A topic that really forces you off the fence

My brother Aaron has been working on this document for a month or so in order to share with others & to gain a better understanding of why it is important that the laws of our country maintain marriage as a right to be held by one man & one woman. I know many homosexual individuals personally. I truly do love them. I think they are amazing & wonderful people. I want them to find peace and happiness in life and I believe that living the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring peace and happiness into one's life that cannot be found through any other means.

Having said that, I have included the following link to the official church website containing an interview with Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church, and Elder Lance B. Wickman, a member of the Seventy on this topic here: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/same-gender-attraction

Also, this is my brother's final version of the document he came up with to describe his feelings. It is an 8-page word document but I think it points out some great scriptural references on the topic and is definitely worth reading especially if you struggle a little with the political aspects at all, like I have. It has been hard for me the really make a concrete case against civil unions for gay couples because of my sympathy for the individuals that I know and love and want them to be happy. I think reading this, along with the above interview, really helped me to understand the importance of protecting something that I consider to be a sacred covenant. Also, the above interview goes in-depth on the topic of homosexuality itself and should be read by anyone who doesn't know the LDS Church's official stance on the topic or would like to know more about it.

Happy Reading!

These are the opinions of the author only and do not reflect those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or any other Church.

PURPOSE:

I implore all citizens of the United States of America to contact their government officials. Let them know that you desire to support state and federal amendments which establish marriage to be between a man and a woman. Remind our local, state, and federal government leaders that we serve the God of this land. Ensure our government leaders that we are one nation under God.

We, as citizens of the United States, live in a choice land. Our freedoms and liberties have been preserved by the hand of God since the Revolutionary War. The people that have inherited this land have strived to serve the God of this land, who is Jesus Christ. If we as a people forget the Lord our God and begin to tolerate a sin such as homosexuality, making allowances in our government and society, then we will be destroyed as was Sodom and Gomorrah. Let me clarify: We tolerate and love the sinner, we do not tolerate the sin.

Ether 2:10-12 (Book of Mormon)

10 For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the ^bfulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.

11 And this cometh unto you, O ye Gentiles, that ye may know the decrees of God—that ye may repent, and not continue in your iniquities until the fulness come, that ye may not bring down the fulness of the wrath of God upon you as the inhabitants of the land have hitherto done.

12 Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.

Introduction

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and as such:

• I believe in God the eternal Father, and in His Son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost.
• I believe in the Ten Commandments.
• I do not purport to be better than anyone else in this world at living the Ten Commandments. I believe that my efforts to obey God’s commands do not - in and of themselves - elevate or escalate me above any other human being. Nor do I possess any power in and of myself to raise neither myself nor my performance in this life above the performance of any other human beings. For where I am strong, my Savior is the source of that strength and where I am weak my Savior is there to carry me.
• I believe that murder, adultery, theft, covetousness, idolatry, and the love of self elevated above a love for God and our neighbor (PRIDE) are some of the most grievous sins. I do not pretend to lack a need for improvement in exemplifying the pure love of Christ towards all people – my pride gets in my way many times and I fail to love as God has commanded.
• I believe homosexuality is blatant disobedience to God’s mandate to multiply and replenish the earth. I reference the following scriptures:

Genesis 19:4-7 (KJV)

4 ¶ But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

• Homosexuality is also referred to as the sin of sodomy. This reference comes from an account in the Bible of two exceedingly wicked cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, which the Lord destroyed. Sodom was known for its rampant homosexuality and unrestrained sexual lust, as well as other sins such as arrogance, haughtiness, and disregard for the poor. When the Lord sent angels to warn Lot who lived in the city that it was about to be destroyed, the men of the city actually wanted to rape the angels! (Genesis 19:4-7)

Leviticus 18:22 (KJV): "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind it is abomination."

Leviticus 20:13 (KJV)

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

• In the Old Testament the penalty for homosexuality was death. Today the penalty of death may reveal itself in the form of AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Homosexuality also brings death to the soul and spirit of man because the spirit and light of God is pushed out of our souls when we indulge in something that is an abomination to God. God wants to deliver all who are trapped in this unholy practice and He will if anyone calls out to Him with a sincere heart.

Jude 1:7 (KJV)

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Isaiah 3:9 (KJV)

The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.

2 Nephi 9:40 (Book of Mormon)

40 O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.

• The powers of evil are attempting a holocaust of new proportions in our day and age, a holocaust or slaughter of future bodies that would house unborn spirit children of our Father in Heaven. One of the methods the adversary is using is homosexuality. It is ever more URGENT that the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth be obeyed within the bonds of marriage in these latter days.
• Homosexuals cannot have posterity; this choice of homosexuality is in a sense holocaustic to the existence of mankind and contrary to God’s commands. The Lord has commanded his children to multiply and replenish the earth and He is the only one with the power to rescind this commandment.
• There are heterosexual couples that marry and attempt to multiply and replenish the earth, and in faithful obedience discover they are not capable to do as the Lord has commanded. However only God knows when and if at any given point this couple will at some future point be blessed with a natural born child as was Abraham of the Old Testament.
• Homosexuals and Lesbians need not attempt to multiply and replenish the earth in order to discover their inability to sexually reproduce. Their sexuality can therefore only be self-gratifying because they know before they ever enter into sexual relations that there is no possibility of gratifying God or adding to our nation’s posterity.

