Same-Sex Marriage and Sustaining the Prophet

Given recent events I feel that even my own faith is split when it comes to equal rights towards same-sex marriage.

As a Latter-day Saint, we believe in prophets of old from ancient times and prophets that live today. The prophet today has the same power and authority that prophets like Moses and Abraham had. These men are sustained by members of the LDS faith. To sustain means to support them in their positions even if it may seem hard at times. We've been promised eternal blessings as we follow the prophet. That prophet today is Thomas S. Monson along with his two counselors and 12 apostles.

Prop 8 for California occurred while I was on my mission in Seattle, Washington. What a time it was to be a missionary! I recall hearing the letter from the first presidency over the pulpit stating the church's stance on gay marriage and asking all members to do what they could to support the cause of Prop 8. We had ex and inactive members of the church seek us out as they saw us in public places to make sure we knew that our church was lying and cheating when it came to its actions towards gays and lesbians. Of course, being a full-time missionary, you sometimes feel like you are living underneath a rock when it comes to political events because you don't read the newspapers or watch the news (it's part of missionary rules to help them focus on preaching the gospel). So when these people came to us, I was slightly shocked at how angry they were because of not fully understanding the details they were talking about but also the disgust they had towards the church leaders. I recall one sister while we were at her door trying to invite her back to church, she was so frustrated with the church's stance on gay marriage that she almost threw her glass of wine at me. I hate to admit that we even received a few lectures from active members of the church on how the church leadership was wrong to make such statements. We also found much success in Seattle because of the opposition. Many more joined the church that yea in our tiny mission of Seattle, in fact more than double the converts were reported than the year previous. Blessings come from following the prophet.

Kent Zone, Washington Seattle Mission

"Those who listen to and follow the counsel of living prophets and apostles will not go astray. The teachings of living prophets provide an anchor of eternal truth in a world of shifting values and help us avoid misery and sorrow. The confusion and strife of the world will not overwhelm us, and we can enjoy the assurance of being in harmony with God’s will." Preach My Gospel, section "Follow the Prophet"

The church has stated many times its position towards gay marriage. In short, the church claims gay sexual acts are no different than sexual intimacy between a man and a woman before marriage which is considered a sin. Marriage is ordained of God between a man and a woman and supports laws that do not allow gay marriage. The church does not hate the sinners but rather condemns the sin. View church's news statement regarding this issue.


Why do I oppose same-sex marriage?
I have gay family members, study the Middle East which is a place of very little human rights; so helping the cause of equality in same-sex marriage feels very natural to do but those are not reasons good enough to turn me away from following my leaders. I believe that prophets are the spokesmen for Christ as if He were here on earth. I whole heartily believe in my Savior and believe that a prophet of God speaks for Him. I sustain him in all of his prophetic annunciations. As the church states, I have profound love for those that desire same-sex marriage even though I oppose the rulings in favor of it. I believe that God in His own wisdom knows what He is doing even though it doesn't always make sense to us.

To quote a friend's testimony:

"A prophet is a representative of Jesus Christ. He's the spokesman of He who is at the head of this church. Please don't give lectures on principles you don't understand. Surely, the Lord and his spokesman who He has called and authorized know more about matters of salvation and agency than you do. Read the scriptures and study their teachings. Read church history and study its principle stories. There are countless occasions when the Lord has asked his people to do something that they didn't fully understand or went completely against their personal logic and reasoning. But in following the Lord's spokesman, even during those times when that revelation has to be followed solely on faith, we don't just simply show obedience to the Lord's spokesman but to the Lord himself. A prophet is simply a conduit of the Lord's will. Following that counsel shows our obedience to Christ himself."

It seems just like on my mission, some members of the church no matter where you go are for same-sex marriage. Claims towards equality and free agency is important but I wonder why then the church has come out yesterday regarding it's position towards the future ruling from the Supreme Court, reiterating their stance on marriage between a man and a woman. I in no way mean to cause disrespect towards these members that support same-sex marriage. Many feel very passionately towards equality because of their own beliefs of loving one another. This to me is respectful. But I fear that there is a mark being missed, the sustaining of our prophet, seer, and revelator.

