For me it was bittersweet. It was sweet because the 26th of June was a day of success for freedom of choice. I believe very strongly that we each have the right to choose. It is a common motto in my head: "You always have a choice." So for me, that is why the 26th had sweetness, because those who wanted to make the choice to become married could make that choice. The bitter part was that the institution of marriage, that I hold as sacred, was put in jeopardy through redefinition.
It is no secret that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(LDS). Many people know that the LDS church is a firm supporter of marriage between a man and woman. This is a belief that has become a more controversial idea than commonly accepted one. I watched many people post that they believe marriage should be between a man and woman, and I read the feeds and my heart grew heavy. So many people were misunderstood when they stated their belief of tradition marriage definition.
Marriage has a great value in our spiritual development and growth. It is the capstone ordinance made by members of the LDS faith. As a Mormon, I believe that there is a higher law than the law of the land, that is God's law. It is eternal. When God created the earth, he completed his work with the creation of two beings: a man and a woman. This is the beginning and the pattern with which God began our world. I believe that God creates patterns for us to live by for our benefit and growth.
Here is what many people don't understand about my reason for this belief(marriage between a man and woman): I believe that marriage isn't just for pleasure and love. Those are by products of the institution. Marriage is meant for the creation of families, and it is also an essential step to achieve exaltation in our next life.
It is one of the first commandments given by God in the book of Genesis to Adam and Eve is to "multiple and replenish the earth" (Genesis 1:28). This is a commandment that is reiterated in the "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" which is a declaration that outlines what I believe marriage and family are created to do and achieve.
In my conversations with different people, they remind me that the approval of marriage equality by the Supreme Court does not infringe on my religion because the Constitution still protects the freedom of religion. This is all true. Yet, a part of me fears that there will be someone in this world for who marriage equality in the court of law is not enough and they will want our church to practice marriage equality. The Church has stated that we will uphold the laws of the land, and continue "to teach and promote marriage between a man and a woman as a central part of our doctrine and practice." Will others uphold the laws that support freedom of religion when a church is ridiculed for not supporting or performing same-sex marriage? Only time will tell.
I am writing this because I feel like the people of Nephi in chapter 46 of Alma. In verse 4 it talks about how it felt like a "greater part" of the people were supporting dissension in the church. It feels that the majority of the world supports same-sex marriage over marriage between a man and woman. I feel like the minority which can be scary, because often minorities are considered wrong and ignorant.
In response to these dissensions, Moroni rent his coat and boldly shared the "Title of Liberty" there were many who came hurrying forth to support the Title and their covenants. This is my title. We each have a right to choose, and I choose to support that marriage between a man and woman is the way to achieve exaltation. Not because I don't believe that gay marriage exists or that individuals don't have the right to make that choice but because there is a higher law that I support and follow. A law that has eternal significance and consequences. A law that I have made covenants to keep and sustain.
