogant Latter-day Saints fall victim to the fallacy of believing that a woman's worth is directly related to her "success" in raising active, obedient children who are destined to become general authorities. Unfortunately, such people are mulling around in a fog of false doctrine and proud sin. Don't pay any attention to them.

On the other hand, Anonymous 10:12 p.m. is just as arrogant and condescending.

I will try to give you some hope. Chances are slim that the LDS Church will ever solemnize same-sex marriages in the Temples. But I assure you, as God is my witness, there will be wide-spread, legally recognized civil marriages for same sex partners in this country before the middle of the next decade. I guarantee it! Your son and millions of good people will be able to take marriage vows with the person of their choice without regard for gender. There are many of us, even in the Church, who are actively fighting for such a day! We will prevail. Take heart and do all you can to help.

Sis Beck is irrelevant | 10:11 a.m. May 3, 2009

When you consider that LDS people make up .2% of the world population and CONSIDERABLY less than that of all those who have ever lived on the earth, there is no real reason for those who disagree to get very concerned.

In the grand scheme of things, her words are irrelevant.

Disturbing Trend | 7:35 p.m. May 3, 2009

I am 52 now, and I have certainly noticed a decline in motherhood among my fellow latterdaysaints over the years. Sister Beck was speaking of this problem, I am sure.
Girls are getting married later, they are spending more time and money in education and considerably much less in motherhood and marraige preparation.
When they DO get married, there is a L O N G waiting period before children come on the scene, and when they do, there are fewer and fewer of them.
I have seen many of their mothers, who are in my age bracket, actually encourage this, taking their to get their first birth control pills, and lecturing their girls to "wait" to have children.
The boys are not a whole lot better, thanks to their mothers, too.
I think Sister Beck's words are very timely indeed, as it seems to trend of LDS women to be more women of the world than women of God.
At a fireside on Temple Square 35 years ago, Pres. N. Eldon Tanner said Satan was very much after women. Looks like he got them.

Anonymous | 7:40 p.m. May 3, 2009

Irrelevant,

You are exactly right. She will be released and return to her pretty little house with a white picket fence, and we will never hear from her again. She makes no difference even in the provincial scheme of the Mormon cult-ure, least of all in the grand scheme of things.

Disgusted in VA | 6:36 a.m. May 4, 2009

I am embarrassed to be associated with many of those who have posted their hate and discontent of the Church and its leaders on this thread and throughout the Internet. I don't invite those people standing against our leaders to find the door, but I do invite them to reacquire their testimonies. Our Savior does love each of his children, but he has always set standards for us to live by. I have no doubt the definition of a family expounded in the Family Proclamation is a standard given by God through His appointed oracles.

Let us seek unity and end this senseless, detiriorating contention.

Forever Families | 10:30 a.m. May 4, 2009

It saddens me to hear how women don't value their divine role of motherhood. I am blessed to be a stay at home mom and it is the hardest job I've ever had, but also most rewarding. Please read "The Family: A Proclamation to the world." You can pray about it and find about it's truthfulness for yourself. I am so grateful to be led by a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson and other church leaders. Nothing brings me more happiness than to know that we can get guidance from our loving Heavenly Father. If any of you are struggling plese turn to Heavenly Father and you can have peace in your lives. Love to all!

@Provomom | 11:03 a.m. May 4, 2009

How do you rationalize same-sex activity with the doctrines in the scriptures and with the counsel of living prophets?

Are you really more concerned about your son's next 60 years than his eternity? What kind of love is that?

busymom | 12:44 p.m. May 4, 2009

I don't understand the challenges of same-sex attraction. To presume that I do would diminish the experience of those dealing with this mortal challenge. I do understand a loving Father in Heaven who has blessed ALL of his children with the Law of Chastity--a simple law--applicable to ALL, regardless of sexual preference. God is no respecter of persons!

My childhood friend (48 years) is unmarried. Although she has deep desires for an intimate relationship and family of her own, these opportunities have not been hers. This is neither her desire nor her choice. What she HAS chosen is to remain chaste throughout mortality with a full understanding that she is relinquishing some of mortalitys greatest blessings. She has chosen to obey her Fathers commandments and return home to Him, due to her deep and abiding faith in the atonement of Christ and in His promises that mortal sacrifices will be richly rewarded.

Let her example teach us all. We must strive to obey ALL of Gods commandments, regardless of the personal cost. Chastity, regardless of sexual preference, holds eternal blessings for all those who choose to accept it!

re@ Provomom | 12:50 p.m. May 4, 2009

"How do you rationalize same-sex activity with the doctrines in the scriptures and with the counsel of living prophets?

Are you really more concerned about your son's next 60 years than his eternity? What kind of love is that?"

I'm not Provomom, I'd a father of a gay son. It is not about rationalizing same-sex people with the doctrines in the scriptures. It's about making sense of them and the other things that LDS leaders have said about the nature of homosexuality. Over time, they have flipped-flopped over the importance of causes (it's not important, it's crucial to understand) to some stating it's blasephemy to say it's inborn to others (Pres Hinckley for example) saying we don't know.

As to "what kind of love is that"...Experience what we have and you will better know what we feel. To judge without understanding is pathetic. It never seems to stop the small-minded religous, however.

Portia | 2:02 p.m. May 4, 2009

Anyone else think this was going to be about *Glenn* Beck? That would have been 3 times more crazy, have contained 6 times the ad hominem arguments, and been 1.5 times more amusing! :)

@Janet Groneman: Remember the case of Andrea Yates? She obviously felt overburdened by her huge brood, and *murdered* her children. Get that woman a hysterectomy! I think smart family planning is a wonderful thing, makes families stronger and more happy with each other, and preserves the mother's sanity. Sis. Beck herself obviously used some form of birth control in her childbearing years, because she has only three children.

@cptmni: I am among those who did leave. It's very freeing. (Allowed to ignore Sis. Beck's deer-in-the-headlights voice and tiring parroting, for one.) If only my home state's newspapers didn't often devolve into the Ensign and the anti-Mormon 10 minutes' hate . . . :P (Why I usually stick with the New York Times . . . real news!)

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