Colleen Cluff
As the idea of marriage and family continues to change in the views of the world, our Prophet has instructed us that we must stand firm in what we know the family to be. I do not think anyone would have thought this would be such a difficult task to do. The world has come up with this view that if you don’t agree with something a person does then you do not like that person, thus making a standard of, if you like someone you agree with everything they do. But, obviously, this cannot be the case! Even my family members who I love more than anyone else can do things I don’t agree with, but that doesn’t mean that I love them any less.
On the topic of this week, this has become a huge standard with the gay movement. You either stand with them in legalizing the marriage between two members of the same sex, or you hate them. I hope that others can see that this is not true. I have a couple of friends from back home who told me that they were gay. One friend in-particular had such feelings for me. It was shocking. But, it didn’t make me love her as a friend any less. Matter of fact, I told her I was flattered that she loved me so dearly, but I didn’t reciprocate those feelings in a romantic manner. I explained my thoughts on the topic, how men and women are supposed to be attracted to each other, marry one another, and that it is the only proper way to create a family. And even after I explained this to her we continued to be friends. I didn’t agree with the choice she made to act on her gay tendencies but I showed her love in other aspects of her life.
I loved the talk by President Nelson, “Disciples of Jesus Christ–Defenders of Truth” we were able to read this week. He spoke of how a man and a woman can become what they are meant to in this life when they are together. President Nelson said, “Male and female are created for what they can do and become, together. It takes a man and a woman to bring a child into the world. Mothers and fathers are not interchangeable. Men and women are distinct and complementary. Children deserve a chance to grow up with both a mom and a dad.” (p.1) This was the way that Heavenly Father ordained marriage to be and it is the way that we should follow it.
I also love the fact that this topic was brought up in the Obergefell v. Hodges case. The judges made it very clear that although they were legalizing gay marriage, they were not going to force it upon religious parties. They quoted saying, “the First Amendment ensures that religions, those who adhere to religious doctrines, and others have protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths.” (Obergefell v. Hodges, p. 23-27) For the legislative branch to allow each of us to believe and act on that belief as we like gives us the strength and courage we need to really be defenders of truth.
President Nelson’s talk left each and every one of us with a charge. We need to know what we believe, live by it and be an ensign to the world. We cannot be scared to share what we stand for, especially when it comes to the family, because the family is “the greatest guardians of any and all virtues” (President Nelson, p.1). So, we cannot shrink at the challenge of defending what is most important to God, His Son and ourselves.
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