Mormons seeing the GOOD in the Supreme Court Decision

As I stated in an earlier post (see: http://mormon-mystic.blogspot.com/2015/06/mormons-today-is-good-day.html), a fundamental belief in LDS theology is that "we claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship, how, where, or what they may."

Marriage is a form of worship. Today's decision by the Supreme Court was made in the spirit of that article of faith: allowing all men and women the privilege of worshiping how, where, or what they may. On page 27 of the Supreme Court's brief legalizing same-sex marriage it states: 

"it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true of those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons. In turn, those who believe allowing same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those with their view in an open and searching debate. The Constitution, however, does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage"

The Supreme Court may as well have cited the LDS 11th article of faith in writing their brief discussing their decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Clearly it was done with the intention of ensuring that all people are allowed to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience. The brief makes clear that we Mormons can continue to hold our beliefs and practice them freely, and that our friends of the Gay community can practice their beliefs freely. This restores harmony to our social world. 

I know that there are those who retort back, "Ryan, I agree, but this does not qualify as worship!" I think that is a very presumptuous assertion to make. Can we really argue that there are no members of the gay community who do not enter into marital commitments out of love and devotion to a supreme deity? We cannot. There are a substantial number of Gay Christians, and a substantial number of other Gay friends who have other religious convictions. We also know that there are other Christian denominations who do offer same-sex marriage ordinances. Finally, the aforementioned quote from the Supreme Court brief made clear that there are groups who believe in allowing same-sex marriage due to religious conviction: "Those who believe allowing same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction..." Clearly there are those who see this form of marriage as something worshipful, and the article of faith was intended to say that we allow all men and women to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience—even when those dictates are different than our own.

Thus, the Supreme Court decision does constitute an effort to re-organize society more closely to a long held Mormon ideal (it is one of our long standing 13 fundamental faith tenets). Again, as I said in an earlier post, our community can continue to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience (ie an Eternal Marriage between a Man and a Woman in order to conform with the image of God- see Genesis 1:24-29), and our friends of other faiths and ideals can worship according to the dictates of theirs. 

Did not Elder Oaks say, "We claim for everyone the God-given and Constitutional right to live their faith according to the dictates of their own conscience, without harming the health or safety of others. We acknowledge that the same freedom of conscience must apply to men and women everywhere to follow the religious faith of their choice, or none at all if they so choose. We believe laws ought to be framed to achieve a balance in protecting the freedoms of all people while respecting those with differing values." - Elder Oaks ( January 27, 2015 news release)

Did not Joseph Smith say, "Where it provides that no one shall be hindered from worshiping God according to his own conscience, is a law. No legislature can enact a law to prohibit it." 

No legislature should enact a law to prohibit worshiping God according to their own conscience. The Supreme Court decision on Friday made sure that no legislature would do that. 

Is this not cause to rejoice?

Did not Elder Christoffersen say, " we are suggesting a way forward in which those with different views on these complex issues can together seek solutions that will be fair to everyone"  (January 27, 2015 news release- referring to complex issues surrounding our faith and the gay community)

Is not the Supreme Court's decision fair to everyone? Can we craft a solution more fair than our own article of Faith?

This should be cause to rejoice! 

We (Mormons) were brutally persecuted due to our unorthodox view of marriage, and even though we abandoned that unorthodox marriage practice, we are still socially shamed because of it. We ought to be glad when others cease to be persecuted because of there marriage practices. 

To require through coercive regulatory law that people conform to one view of marriage is to preach the gospel according to compulsion. Again, I have a sure faith that the image of God is a Male Human Being who is bound to a Female Human Being by the New and Everlasting Covenant (Genesis 1:24-29). I believe that Eternal is a name of God, and that when we speak of Eternal Marriage, we are talking about the type of Marriage that turns a male and a female human being into the image God (Doctrine and Covenants 19:11).  

But I also believe that, while authority to act in God's name can be conferred upon us, when we undertake to "exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or authority of that man" (Doctrine and Covenants 121: 37)

Our efforts to help others receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, ought to be done by persuasion, discussion, love, and understanding (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41).  On Friday, the Supreme Court made that happen. They removed coercive regulatory laws so that society was better organized around one of our central 13 faith tenets, and then stated that those of our faith type "may continue to advocate" our religious beliefs by persuasion, and not by compulsion --- which is after the manner of the Lord. 

It has been emphasized to us several times that the gospel is not "to be a buffet from which they can pick and choose only the most appealing offerings" (Clayton, April 2013 Conference). Which means that we need to consider the gospel as a whole. We have to share with others our gospel view AND make sure that people are not coerced into keeping commandments-- that they have full agency to choose their glory in God's kingdom (That harmony was achieved on Friday). 

Did not President John Taylor say that "Besides the preaching of the gospel, we have another mission, namely, the perpetuation of the free agency of man and the maintenance of liberty, freedom, and the rights of man." -- John Taylor (The Gospel Kingdom, pg. 222)

I am one Mormon who takes that aspect of our mission seriously. 

Friday humanity took a step towards granting one another the agency that God gave us long ago.