Ether 12:27 (Book of Mormon)

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

• I believe that each person comes to earth with a set of divine weaknesses that must be made strong through Christ’s Atoning Blood.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV)

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a ^aform of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

• I believe that the apostle Paul saw our day and times and wrote of many of our challenges. And he specifically lists, “being lovers of their own selves” , and, “Without natural affection…” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). In light of my topic, loving their own self would be choosing a sexual relationship for self gratification, rather than for the gratification of God. If a child can be the result of the sexual relationship within the bonds of marriage, God may be gratified. However a child cannot result from homosexual relationships thus God cannot be gratified they are strictly unnatural affections for those who love themselves more than they love God.
• There is no hope for a future generation in homosexuality. And if there is not hope, then what is there? Moroni 10:22 in the Book of Mormon answers this question, “And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.”
• I believe the power of pro-creation to be a very heavenly and eternal power given to men and women so that they may participate in the work and glory of God which is to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”. (Moses 1:39 Pearl of Great Price)

The Pre-amble to the Constitution of the U.S. reads:

“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

· Satan has successfully attacked our nation’s posterity through Homosexuality. Tomorrow’s posterity can be reduced or adversely affected today if more and more people choose homosexual relations as opposed to heterosexual relations. Satan has seen the influence that a father and mother can have on children who will become tomorrow’s leaders.

What Should We Do?

• An Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ (M. Russell Ballard) extended and invitation to the world in July 2008 which reads:

"Now, may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet to share the gospel..." {M. Russell Ballard (Quorum of 12 Apostles), “Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet,” Ensign, Jul 2008, 58–63 [Adapted from a commencement address given at Brigham Young University–Hawaii on December 15, 2007.]}

There are 30 states with marriage protection amendments in place. There are 41 states with marriage protected by amendment or law (DOMA). http://www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=3450

• The numbers above tell me that the majority of our nation still believes in marriage between a man and a woman. We must do all we can to see that judges and government leaders clearly know where we the people stand on this and similar issues. If we don’t communicate to our leaders, then we fail to be a government “OF THE PEOPLE”.

Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863 Abraham Lincoln

"...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

• The people of California have stated on two separate occasions that they believe marriage to be between a man and a woman. The first time was through a law which a California Supreme Court Judge ruled unconstitutional.

• Now a second time the people of California still as a majority chose to uphold their previous vote when it comes to marriage between a man and a woman. The consent of the governed has been given in favor of marriage to be between a man and a woman.

Declaration of Independence in Congress July 4, 1776

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED, --"

• It is convenient that without the point of consent emphasized in bold in the Declaration of Independence, the above phrase is one often quoted by homosexuals to argue their point. And now that their right has been repealed by the consent of the governed, they seek to tear down those who govern them – their neighbors and friends and even family.

Lincoln's first inaugural address March 4, 1861

“Again, if the United States be not a government proper, but an association of States in the nature of contract merely, can it, as a contract, be peaceably unmade, by less than all the parties who made it? One party to a contract may violate it — break it, so to speak; but does it not require all to lawfully rescind it?...

If, by the mere force of numbers, a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution — certainly would, if such right were a vital one. But such is not our case. “

• Homosexuality is not vital. In fact, homosexuality is opposite of vital or “of life”. It is impossible for homosexuals to be vital as defined by Merriam Webster. Therefore, according to Lincoln, homosexuality does not justify revolution but justifies the lawful acceptance of the voice of the people as has been clearly polled in 41 states.

1 Corinthians 7:1-2

"Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband."

Genesis 1:27-28

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

• Let me remind anyone reading I know of a surety that there are homosexuals out there that do more good for the poor, sick and afflicted than I do.
• This is not written to condemn homosexuals as children of God.
• A letter much longer and harsher would not be sufficient to condemn me
• Nor am I so arrogant to believe that I am better off or better than any homosexual …God knows that my shortcomings in loving my neighbor as myself are sinful enough. I have no room to say I am better than anyone else.
• I write this for the welfare of the posterity of this union known as the United States of America. This is a choice nation and as long as the people that inhabit this choice nation remain faithful and do not deny but worship the Lord God, the people of this nation will prosper. But if the grievous sins of Sodom and Gomorrah plague our nation, then plagues and destruction as have not been known shall befall the people that inhabit this blessed land.
• I plead for those who are homosexuals to come unto Christ. I testify that He has the power to strengthen them and help them overcome any sin, especially that of homosexuality. I pray that this message is received as a plea for change and repentance with a heartfelt concern for the eternal well being of all homosexuals worldwide.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21(KJV)

16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Mosiah 4:2-3 (Book of Mormon)

2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

“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.

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.” (This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.)