Marriage

Voter's Remorse.

I remember voting for Prop. 8 in California 2008. In 2013 my heart was saddened to see broadcast on TV, just an hour and a half away, the proposition was overturned. I thought, what is the use of voting if the courts were just able to strike it down? Obergefell v. Hodges summary provided me with some relief, but God’s pattern for revealing truth through prophets leads me to raise a flag, a stand on an issue that is of the heart of the Great Plan of Happiness.

In reading opinion of the court (the majority) from Obergefell v Hodges, my heart went out to those three couples who felt discriminated against. Admittedly, at one point I could see how they should have an opportunity to be married and recognized, especially when I read: “Without the recognition, stability, and predictability marriage offers, children suffer the stigma of knowing their families are somehow lesser.” (Obergefell v Hodges 2015). I felt for the children. Children should never feel outcast because of the decisions of adults. I am thankful that the dissenting Justices addressed their reasonings before the majority, and so began my journey back to reality.

Back L-R Sonia Sotomayor, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, and Elena Kagan
Front L-R: Clarence Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, and Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Chief Justices (C.J.) Roberts, Scalia, and Thomas all addressed my concern about Proposition 8 being overturned. In Justice Robert’s words “For those who believe in a government of laws, not of men, the majority’s approach is deeply disheartening. Supporters of same-sex marriage have achieved considerable success persuading their fellow citizens-through democratic process- to adopt their view. That ends today. Five lawyers have closed the debated and enacted their own vision of marriage as a matter of constitutional law.” (Obergefell v Hodges 2015). I need not say more. Each of the dissenting Judges cover this in great detail, this addressed the first of my concerns. C.J.Roberts, then Elder Russell M. Nelson both address my second one, the reason why marriage between a man and a woman is essential.

C.J. Roberts (2015) repeatedly spoke to need for a mother and father to come together in marriage to protect the children, he said, “The human race must procreate to survive. Procreation occurs through sexual relations between a man and a woman. When sexual relations result in the conception of a child, that child’s prospects are generally better if the mother and father stay together rather than going their separate ways. Therefore, for the good of children and society, sexual relations that can lead to procreation should occur only between a man and a woman committed to a lasting bond.” This is a good beginning to understanding why there is a need for marriage to be between a man and a woman. For the fuller picture, God’s pattern of revealing truth to His prophets (Amos 3:7) is a blessing for all who want to understand why marriage between a man and  woman is essential.

We are blessed to have guidance on issues of the heart, because same-sex marriage is an issue of the heart. Elder Nelson (2014), an Apostle of the Lord, said “God is the Father of all men and women. They are His children. It was He who ordained marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Marriage was not created by human judges or legislators. It was not created by think tanks or by popular vote or by oft-quoted bloggers or by pundits. It was not created by lobbyists. Marriage was created by God!” I love how he reminded us that in the beginning God created man and woman, Adam and Eve, to create families. This is the pattern for families that the Lord has given us. (2014)  I thank those dissenting Judges who saw the value in their positions as non-voted-in Justices of the Law, they have a beginning of truth in their statements. The fill in comes from those chosen by the author of the definition of marriage, the prophets.

With the dissenting Justices, and Elder Nelson’s  I add my witness that God loves all His children. We came from a Heavenly pre-earth family. Each of us chose to come to earth to gain an earthly body and to become more like our Heavenly Parents. There are more spirits waiting to come to earth to gain a body and learn from their loving earthly mothers and fathers. Anything else cannot allow us to participate fully in the great Plan of Happiness to allow the spirit children of our Heavenly Father to come to earth.