Latter-day Saints for Civil Same-Sex Marriage
HOME
What We Are Proposing
What People Ask
Additional Support
  your comments and questions

What We Are Proposing -
A Summary & A Solution

Though many people consider marriage a singular institution, it has a few components. It has a legal/secular component wherein the government grants legal rights and responsibilities to both parties. There are over a thousand legal benefits which the Federal government gives married couples. To many people, there is also a religious component. We LDS add our own unique religious components (eternal marriage and plural marriage) to the religious aspect as well. Same-Sex Marriage is contrary to our religious beliefs and we therefore don't permit it in the Church.

The issue of whether to allow Civil Same-Sex Marriage in society comes down to whether it is appropriate for the religious majority to impose their religious ideas on society via our secular government. We believe that it is wrong for a number of reasons.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that it is proper to oppose Civil Same-Sex Marriage for theological reasons. We categorically reject this claim as being contrary to the scriptures and the official teachings of the Church. Here's how we came to this conclusion -

  • The Brethren have said that the ONLY official doctrine of the Church is the scriptures
    • . They've stated that when the Brethren say things in accordance with the scriptures, that that is correct doctrine and when they say things not discussed in the scriptures, that they are simply expressing their private opinions and when they say things contrary to scripture, we are to ignore their words. Click here for references.

  • The Prophets HAVE said things that are wrong
    • - Brigham Young saying that there were people on the moon and sun for example. Joseph Fielding Smith said that God would never permit man to travel to the moon or send spaceships to other planets. President Hinckley also forbade GA’s and missionaries traveling over the Y2k change due to the anticipated failures of a lot of electronics. Nothing happened anywhere in the world. Click here for references.

  • It is therefore clear that not everything coming from the mouths of the Brethren is given by inspiration and we are to only accept those sayings which agree with scripture.

  • The ONLY way for something contrary to scripture or not discussed in scripture to become official doctrine is for it to BECOME scripture.
    • The Brethren have stated that this happens when the prophet declares he's had a revelation and then it is approved by the 12 and then approved by the Church via Common Consent, as was done with the revelation regarding all worthy young men receiving the priesthood. This has not happened regarding the policy on Civil Same-Sex Marriage. Click here for references.

  • The issue of whether to accept or reject the Church's policy on Civil Same-Sex Marriage is therefore whether or not it is in agreement with scripture.

  • D&C 134:4 and 1 Cor. 10:29 say that it is wrong for people to let their religion/morals prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others.
    • Regarding D&C 134:4, consider this quote from a Doctrine & Covenants commentary - "Religious freedom does not imply nor provide license to infringe or impose upon the rights and liberties of others." (L. G. Otten and C. M. Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the Doctrine and Covenants [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982-1983], 2: 375.) The Church's opposition to Civil Same-Sex Marriage is clearly and admittedly based on our religious beliefs. The only issue that could be raised to defend this is whether or not people have a civil right to marry the adult of their choice as Civil Same-Sex Marriage allows.

  • The D&C states that the Constitution was divinely inspired and set up to maximize personal freedom so that we can have the most freedom to exercise our agency (101:76-80) and any laws that violates constitutional principles are evil (98:5-7).
    • That same commentary, regarding (98:5-7), states, "As to the laws of the land, how does one know whether any given law is constitutional and justifiable before the Lord? The revelation of the Lord provides the answer. Any law that supports the principle of freedom in maintaining the rights and privileges of mankind is constitutional in the eyes of the Lord." (L. G. Otten and C. M. Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the Doctrine and Covenants [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982-1983], 2: 166.) Does a ban on Civil Same-Sex Marriages infringe upon freedom and the rights and privileges of mankind thus violating constitutional principles? Let's see –

  • The Loving case, allowing mixed race marriages, showed that laws based on subjective morals are wrong.
    • There was no compelling state interest in such restrictions and they served no objective purpose but were there only because of bigotry. Laws restricting marriage in such a manner were declared by the Court to be in violation of man's right to marry. Man HAS a right to marry per the Constitution. The Court said it was part of our God-given right to the pursuit of happiness.

  • The Court also stated that such laws violate the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution's Equal Protection clause which states that the laws of the land have to be applied equally to all and not be discriminatory.
    • Laws that discriminate based on physical traits such as race and gender are regularly thrown out. Likewise laws that discriminate based on chosen traits such as religion or political party are likewise thrown out. The laws must treat all people equally and none are "more equal" than others. Click here for references.

  • Even if Civil Same-Sex Marriage is not a right, it may be a legal liberty.
    • D&C 134:4 forbids us to infringe upon the rights (as in the Loving case) and liberties (those things which are not rights, but are allowed by statute). Even if there isn't a right to marry (though the Loving case CLEARLY states there is), voting against established statutes providing liberties which maximize freedom and the exercise of agency (as directed in 101:76-80), is clearly wrong as well.

