letter-to-my-gay-friend-proposition-8-mormon

A letter to my gay friend about The Mormons and Proposition 8

This is a very explosive topic, and I'm not trying to be confrontational here. I have a lot of gay friends, and risk them getting upset at me by posting this.

I know that this topic is important to both sides, but it seems the Mormon point-of-view is always muted by the loud protests. What many seem to overlook is that marriage to Mormons is a sacred institution. Marriage in society has its roots in religion. Marriage has always been between a man and a woman since Adam and Eve. This video that you posted pours gas on the fire of hate towards Mormons making it seem like Mormons are violent and haters of gays. That is false. In fact, there was a lot of violence towards Mormons and vandalism of Church property during the weeks leading up to Prop. 8 in California.

The truth is Mormons do not hate gays just because we do not believe it is God's way. We also do not believe that a man and woman should live together before marriage. This is what I teach my children, not out of hate towards others, but because I believe this to be what God has commanded. It's just what we believe. We believe in marriage, which by definition is between man and woman. I think it is ironic when I hear that we (Mormons) need more tolerance. However, if I believe marriage should only be between man and woman, there is no tolerance for that from the gay community. Tolerance seems to be convenient only if it goes along with the gay agenda. Mormons are not to blame for this belief. It is what most people in our society believe. How everyone lives their life is up to them. Mormons believe that we have our free agency. However, why should my belief in marriage, which is sacred to me, be less valuable that the gay's belief that they should have the right to marriage? This video tries to make it seem like it's about certain rights that gays should have. What rights don't gays have? The piece of paper that says you're married? It makes reference that same-sex marriage is somehow the same as the civil rights movement. That's a bit of a stretch. Furthermore making it look like the Mormons are behind the opposition - overlooking Catholics and millions of others. You can call same-sex marriage "marriage", but I stand by the fact that marriage in the definition of the word is man and women, husband and wife, united historically in a religious ceremony. What the gays want us as society to do is call something "marriage" when it is not. It's a civil union when a same-sex couple is joined legally. And furthermore, gay activists want society to support this "same-sex marriage", blurring what marriage really is, the beginning of a family unit where husband and wife have children. Again, don't blame the Mormons that man and man can't have kids. God created us that way. I believe it is important for children to have both a father and mother. It is part of God's plan. You can mock this belief, but I will not stand by and have my faith attacked with lies and deceit showing us as hate-mongers when all we want to do is protect what we believe to be sacred and ordained of God. You're still my friend, and just like all my other gay friends, I don't hate you. However, I really believe that God has spoken on this. It's not a popular view and most do not speak out even if they feel the way I do. You really can't expect the Mormon Church to change its view on marriage because you would ultimately be asking for God to change His view on marriage, just because it's what you want. Wanting it does not change God's law.