Supreme Court and Little Bros

This week a lot has happened but the thing I wish to share most is something my brother posted on facebook not long after the supreme court ruling. My little brother Jared has already been set apart as a missionary and leaves next week to go and serve the Hmong speaking people of California. I am so proud of him and all the choices he has made. With this I leave the words to him, which I can testify at every moment is the truth. I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

"With the Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage I would like to explain the reason why I don’t support the ruling. I expect that my views are soon to be stereotypical of a dwindling minority. Rather than leave doubt on why I believe what I believe I would like to explain myself to anyone willing to read.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church does have a spotted history with the LGBT rights movement, and I recognize that. The Church’s stance on marriage has been clear since “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was publish in 1995. If you are not familiar with the document you can read it here: https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

I have spent many hours pondering on why the Church’s stance on gay marriage is what it is. It has not been something I have chosen to believe in blindly. I cannot say for sure, but I think it is possible to have a relationship between two people of the same sex that can be loving and happy much in the same way that traditional marriages in this life can be. That being said, happiness in this life is not remotely the most important thing. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has doctrine on where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going that is unlike any other religion that I am aware of. It is called the Plan of Salvation and you can read more about it here: http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/plan-of-salvation.

What makes this plan so unique is that, number one, unlike other branches of Christianity there is no everlasting hell. It is a well established doctrine in the LDS church that God loves us immensely and will bless us with a type of eternal glory unless we knowingly deny it, something a tiny minority are even capable of doing. God does not punish the sinner eternally. That being said, the second defining component of the Plan of Salvation is that not all glories are equal. There are three major divisions: the Celestial represented by the glory of the sun, the Terrestrial represented by the glory of the moon, and the Telestial represented by the glory of the stars. Furthermore, we are taught that the greatest degree of glory, the Celestial, can be divided into three subkingdoms, the highest of which has among its requirements a marriage that has been sealed in an LDS temple for time and all eternity. As you read in the Family Proclamation only heterosexual marriages can be sealed. You can read about this doctrine of eternal marriage here: http://www.mormon.org/faq/together-forever.

That is the key. The highest degree of glory is what God wants for us. It is there and only there that family relations can continue beyond the grave. God gave us this Plan of Salvation so that we can become like Him, in all His glory, happiness and perfection and it is in the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom that we do become like God. Yes, that means that it is LDS doctrine that we not only have a Heavenly Father, but a Heavenly Mother also. They are both perfect exalted beings. Their happiness, eternal happiness, is the only happiness that lasts beyond the grave. The happiness homosexual couples can experience in relationships together in this life will not continue after death. Where there was happiness in this life there will be an emptiness. The same goes for all heterosexual marriages not sealed in LDS temples. I do not support same-sex marriage because it is my firm belief that eternity will not be as happy as it could be for them. I want all people to have a full measure of eternal happiness, regardless of any discriminating factor.

I want more for my gay brothers and sisters just as I want more for all of my brothers and sisters who do not yet know the full truth of the gospel of Christ. I believe in the potential of all of God’s children to become as their Father in Heaven and I believe the Plan of Salvation to be the only way for that to be possible. If I were to support gay marriage I feel that I would be denying my LGBT brothers and sisters of the full measure of my love. I do not support gay marriage because I support gay exaltation.

I know that God loves all of us perfectly. I strive daily, hourly, by the minute, to have that kind of love for everyone. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the full truth of Christ’s gospel on the earth today. I know that Joseph Smith was indeed called to be a prophet of God. I know that the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God. It is my testimony that Christ lives, that He died for not only our sins, but every shortcoming and pain we experience. Know that I love you, all of you.

If you have any questions about what I have said, I would encourage you to send me a Facebook message to help clarify what I have said. I hope I have not angered anyone. That was never my intent. If I have I would ask that if you do message me with questions know that I am sorry and while I find it acceptable for you to vent that anger, do not slander me, my religion, or my God.

If you have made it this far I must thank you for reading this. I hope why I believe what I believe is clear."