Denying Divine Power

A big topic of debate concerning marriage and the family has been same-sex marriage. Those of us who would like the traditional marriage of one man and one woman upheld are sometimes at a loss as to how we can voice our opinions without being called discriminatory. I think it is important to differentiate between the people involved and the doctrines involved.

Surely the Lord still loves those who proclaim homosexual traits as their choice. He is in fact the one who has given them their agency. However, the choice to be in a same sex relationship goes against the doctrine of the family and the divine attributes of each person God has created. In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” (1995) it states, “All human beings – male and female – are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal and eternal identity and purpose.”

These divine characteristics make each one of us individual, unique and beloved of our Father in Heaven. Because of our unique natures we all have individual trials and temptations that beset us during our time on this earth. One of the trials is the inclination towards intimacy with a person of the same sex. When people give in to this temptation due to persuasion, cultural acceptance, or thoughtless experimenting they are negating their divinely given natures.

In the Bible it states, “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…said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” Given to the very first people was the commandment to create life and populate the earth. Within the nature of marriage is the capability to procreate. A same sex couple do no have this divine power, they cannot create life for themselves and so are thoroughly dismissing the power to be like God.

There are two reasons that putting this divine power aside is a choice to be eternally regretted. The first being the right of every person that comes to the earth to receive a body. Same sex couples cannot procreate and so are denying spirits in heaven from receiving a body on this earth. The second is being able to progress through this life and ultimately become as God. If the choice is made to deny our divine nature, practice intimacy where is it not divinely sanctioned, and avoid the commandment to procreate, then we are not progressing as we should.

“Social and political pressures to change marriage laws are resulting in practices contrary to God’s will regarding the eternal nature and purposes of marriage. Man simply cannot make moral what God has declared to be immoral. Sin, even if legalized by man, is still sin in the eyes of God.” (Nelson, 2014) This debate will no doubt go on, however I hope truth can be found in the words above enough to prompt further understanding of God’s divine plan for his children and the Godly nature of us all.