27 March 2013

Marriage {my views}


Gay marriage is the hot topic these days and you can easily read posts, articles, etc. on both sides of the table.

This topic is something that I have concerns about so I decided to make my feelings known on my blog. It's not written out on my Facebook feed so it's your choice to read it.

First of all, this needs to be understood: I have friends and family who are homosexual. I love them all dearly. They will always have my love. That does, however, not mean that I support or condone how they choose to live their lives. Just like I do not support a drug user. I still love them, but I don't support the way they've chosen to live their life.

Marriage is not a civil right. It is a contract and agreement that people make. Specifically a man and woman.

Religious
Many of you may, or may not know that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS or Mormon). I deeply love my religion and my relationship with God and Jesus Christ. If you really know me you know that I never push my religion on others. I am however, an open book if you ever have questions about what Mormons believe. I have MANY close friend and family members who are of other faiths and I have always loved learning about what they believe.
The LDS faith teaches that marriage is between a man and a woman. It has been that way since the beginning, and is ordained of God. Any other form of marriage is not acceptable to God. Many people know that stance because it is often thrown around in the media in an attempt to belittle the LDS faith. We are not the only religion that believes marriage is between a man and a woman. The LDS church does not condemn same-sex attraction, rather it has done a lot to help it's members understand same-gender attraction and remain worthy members of the faith which they chose.
"We join our voice with others in unreserved condemnation of acts of cruelty or attempts to belittle or mock any group or individual that is different – whether those differences arise from race, religion, mental challenges, social status, sexual orientation or for any other reason. Such actions simply have no place in our society." - taken from a statement of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints given in October 2010. Continue by watching or reading here..

For a great story of a LDS man who is homosexual please visit: Josh Weed

Non-Religious
Although my religion is a large part of why I believe the way I do I want to point out some non religious aspects of my defense of traditional marriage.

First of all, I think that when this door opens up, many other doors will open too. Such as someone who wants to marry their pet, or have more that one marriage partner (polygamy), or other types. These consequences will in turn reduce the value of marriage and what it means.

Marriage isn't just about being in love. Look at every arranged marriage out there. It's not about love. It's about posterity, preserving a blood line or inheritance, uniting families, kingdoms or any number of other things. Now I'm not saying that those are all right reasons to be getting married but what I'm getting at here is that marriage is not just about love. It is a contractual agreement between a man and a woman wherein the primary purpose is to create a family and have children.
Look at nature and (regardless of religious beliefs) how men and women are created or designed, it is for the purpose of procreation. That can only occur naturally with a man and a woman. It is the natural arrangement for things. Men and women are made so as to create children so life can continue.

Further, I firmly believe that in the best situations, it is vitally important to have a husband and wife, man and women, in the home to raise the children. As much as people may want to discount this, there are things that a woman can provide to her children that a man simply cannot and there are plenty of things that a man can provide to his children that a woman simply cannot. I do understand that sometimes a home with both a mother and a father is not achievable due to divorce or death. My parents were both single parents at one time, but I understand and support that the very best situation is to have a mother and father present to raise children.
Please read this article on the matter, I find it very enlightening.

I share these thought because I firmly believe that marriage is to be between a man and a woman and is ordained of God, that it is the natural state of life designed for creating life and raising children. Please read The Family: A Proclamation to the World.

You may decide to think of me differently for expressing how I feel, and if so then that is your choice. Or you can read this, take it for what it is, MY OPINION, and enjoy everything else I post about. I love each of you, regardless of your beliefs.

Please enjoy this quote:
“Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.” - Rick Warren

10 comments:

  1. Love it :) we love all as Christians and we fully believe in our faith. Very well said!

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    1. Thank you! I agree. That quote at the end is so applicable.

      Thanks for reading!

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  2. Love this, Kelsey. Thank you so much for the post!

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  3. Kelsey,
    This was written very well! Thank you so much for your thoughts:) It is an interesting time we live in and it is hard not to offend someone. I thought you were very gracious in your writing and I agree fully.

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    1. Thanks Aubree! It is a different time and a time where we have to opportunity to defend our beliefs.

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  4. Kelsey - Your post is awesome!! You are, too!! Completely agree with you and so much appreciate your wisdom and insight and tahnk you for sharing this with us.

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  5. Thanks for having the guts to share your thoughts. It's hard these days. I did one on my blog but I think you did a better job at explaining both the religious and non-religious reasons.
    What amazes me is when I hear fellow LDS members say that they hope revelation will come approving gay marriage. That will never happen. The temple ordinances would have to be so radically changed that it seems impossible to me.
    The truth is that the gay lifestyle is sinful, as is cohabitation or promiscuity. People might not like to hear that but isn't that often the case with God's law?
    It is hard to be treated like a bigot or even worse for upholding marriage but God will bless us for remaining strong in a loving way as you have done.
    http://smilingldsgirl.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/scotus-debates-marriage/

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    1. Thank you for your positive comment! It's great to see others who feel the way we do.

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