Prop 8: My Opinion

With the Supreme Court making their ruling on Prop 8 this week, it has really had me thinking. For those that don't know, I have spent the past year intensely studying the Constitution and Bill of Rights and the entire gay marriage ordeal has caught my attention because I LOVE modern day law. I'm on of the few very LUCKY people to have met and talked with the Judge of the Circuit Court that made the decision on Prop 8 that the Supreme Court just upheld. Crazy, right? I even talked with him on this very issue! You know what is crazier? Judge Smith is an LDS member, yet he made the decision on gay marriage. Seems ironic, right? Well, actually, no. It's not ironic. This is my opinion on the entire situation.... From two viewpoints. I hope this makes sense! 

Before I give my two opinions, I need to explain that I have spent the last year training myself to separate law from my morals. As much as I wish all the laws lined up with my morals, it won't happen. Laws can't be based on morals for a couple of reasons. First, most people's morals are different. How can you make a single law that encompasses everyone's morals? You can't. You just can't. Also, in my opinion, my morals are directly intertwined with my religion and beliefs. The first amendment guarantees separation of church and state. With that said, the reason Prop 8 is so controversial is because it is an issue that infringes upon many people's morals... Including mine. However, the courts in our nation are given the job to uphold the Constitution, not to uphold everyone's morals. Thus the Supreme Court has interpreted the law and how they feel it is applied to gay marriage. 

Now, first from a constitutional background, I will admit that I agree with the Supreme Court decision 100%. Trust me, I am against gay marriage. But how can I agree with the decision? Well, our nation stresses freedoms, and who we choose to marry is one of those freedoms. I truly believe that the Constitution supports this claim enough to allow gay marriage, but this is strictly from a constitutional view of mine. There is nothing that restricts marriage to a man and woman, and if people want to do it, then fine. Go ahead. I don't have to like the lifestyle choice of them, but I do respect the rights that we both have. 

Secondly, this opinion is based strictly off my morals. I am against gay marriage. I truly am. I KNOW that God intended marriage to be between a man and a woman. He has told us that multiple times. It even states it in our 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World'. I do also know that many LDS people live their lives with the feelings of being attracted to the same gender, but I also know that every person is given different trials. This is just one of theirs. There is nothing wrong with that, but acting on those attractions is where the wrong begins, but that is why we have the Atonement and the ability to repent and grow closer with our Heavenly Father. The church even has a website that addresses this issue at mormonsandgays.org. Go check it out! I will always stand by my morals, and I will always know that gay marriage is wrong regardless of what our nations laws are, but so many other things that go against our beliefs are legal, and look at us doing fine! 

With this said, just because the Supreme Court made this decision doesn't mean that I will change my lifestyle. I don't have to all of a sudden support gay marriage because it is constitutional. I mean, honestly, people were going to change their lifestyles because of this new law. Gay marriages were already happening and will continue on regardless of the decision! This week at Aspen Grove, we have two general authorities and their families staying here, and tonight we were pleased to hear from Elder Cardon, who also touched on this subject. He compared it to Lehi's dream and the great and spacious building. This has happened before with laws being changed, and we as Latter-Day Saints and mocked, made fun of, and pointed at with fingers of scorn. For instance, when alcohol became legal, the same thing happened, but the standards of the church stayed the same. The world around us keeps changing, but the principles of our Gospel won't. God is the same today, yesterday, and forever. Yes, this is only another sign that the Second Coming is getting closer and closer, and we as Latter-Day Saints MUST be on the Lord's side and each have a testimony of our own. That will get us through. Just trust in The Lord, and hold tight to the rod!