Just and Holy Principles

The Founders:

John Adams: The foundation of national morality must be laid in private families. . . . How is it possible that Children can have any just Sense of the sacred Obligations of Morality or Religion if, from their earliest Infancy, they learn their Mothers live in habitual Infidelity to their fathers, and their fathers in as constant Infidelity to their Mothers?" (John Adams, Diary, June 2, 1778)

James Wilson: The most important consequence of marriage is, that the husband and the wife become in law only one person... Upon this principle of union, almost all the other legal consequences of marriage depend. This principle, sublime and refined, deserves to be viewed and examined on every side. (Wilson, James, Of the Natural Rights of Individuals, 1792)

Thomas Jefferson: The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have past at home in the bosom of my family. (Thomas Jefferson letter to Francis Willis Jr., April 18, 1790)

The Brethren:

Elder Dallin H. Oaks: (On why a constitutional amendment is necessary) Law has at least two roles: one is to define and regulate the limits of acceptable behavior. The other is to teach principles for individuals to make individual choices. The law declares unacceptable some things that are simply not enforceable, and there’s no prosecutor who tries to enforce them. We refer to that as the teaching function of the law. The time has come in our society when I see great wisdom and purpose in a United States Constitutional amendment declaring that marriage is between a man and a woman. There is nothing in that proposed amendment that requires a criminal prosecution or that directs the attorneys general to go out and round people up, but it declares a principle and it also creates a defensive barrier against those who would alter that traditional definition of marriage.

There are people who oppose a federal Constitutional amendment because they think that the law of family should be made by the states. I can see a legitimate argument there. I think it’s mistaken, however, because the federal government, through the decisions of life-tenured federal judges, has already taken over that area. This Constitutional amendment is a defensive measure against those who would ignore the will of the states appropriately expressed and require, as a matter of federal law, the recognition of same-gender marriages — or the invalidation of state laws that require that marriage be between a man and a woman. In summary, the First Presidency has come out for an amendment (which may or may not be adopted) in support of the teaching function of the law. Such an amendment would be a very important expression of public policy, which would feed into or should feed into the decisions of judges across the length and breadth of the land. (LDS News Release)

Letter from the First Presidency: Letter from First Presidency of the Church to Church Leaders in the United States

We are informed that the United States Senate will on June 6, 2006, vote on an amendment to the Federal constitution designed to protect the traditional institution of marriage.

We, as the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, have repeatedly set forth our position that the marriage of a man and a woman is the only acceptable marriage relationship.

In 1995 we issued a Proclamation to the World on this matter, and have repeatedly reaffirmed that position.

In that proclamation we said: "We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."

We urge our members to express themselves on this urgent matter to their elected representatives in the Senate. See news release)

Gordon B. Hinckley: After dealing with hundreds of divorce situations through the years, I am satisfied that the application of a single practice would do more than all else to solve this grievous problem.

If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce. Argument would never be heard. Accusations would never be leveled. Angry explosions would not occur. Rather, love and concern would replace abuse and meanness. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Women in Our Lives,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 82 )

Deseret News Article: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints favors a constitutional amendment preserving marriage as the lawful union of a man and a woman. (See article)

Gordon B. Hinckley: There is no justification to redefine what marriage is. Such is not our right, and those who try will find themselves answerable to God.

Some portray legalization of so-called same-sex marriage as a civil right. This is not a matter of civil rights; it is a matter of morality. Others question our constitutional right as a church to raise our voice on an issue that is of critical importance to the future of the family. We believe that defending this sacred institution by working to preserve traditional marriage lies clearly within our religious and constitutional prerogatives. Indeed, we are compelled by our doctrine to speak out. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Why We Do Some of the Things We Do,” Ensign, Nov. 1999, 52 )

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles: The Family: A Proclamation to the World: The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. (See proclamation)

References:

→  Official Church Statement on SLC Nondiscrimination Ordinances, Nov. 10, 2009

→  Bruce C. Hafen on Same-sex Attraction, Sept. 19, 2009

→  Official Church News Release on "The Divine Institution of Marriage," Aug. 13, 2008

→  Letter sent to CA members on CA marriage amendment

→  Interview w/Elders Oaks & Wickman (*very informative*)

→  Official Church News Release on Marriage Amendment, Jun. 5, 2006

→  Official Church News Release on Marriage Amendment, Oct. 25, 2006

→  M. Russell Ballard, “What Matters Most Is What Lasts Longest,” 2005

→  Gordon B. Hinckley, “Why We Do Some of the Things We Do,” 1999

→  Oaks, Dallin H., “Same Gender Attraction,” Ensign, Oct. 1995, p. 6

→  The Family:  A Proclamation to the World (1995)