A DEFENDER OF MARRIAGE
I AM A DEFENDER OF MARRIAGE
When I was a girl, I used to adorn myself in plastic jewels
and wrap myself in shiny white fabric in preparation to walk down the aisle to
my prince charming. That was my fantasy. That was my perfectly happy ending.
However, for some, their perfectly happy ending doesn’t look quite the same.
For some, a person of the same gender is waiting for them at the end of the
aisle.
I
personally cannot relate. I don’t know the struggle that it is to be attracted
to people of my same gender. I can’t imagine that it is easy. My heart breaks
for them, not because I think they are sick or unwell but because it must be a
constant battle, especially for members of the church. It is hard to ask
someone to go against something they believe and feel whole-heartedly. It’s
hard to ask someone to suppress who they believe that they are and what they
identify with.
BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN
I’m here to
say that I cannot imagine what that is like. But, I’m also here to say that I believe
that marriage is between a man and a woman. That is how it has always been and
that is how our God intended it to be. The fundamental unit of society is built
on the notion that a man and a woman create life together and forge familial
bonds that last eternity.
In today’s
world a search on Dictionary.com under “Marriage,” brings up a simple
definition of a union between two people. It isn’t until you read further that
you must search for “traditional marriage” to find the definition of a union
between a man and a woman. I understand that times change and laws adapt to
them however I believe that traditional marriage should be the sole definition
of marriage because that is the way it was intended.
SACRED NATURE OF MARRIAGE
President Russell M. Nelson said, “Wherever
we go, you and I as disciples of the Lord bear a solemn responsibility to
proclaim the will of God to all people. And one of the more demanding
opportunities of our time is to stand up for the truth regarding the sacred
nature of marriage.” The sacred nature of marriage is one that cannot be
denied. It cannot be mocked. It is the bond that forges society together and
onward. It is the bond that was created eternally to progress the work of God
and progress His children through life’s eternities. Now is the time that we
all need to be “defenders of marriage,” as President Nelson put it.
Now, in life’s confusing times we
must remember that our God has made it clear that men and women are intended to
cleave unto one another and replenish the earth with children. It is hard when
your mother, brother, sister, friend, or coworker is gay. It is hard when the
people that you surround yourself with, that you love; seem shortchanged
because they cannot be married. We love them. We love them. We love them. That
is the best we can do. But we cannot turn our backs to our Father in Heaven
when we know that marriage is divine.
In the Supreme Court Case
Obergefell v. Hodges we read, “The challenged laws burden the liberty of
same-sex couples, and they abridge central precepts of equality. The marriage
laws at issue are in essence unequal: Same-sex couples are denied benefits
afforded opposite-sex couples and are barred from exercising a fundamental
right.” I know it must seem like it isn’t equal or that it isn’t fair. However,
I believe that it doesn’t come down to equality but it comes down to divinity.
We cannot rewrite the laws of God. I want those mothers, brothers, sisters,
friends, and coworkers to be happy but I cannot rewrite the laws of God. It is
a privilege to engage in this eternal act of marriage but it is by the rules
and under the watchful eye of our creator.
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
Love everyone. Everyone has
something that vexes their soul but remain a “defender of marriage.”
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