Friday, October 17, 2014

The Divine Institution of Marriage

I write this article carefully, aware that some may read the first part and misunderstand my position.  Therefore I ask that you finish the whole post before commenting on it.  The first half states that truth cannot change, and the second half affirms that neither should love and kindness.
Disclaimer: my position is not to be taken as a statement of the official doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  For more information about their standing on this subject, please visit www.mormon.org

Marriage is an institution created by God, and as such, it is up to Him to outline the parameters for its practice and application.  He did this at the marriage of our first parents, and has not changed or altered it since.  A marriage is the divine melding of a man and a woman, with no expiration date.  This is what marriage is in God's eyes, and He holds the patent on that institution; mankind has no right to remold or redefine it to fit their own preferences.
Now, as to the matter of sexual relations outside of this equation, God has also stated His unequivocal disapproval of such, and I cannot say it better than He has.  Suffice it to say that He who created the human body and human sexuality did not do so without specific warnings and consequences for their misuse.
The relationship between His children is also an institution of God, nearly as old as that of marriage.  This is that, whatever our disagreements with the feelings or actions of another, we are to love them as a child of God, with divine potential, no matter who they are.  We are to show kindness, even when we cannot, on principle, show approval.  In the account of the woman accused of adultery, Christ condemned the sin, and in the same breath refused to condemn her (the sinner), though He was the only one with the right to do so.
So I declare both my support of traditional marriage, since this is the only kind sanctioned by God, and my love for (though not necessarily approval of) all my brothers and sisters.  I will not and cannot rewrite or redefine what God has declared marriage to be, but I will love, show kindness to, and pray for all, regardless of their sexual orientation.  Inasmuch as any of them are sinning, are they not even more in need of my compassion?

Sunday, October 5, 2014

What is a Prophet?

The words of the Bible are, for the most part, the words of God spoken to His prophets.  A prophet was someone He personally called to share His Gospel with His children, prepare them for the coming of Christ, and remind them of their duty to remember Him.  These were righteous (though of course imperfect, as only Jesus Christ was perfect) men, and were never self-appointed, but were called by God personally, or by His voice through His previous prophet.
I believe in a God that does not change.  Because He is perfect He doesn't need to change, and is the same from eternity to all eternity.  The prophets of ancient days were beacons of light to a wicked world.  Do we not still need that?  Do we not still need a living source of God's Gospel in these turbulent days? Christ is coming again; could we not be blessed by one to help us prepare?  And in a world that is constantly trying to pull us away from God and His Christ, would we not benefit from being reminded of our duty to God, and of His loving plan for our happiness?
For these and many other reasons I believe that God would send a prophet in these days.  But, lest we be deceived, the Savior counseled you and me that, "ye shall know them by their fruits," or the words and works they gave.  Below I am including links to listen to the words of the men that God has confirmed to my heart are His called and chosen prophets in this day and age, proof to the world that we are not forgotten or abandoned by our Father and Creator.
I thank Thee, oh God, for a prophet, to guide me in these latter days!

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https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng

https://www.youtube.com/user/LDSGeneralConference