WARNING: I use this blog for my personal use. I do not write for others. I use it as a journal to keep track of events in my family that I want to remember years from now. This post is not meant to offend, create contention, or hurt anyone's feelings. It is for me. The End.
Yesterday all over facebook and Instagram, there was a picture with a red = sign, used to represent marriage equality for all. IT WAS EVERYWHERE. Throughout the day it was interesting to see who posted the picture, who commented about the picture, and all of the different reactions that came from just posting a single picture. Some used it to show their solidarity with people who currently do not have the right to marry. Some used it to stir up contention. Some just reposted it to repost it. Some did it just to get any sort of reaction they could.
I did not post the picture. I did not want my opinion to be interpreted incorrectly because this is such a "touchy" subject.
Michael and I had a late night discussion about it though last night. We talked about the different reasons people posted the picture. We talked about how gay marriage affects us personally in our marriage. We talked about our differing views on if people of the same gender should be "allowed" to get married. We talked about what marriage is. I don't think we left the conversation with each other having the same views on the topic. This is not a bad thing. We are both allowed our own opinion and choose to respect that the other spouse has a different view. It did not turn into a point of contention. We were just able to discuss openly. I LOVE MY MARRIAGE. I did leave the conversation however knowing a little bit more of what my personal stance is in regards to Marriage Equality. (These are not listed in any particular order, except for #1.)
- First and foremost, my personal relationship with Heavenly Father is what I try to use in all of my decision making, including the really touchy subjects and issues such as Marriage Equality. As long as I feel that He and I are good on my views, it doesn't matter to me personally what others choose to do/not do.
- My marriage has nothing to do with Social Security benefits, or the fact that Michael can visit me in the hospital or that he can be on my insurance. Items such as these are "civil rights" to me that should not need to be tied to a marriage certificate in my opinion. Everyone in a relationship should have those rights. (I understand that there are a billion other rights similar to these ones, I did not list them to be offensive)
- My marriage to me is a vital stepping stone in my eternal progression. Part of the plan for that eternal progression includes marriage between a man and a woman.
- People should be allowed to love who they want to love. Just as I value and will hold true to my right to have my personal relationship with Heavenly Father, others are allowed the same agency. It is not my place to judge or condemn those who have a different lifestyle than mine. Heavenly Father knows and LOVES each of His children individually. He knows why we make the choices we make and will love, judge, guide us based on knowing us individually. This is something that ties back to the "Degree of Difficulty" story about the diver who won even though he did a belly flop.
- Just as those who choose to live an alternative lifestyle than I do deserve to have their views and values respected, I have that exact same right. People can agree to disagree without condemning the other side.
- Back to people loving whoever they want, that also includes both "sides" loving each other. What I mean is that just because someone chooses a different lifestyle than I have, I should still love them rather than judge and condemn. We are all children of our loving Heavenly Father. When we see others as our brothers and sisters trying just as hard as we are to get through this life, it can change the way we view them.
- There comes a point and time where you do have to take a stand on what you believe. The scriptures talk about how in the last days, wrong will seem right and right will seem wrong.
- I know that a prophet of the Lord has defined marriage between a man and a woman. That is doctrine directly from our loving Heavenly Father given to our prophet to share with the world. On days I doubt my stance, no matter how "flubberyish" it may seem, I remember that I trust Heavenly Father and what the prophets have taught.
- Actions and decisions should not be made based off of fear or ignorance. Plain and simple.
- This situation is just one of many that people are faced with and is a part of the refining process in our eternal progression.
The End.