  • Since Civil Same-Sex Marriage is clearly a right/liberty, opposing it is clearly contrary to scripture and therefore must be rejected per the clear teachings of the prophets.
    • The only way for us NOT to violate scripture in opposing Civil Same-Sex Marriage is for the Lord to declare opposition as being right and to have such a declaration be approved by the 12 and approved via Common Consent by the body of the Church as was done with the revelation on the priesthood in 1978. Unless and until that happens, we have no scriptural choice but to oppose banning Civil Same-Sex Marriage. The New Testament, Book of Mormon, and D&C require that all things be done in order and by common consent in the Church. Ignoring the above points of logic ignores the need for things to be done in order and is therefore also a violation of the scriptures as well and a clear example of "steadying the ark". It's that simple.

    Bruce R. McConkie, in his Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, gives us additional doctrinal support to oppose the banning of Civil Same-Sex Marriage. He discusses -

    Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:22-26. He states -

    "How better could the Master Teacher proclaim his doctrine of separation of church and state than he did here in avoiding the trap of the Pharisees and Herodians?
    These scheming and hypocritical "spies" offered Jesus these two alternatives as possible answers to their diabolically clever question: (1) Say, 'Yes, pay the hated poll tax to Rome as the law already requires,' which answer would cause the Pharisees to inflame the people against him. Or: (2) Say, as the sect of Zealots taught, 'No, Israel is a theocracy; God only is her King; pay no tribute to a foreign power,' in which event the Herodians would have delivered him "unto the power and authority of the governor," charging him with sedition and rebellion.
    But from his lips instead came the decree: 'Render unto God and Caesar their own.' That is, in this present world where wicked men will not repent and come unto the fulness of the Lord's perfect order of government, there must be two separate powers—ecclesiastical and civil—the one supreme in spiritual matters, the other in temporal. Neither power can dictate to the other. And men are subject to them both."
    (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols.,[Salt Lake City: Bookcraft], 1:600,601.)

    Elder McConkie states further -

    "Wherever one dominant church has controlled a government, or a government (as in communistic nations) has dictated or proscribed systems of worship, men have been denied that agency without which they cannot work out their salvation."
    (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols.,[Salt Lake City: Bookcraft], 1:601.)

    The 2000/2001 Priesthood/Relief Society manual stated - "(W)e favor: The absolute separation of church and state; No domination of the state by the church; No church interference with the functions of the state; No state interference with the functions of the church, or with the free exercise of religion; The absolute freedom of the individual from the domination of ecclesiastical authority in political affairs; The equality of all churches before the law."
    (Joseph F. Smith, Teachings Of Presidents Of The Church,[Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], pg. 125)

    These statements clearly teach that the legal/secular aspects of issues should be rendered unto Caesar (the government) and the religious aspects, if any, should be rendered unto God via religion. The legal/secular aspects of marriage (eligibility, rights, responsibilities, etc..) should be determined by the government and be free from sectarian interference. Neither the Church nor the State should be able to trespass on the other's domain. Such trespasses infringe upon our agency per Elder McConkie.

    Elder McConkie goes on further quoting D&C 134:4 - “We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others...” It is anathema to God to force our subjective moral standards on others thereby denying them their rights and liberties.

    In keeping with these teachings, we believe that withholding the legal benefits offered by Caesar harms gay couples, their children and therefore society at large. We therefore believe that government officials specifically authorized to perform marriages should be required under law to perform marriages for gays and lesbians in the same way they are required to perform them for any other couple. This protects the Equal Protection and equal rights of all.

    We are simply proposing that gay men and lesbian couples be allowed, via Civil Same-Sex Marriage, the legal benefits which heterosexual couples are already allowed.

    Churches are private organizations with First Amendment protections and as such must be allowed to act as they see fit. Those churches not wanting to perform marriages for gays and lesbians must be free to follow their beliefs and not be forced to perform such services. Though abortion and divorce are established legal rights, the government doesn't force the Catholic church to honor or recognize either. Those churches that have no problem with marrying gays and lesbians should be allowed to do so and have such marriages be equally valid and binding before the law as any other marriage.

    All opposition to Civil Same-Sex Marriage comes down to it being contrary to one's religious/moral beliefs. Opponents may try to justify their opposition by raising other issues, but those are easily refuted, as you will see in other sections of this site. Attempts to outlaw Civil Same-Sex Marriage are clearly contrary to the teachings of the scriptures, both ancient and modern. The scriptures are superior to the teachings of all leaders, including the president of the Church. Opposing Civil Same-Sex Marriage is contrary to the official teachings of the Church. Those doing so are guilty of "steadying the ark" and are clearly violating the teachings of the scriptures and in need of repentance.