Defending Marriage

 I wanted to base my reflection and thoughts around Elder Nelsons Talk on "Disciples of Jesus Christ-Defenders of Marriage" I love how he starts out by explaining the importance and power between a martial partnership, that both compliment, build up, and achieve more together than alone. But why is this partnership of husband and wife so important?

This is what we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints believe "...

Our message is shaped by divine doctrine, canonized in the Bible:

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

So 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.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 

And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 

God is the Father of all men and women. They are His children. It was He who ordained marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Marriage was not created by human judges or legislators. It was not created by think tanks or by popular vote or by oft-quoted bloggers or by pundits. It was not created by lobbyists. Marriage was created by God!"

With marriage comes children and Gods plan is to multiply and replenish the earth, How are we to do that, if in our society, that plan is twisted, twisted meaning, that Yes, we believe that marriage is important, but not with same sex marriages, because they are both contrary to what God wants and that is to multiply and replenish the earth. Well some may say that same sex couples can adopt and raise them, but Elder Nelson said quite simply,        

  "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."

The apostle Paul saw our circumstances, he knew what we would be going through in these latter days, and that is why we need to speak up and speak out. We need to be able to stand up for our beliefs as well as live it.

"The day is gone when you can be a quiet and comfortable Christian. Your religion is not just about showing up for church on Sunday. It is about showing up as a true disciple from Sunday morning through Saturday night—24/7! There is no such thing as a “part-time” disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus invited anyone who wants to be His disciple to take up His cross and follow Him.

And I wanted to end with Elder Nelsons words...

"Are you ready to join the ranks?" 

Resources: https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/russell-m-nelson_disciples-jesus-christ-defenders-marriage/