God’s Laws Do Not Change

This past week the Supreme Court refused to hear the cases from five states that had laws prohibiting same sex marriage overturned. This decision allowed the lower courts rulings overturning same sex marriage in those states to stand. From the beginning marriage as defined by God has been only between a man and a women. Relationships between people of the same sex have always been a sin and because men change the law of the land to allow it, do not change the fact that it is a sin. Just two days before the Supreme Court’s failure to rule, Elder Dallin H. Oaks had this to say about men changing the law does not change God’s laws.

“In public, what religious persons say and do involves other considerations. The free exercise of religion covers most public actions, but it is subject to qualifications necessary to accommodate the beliefs and practices of others. Laws can prohibit behavior that is generally recognized as wrong or unacceptable, like sexual exploitation, violence, or terrorist behavior, even when done by extremists in the name of religion. Less grievous behaviors, even though unacceptable to some believers, may simply need to be endured if legalized by what a Book of Mormon prophet called “the voice of the people” (Mosiah 29:26). (“Loving Others and Living with Differences”, Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference, October 2014)

The scripture Elder Oaks referred to states:

Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people. 

And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land. (Mosiah 29-26-27)

Though the outcome is the same, I don’t not believe at this time that the majority of the people are choosing evil. This is an example of the judicial branch changing the law that the people of these states have legally passed defining traditional marriage as it has always been, only between a man and a woman.  President Thomas S. Monson, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Lord’s Prophet today, said:

“Although the world has changed, the laws of God remain constant. They have not changed; they will not change.” (“Stand In Holy Places”, Thomas S. Monson, General Conference, October 2011)

Dallin H. Oaks had this to say one year ago in General Conference:

“There are many political and social pressures for legal and policy changes to establish behaviors contrary to God’s decrees about sexual morality and contrary to the eternal nature and purposes of marriage and childbearing. These pressures have already authorized same-gender marriages in various states and nations. Other pressures would confuse gender or homogenize those differences between men and women that are essential to accomplish God’s great plan of happiness.

“Our understanding of God’s plan and His doctrine gives us an eternal perspective that does not allow us to condone such behaviors or to find justification in the laws that permit them. And, unlike other organizations that can change their policies and even their doctrines, our policies are determined by the truths God has identified as unchangeable.” (“No Other Gods”, Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference, October 2013)

Here is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ official response to the court’s overturning the Utah law defining marriage only between a man and a woman:

"Changes in the civil law do not, indeed cannot, change the moral law that God has established. God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society. His law of chastity is clear: sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We urge you to review and teach Church members the doctrine contained in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”

"Just as those who promote same-sex marriage are entitled to civility, the same is true for those who oppose it. The Church insists on its leaders’ and members’ constitutionally protected right to express and advocate religious convictions on marriage, family, and morality free from retaliation or retribution. The Church is also entitled to maintain its standards of moral conduct and good standing for members.

"Consistent with our fundamental beliefs, Church officers will not employ their ecclesiastical authority to perform marriages between two people of the same sex, and the Church does not permit its meetinghouses or other properties to be used for ceremonies, receptions, or other activities associated with same-sex marriages. Nevertheless, all visitors are welcome to our chapels and premises so long as they respect our standards of conduct while there.’ (Church Instructs Leaders on Same Sex Marriage)

While it is clear that just because the courts have decided against defining marriage to be legal only between a man and a women, it does not change God’s law; that is not going to change. But now that it appears that same sex marriage is legal for now, so what do those who oppose the ruling do? The Twelfth Article of Faith of the LDS Church says that we believe in “obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law”  So how do we as members of the Lord’s Church respond? Elder Dallin H. Oaks had this to say last week in his General Conference address:

“Why is it so difficult to have Christlike love for one another? It is difficult because we must live among those who do not share our beliefs and values and covenant obligations. In His great Intercessory Prayer, offered just before His Crucifixion, Jesus prayed for His followers: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). Then, to the Father He pleaded, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (verse 15).

“We are to live in the world but not be of the world. We must live in the world because, as Jesus taught in a parable, His kingdom is “like leaven,” whose function is to raise the whole mass by its influence (see Luke 13:21; Matthew 13:33; see also 1 Corinthians 5:6–8). His followers cannot do that if they associate only with those who share their beliefs and practices. But the Savior also taught that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (see John 14:15).

“On the subject of public discourse, we should all follow the gospel teachings to love our neighbor and avoid contention. Followers of Christ should be examples of civility. We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for their sincere beliefs. Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. Our stands and communications on controversial topics should not be contentious. We should be wise in explaining and pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence. In doing so, we ask that others not be offended by our sincere religious beliefs and the free exercise of our religion. We encourage all of us to practice the Savior’s Golden Rule: “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12).

“When our positions do not prevail, we should accept unfavorable results graciously and practice civility with our adversaries. In any event, we should be persons of goodwill toward all, rejecting persecution of any kind, including persecution based on race, ethnicity, religious belief or nonbelief, and differences in sexual orientation.” (“Loving Others and Living with Differences”, Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference, October 2014)

While we should not be forced to abandon our beliefs and we will not be forced to perform same sex marriages, we must be civil in recognizing the marriages that are now legal. We must never be demeaning or disrespectful towards the beliefs of others. The constitutional right to believe applies to everyone. The eleventh Article of Faith states:

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

The Lord has said in our day:

Listen to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever. (Doctrine and Covenants 35:1)

Until the time when the Lord comes again on the earth to reign as King of Kings and all bow the knee and become subject to his laws we are committed to obeying men's laws as long as it does not interfere with our constitutional right to exercise our religious freedoms.

