After having Kevin come down the stairs yesterday and seeing his face and hearing the words, "So the church announced something today." I was wondering if what he had to say would change my view of the church. I was nervous and braced myself to hear what he had to say. Needless to say my first reaction was anger. I was thinking of those dear children. Why were they needing to suffer and not be allowed the blessings the church has to offer. I found myself needing to pray, think, talk it out with Kevin, pray some more and finally realized that the church was thinking of those sweet children and didn't want them to have to have ill feelings toward those parents they love. They didn't want to destroy the family they were in so that was why these rules were put into place (or made known among the public). I got to share this experience while with the sister missionaries over at Quinn and Gina's house for their lesson Monday night. Quinn brought it up because it's all over the news. The sisters were shocked at my initial response because I said I was really angry. I really do believe it's a good thing to talk about our true feelings and how we work through them for others to learn. It also let Gina and Quinn know that I (and other members) don't just accept everything that is told to us but that we too go and find the confirmation and testimony ourselves. Mike's was great and I was glad he wrote it before I, myself, was able to figure out my own feelings on the topic.
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Sent Sunday 11-8-2015
My children, brothers and sisters, and other family members,
This email is sent with love for all of you and even though it is kind of long, I would ask that you read it. (you are welcome to pass it on to other family members as you deem necessary)
Most of you are probably aware of two new church policies issued this week that some, in and out of the church, have looked at as controversial. You will see many converstaions on facebook and in the news media. As your father, and eldest brother, I wanted to privately give you my thoughts on the matter. In summary the church issued a policy that makes same sex marriage grounds for church disciplinary action, and that children of either same sex couples or polygamous families cannot be blessed at church or be baptized until they reach legal age (18 in the US). This has bothered some people and ignited some debate and controversy among members of the church.
Throughout the history of the world and the church (both in ancient and modern) there have been times when a prophet has issued commandments, policies, and words that have been difficult for members and non members of the church to understand or accept. Many times these have been of differing values and even opposed to the world's stance on these situations. I think of Noah preaching the end of the world by flood if people didn't repent, animal sacrifice in the Old Testament, Nephi being asked to kill Laban to preserve the plates (scriptures) for a new civilization, the Word of Wisdom and Polygamy in the early days of the church, and even lifestyles policies such as piercings, clothing standards, and dating. In all these cases a prophet of the Lord was instructed by the Lord to reveal or do something that may have been incompatible with the thoughts of the day and even hard for people to understand the reasoning behind.
As with any commandment or guideline from the Prophet/apostles and other church leaders, I think the issue is not just the specific item in question, but maybe even more so the principle of obedience and testimony that a prophet of God lives on the earth today and that he receives revelation from the lord at times that the Lord sees fit to teach, inspire, and warn his people. For example tithing is not just about money, but about obedience and faith, attending church and magnifying our callings is not just about attendance, but about prioritizing our lives to be compatible to the will of God, and in this new policy, I think it is not just about questioning the rights of the children or adults involved, as it is in supporting and believing that we have a prophet of God today that receives revelation from the Lord.
In 1 Nephi it states "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless I do not know the meanings of all things.". In this new policy change as with many things (temple attendance, tithing, word of wisdom, warnings of food storage and getting out of debt, why there is sickness, disease, and poverty in the world), we may not understand the meaning behind all things, but we can have a testimony that God loves us, that there is a prophet who loves us and gives us revelation from God. If we truly believe that then we must sometimes step forward into the dark, on faith, and accept what he has told us. This life is not based on pure knowledge, but on faith. That is part of what prepares us to live with Heavenly Father, the Savior, and our families again.
We are told in Matthew as he foretold the last days, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great sighs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” We have our agency in all things, but we need to be care of ourselves and others that take upon themselves the role of criticizing or saying that the Prophet is wrong, and that they know better, and that he is not compatible with our modern world. This leads to others (and possibly ourselves) being a false Christ or a false prophet. We can discuss, but be careful of criticizing and inferring that the Prophet is out of touch. He is in touch with the Lord’s standards.
Below you will see Elder Christofferson's thoughts on these new policies. He clarifies that the church in these days had to take a firm stand, separate from the world, that same sex marriage is not acceptable to God and his plan. The church felt the need to protect the child in these circumstances from having to choose between their parents and the church and being confused by what was taught by each. A child has the right to be raised in a home and be protected and taken care of. Even, having same sex parents, the church did not want to split this child's life. By the time the child is 18, he/she then has the right to still love his/her parents, but can decide for himself that that lifestyle is wrong, be baptized in the church, and enjoy all the blessings of the gospel.
You will see and hear many in and out of the church debate these new policies. Remember that “the spirit of contention...is of the devil” (3N11;29). The best way to respond to your own questions or to those of others is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures, pray for guidance, and reiterate your testimony of a Prophet of God in your life. Some of us may know people that are gay or in these types of relationships. The admonition always has been to be loving and friendly to everyone, but not to mistake love and acceptance of the person for acceptance of their choice of lifestyle. Christ was never waving on his standards. He constantly taught the truth, but loved all, and tried to raise all up to his level, rather than changing his teachings to meet the level of the world. “For my thoughts are not your
I promise that as you follow the prophet in all things that your lives will be blessed. The blessings that have come to me from living the gospel include priesthood blessings, 25 years of being sealed in the temple, opportunities to grow and learn, comfort in times of difficulty, and peace in my heart, when peace in the world seems so far away. Nothing the church, the Prophet, or the gospel has asked me to do in my life has hurt or weakened me, but always it has made me stronger, better, happier, and closer to my Heavenly Father and Savior.
Love,
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