Isn't this what a prophet is for? To help us in our current needs? Noah warned of a flood, those who listened were blessed and those who didn't...well sort of missed the boat (no pun intended). Just as today, Latter-day Saints believe a prophet is to help guide us in our day to day lives as Satan's power try to influence us one way or the other. I do not mean to say to those that ignore the church's stance are going to go apostate, or leave the church, they still are good great members of the gospel. I do fear though that they may end up wanting to throw wine at me like the lady at the door on my mission after reading this post, seeing that the church will not change its stance on same-sex attractions and quite literally any sin. A sin is sin. Doctrine is doctrine.

Free Agency is a topic that is approached as well. One other friend described her understanding of which I agree with:

"I just want to say one thing concerning agency because there are a few people who mentioned how God wants us to have agency. The agency we received is called moral agency. It is the ability to choose what we ought and NOT the ability to choose whatever we want at the time. In addition, if I'm not mistaken, the adversary's plan was not to take away agency, but to take away accountability. Agency requires opposition, but under the adversary's plan there would not have been opposition and therefore no agency. As such, none of us would have been able to learn or progress in this life."

What about those who are non-LDS and living this lifestyle? How should we react to their choices?

"You have to be careful not to turn agency into relativism, which is when people believe that truths are just products of society and that there are no universal ones. The problem with saying that certain things are bad for one group but okay for others is that it suggests that those principles are relative and up to individual interpretation. Just as God either exists or He does not, the things he says either are truth and, thus, universal, or they are not. And if God exists, then they are universal truths and it doesn't matter what religion one belongs in, or if someone is religious or not." 

I know I have probably created enemies inside and outside of the church. I hate that aspect of sharing one's own feelings and testimony. I do not condemn the desires of others but I'd rather be a voice of truth when truth is spoken. I hope that this has been a cordial and respectful approach towards this topic for those inside and outside of the LDS faith, namely those who of a different opinion.

We must thank God in all that we have and not fear. I am engaged to be married to someone I never thought I could love as much as I do. No matter what outcome may be of this world, same-sex marriage or not, I know that Lauren and I will live the Gospel to the fullest, teach our children righteous principles, and encourage others in the world to do the same. I know that my Savior lives and He leads the church through his vessel, Thomas Monson. The direction of the church in this stance I believe is to be God's doctrine, not homophobia or hatred.


Below you will find statements and interviews of the church on the same-sex attraction and marriage:

The Divine Institution of Marriage

Elder Bruce C. Hafen Speakson Same-Sex Attraction

Interview With Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Elder Lance B. Wickman: “Same-Gender Attraction”

Leaders From Diverse Faiths Express Commitment to Protect Marriage

Church Responds to HRC Petition: Statement on Same-Sex Attraction

California and Same-Sex Marriage

Same-Sex Attraction

The LDS Church also has a webpage just for the understanding and official feelings and support of those with same-gender attraction. www.mormonsandgays.org

How to sustain the prophet talk by then Apostle Benson

 "At some point, it is no longer about what you think is right. At some point, you have to be humble enough to accept that the Lord's ways are higher than our ways. If the prophet has received revelation from God that it is important for the state to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, who are any of us to question Him who knows all things. This is the beginning, but God already sees the end. Trust Him."

The Spirit of Christmas is the Spirit of the Atonement

I don't want to say the typical things you hear of how we are missing the real meaning of Christmas. I'd rather share what the meaning of Christmas is to me with a personal insight.

 I have fond memories as a little boy of my whole family sitting together in my grandparent's home and usually scriptures from Luke chapter two from the New Testament being shared of shepherds, wise men, angels, a star, and the miraculous birth of Jesus through the virgin Mary. I do remember having a sense of awe but mostly couldn't wait to open my Christmas Eve present and play with my brothers and cousins that were there.  It wasn't until I was probably about ten that I felt I comprehended why Christmas was a sacred time through it's celebration of the birth of Christ. 

We had just moved into our new home (the one my family currently lives in) and it was Easter day. We have some apricot trees in our new backyard that in the spring time grow flowers before the apricots begin to grow. Maybe some of you recall the song "Popcorn Popping," well the song is true, it really looks like popcorn! I saw this and remembered how vastly plain the trees had looked during the winter and now it was beginning anew, a rebirth, a newness, a fresh start. I then remembered what Easter was about - the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Then it hit me, "Christmas isn't about the birth of a baby through a miraculous event, it is about the birth of our Savior to perform the Atonement so that all of us may return to live with our Heavenly Father. Christmas isn't just about a miraculous birth but about what came about through the birth of Him who is most important for each of us.