Your comments and questions are welcome.

Families Are Essential

There is a primary song that our children have grown up singing it is titled “Families Can Be Together Forever”. They sang it at church, in our family home evenings and many other times. Our children are grown now and have families of their own and now our grandchildren are singing the same song. The words are:

Families Can Be Together Forever

35395, Children's Songbook, Home and Family, Families Can Be Together Forever, 188

1. I have a fam'ly here on earth.
They are so good to me.
I want to share my life with them through all eternity.

2. While I am in my early years,
I'll prepare most carefully,
So I can marry in God's temple for eternity.

Fam'lies can be together forever
Through Heav'nly Father's plan.
I always want to be with my own family,
And the Lord has shown me how I can.
The Lord has shown me how I can.

What a wonderful message that song has; families are eternal and continue on after this life is over. In the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are taught that families are an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan for his children. Elder Jeffry R. Holland once said: “of all the titles God has chosen for Himself, Father is the one He favors most…” (“Personal Purity”, General Conference, October 1998). That title of “Father” testifies that we all are part of his family and are His children. In The Family: A Proclamation To The World it says:

“We, THE FIRST PRESIDENCY and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

“ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

“IN THE PREMORTAL REALM, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”

In those thee short paragraphs we learn some important truths about ourselves and our families:

1.              Marriage between a man and a women is ordained of God.

2.              We are all created in the image of God and are his children.

3.              Gender is not something that can be changed if we don’t like it, but is an eternal characteristic of who we are and always will be.

4.              We were part of an eternal family before we were born and families can endure beyond this mortal experience we find ourselves in.

These are eternal truths that will remain true in spite of all the posturing by politicians, popular opinion, activists, or learned individuals. They are unchangeable and eternal and man with his limited wisdom and understanding of divine laws cannot alter them nor comprehend them. In a 1998 general conference address, Elder W. Eugene Hansen had this to say about the impact of social reform through government programs:

“These are sobering words, particularly in light of the adversary’s continuing assault on traditional values and the impact it is having upon the family. It becomes obvious that much needs to be done to reverse trends that continue to place the family at risk.

“In desperation, society turns to the secular. Social programs are spawned. Government agencies are enlisted to provide public funding and programs in an attempt to change the destructive trends. While some spotty successes are observed, general trends remain alarming. I submit that if real and lasting change is to occur, it will come only as we return to our spiritual moorings. We need to be listening to the counsel of the prophets.” (“Children and the Family”, General Conference, April 1998)

The foundation of the family continues to be eroded as we use government funding to fix the problems of society. The answer is not in public programs, but in returning to the fundamentals contained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and obedience to the commandments of God. Strong families, with a father and a mother that are committed to righteous principles are essential to the survival of any nation. Anyone that honestly seeks to study fallen societies of the past will see their destruction begins with the undermining of the family as the foundation of that society.

The only place where the sacred responsibility of brining children into this world is by a man and women that is married. As God’s children we are to live chaste lives before marriage and then after we are married we are to be totally committed to our spouse and lives based on fidelity. The scriptures say that we are to leave our fathers and mothers and cleave unto each other become one. (Genesis 2:24). Again we see this principle taught in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”:

“THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

“WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.”

Families that have a mother and a father is the ideal family; however, as it said above through death, disability, or other circumstances families are not always ideal and we must be willing to help those families who are not “ideal”. In families where one of he spouses is missing others can provide assistance where needed. Home/visiting teachers, primary leaders, young women leaders, priesthood leaders, and neighbors can help single parents when they need us. There are also many families that only have one parent where that parent is able to provide all that the family needs and does not necessarily need our “help”. We must respect them and be there if they ask. Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke of growing up in a family without his father:

“The theology of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints centers on the family. Our relationship to God and the purpose of earth life are explained in terms of the family. We are the spirit children of heavenly parents. The gospel plan is implemented through earthly families, and our highest aspiration is to perpetuate those family relationships throughout eternity. The ultimate mission of our Savior’s Church is to help us achieve exaltation in the celestial kingdom, and that can only be accomplished in a family relationship.

“No wonder our Church is known as a family-centered church. No wonder we are distressed at the current legal and cultural deteriorations in the position of marriage and childbearing. At a time when the world seems to be losing its understanding of the purpose of marriage and the value of childbearing, it is vital that Latter-day Saints have no confusion about these matters.

“The faithful widowed mother who raised us had no confusion about the eternal nature of the family. She always honored the position of our deceased father. She made him a presence in our home. She spoke of the eternal duration of their temple marriage. She often reminded us of what our father would like us to do so we could realize the Savior’s promise that we could be a family forever.” (“Priesthood Authority in the Family and the Church”, General Conference, October 2005)

The proclamation concludes with this challenge to us all:

“WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

To read the full text of “The Family: A Proclamation To The World” go to: http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation.

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