This months First Presidency message is by President Uchtdorf he invites us to find a way to remember Christ more this season. When I taught this while home teaching most of them said through acts of service, reading the scriptures and remembering the Savior more often, etc. are how we can remember Christ more. I thought about those a lot and thought I'd see what I have done that has brought me closer to Christ this season. 

There was one simple moment of a friend and I walking back from sledding - she suggested we sing Christmas carols, so we did. While singing, even missing words here and there, we could feel the love that God has for us. I remember occasionally turning to look at her while singing and there were big smiles on our faces because of what it meant to sing these songs with deeper meanings than we can comprehend. 

President Uchtdorf in his message says the following: 

"The Christmas season is wonderful in many ways. It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven. It is a season to enjoy the music and lights, parties and presents. But the glitter of the season should never dim our sight and prevent us from truly seeing the Prince of Peace in His majesty."

Being more reflective of what the Savior has done, being forgiving and forgiven, coming closer to Christ - do these not all pertain what the Atonement does for us? I believe it does.
We have gifts we give to family and friends and what of a gift to Christ? This Christmas my gift to my Savior is to walk a little closer to Him, stand a little taller, do better in all that I do. I want to give my will to Him. I guess you can think of it as a renewal, a rebirth, gaining a brighter hope, a lot like the apricot tree in my backyard but for me in my life; all because of the birth of our Savior and the atonement. This season is a time to think of what the atonement has done for us and in turn give Christ's infinite love towards others.

"There is no better time than now, this very Christmas Season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ" - President Thomas S. Monson 

I pray each day that I may stand as a witness to the divinity of Christ's eternal love. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Stay In The Light

Stay in the light. Yes, that's what I said. Last Saturday night I went to the Provo Temple and as I was sitting in a sealing room I noticed the beautiful wall paper that was there. The design was of floral design - vegetal plants interwoven within each other, but then I noticed that where the light from the lamps on the way were not showing you could not see the floral design. The rays of light showed the beautiful attribute of the wall while where the light did not shine directly on the wall paper you could only see the whiteness of the wall with no design. This thought came to me as a parallel of what it means to be in the light: The light is the gospel of Jesus Christ, keeping the commandments, and following the prophet.

In life we have our times of happiness and joy. No matter how hard we try to do everything right, things still go wrong. It is then evident why it is important to be in the "light" or the teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ; namely through his servants, the prophets. Jesus Christ has always used messengers or special witnesses to share His teachings so that we may have a guide or a map to lead us back to our Heavenly Father. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Peter, John, etc. are some examples of God's prophets. Today we have a living prophet. Currently this is Thomas S. Monson and he follows the examples of the prophets before him. 

Preach My Gospel describes the role of a prophet well:

"Truth is a knowledge of things as they really are, were, and will be. It does not change with conditions or time. Truth is the same in every age and culture. God is the source of all truth. We can have faith in Him because we know He will teach us only truth. God wants all His children to know the truth. Therefore, He reveals the truths necessary for salvation through prophets and apostles. He reveals truth to us personally through the scriptures and personal revelation.

A prophet is called and chosen by God and is a righteous man with great faith. The Lord reveals truth to him through the Holy Ghost. He commands His prophet to teach truth to all people. Those who believe God’s words as revealed through His prophet are blessed. Christ’s Church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, who direct the Church by revelation. The Lord called Joseph Smith as the first prophet and head of this last dispensation. His successors who lead The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today are also prophets and apostles. The President of the Church today is a living prophet. We are to have faith in God’s chosen prophet, gain conviction of his divine calling, and follow his teachings.

We have frequent opportunities to sustain Church leaders publicly. Sustain means to support. We are to prepare ourselves so that when the prophets and apostles speak, the Holy Ghost can confirm the truths they teach, and we can then determine to follow the counsel they give us.

Those who listen to and follow the counsel of living prophets and apostles will not go astray. The teachings of living prophets provide an anchor of eternal truth in a world of shifting values and help us avoid misery and sorrow. The confusion and strife of the world will not overwhelm us, and we can enjoy the assurance of being in harmony with God’s will."

It is my testimony that no matter how hard life may be - if we feel lonely, sad, lost or distraught - that if we heed the teachings of a true prophet of God we will be able to conquer the adversary even when he sends his best against us. It is important to know that when we follow the prophet we have the promise of the Lord's strength on our side and we can live after the manner of happiness. May we all live in the light of our Savior.