It's A Matter of Choice

When I heard the news of the Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriage yesterday, my mind went in a few different directions.  I watched and read as people expressed their opinion in different ways.  For the most part, those opinions were one side or the other, but handled in a respectful manner.  I do live a pretty sheltered life. I don't watch the news and even my social media settings are very conservative, so I'm sure there were disrespectful things flying around too.  As the day went on, my mind was filled with something that I feel compelled to blog about. This is in no way meant to sway or support one side or the other.  It is sincerely meant in all due respect to all.  It will contain some of the things I have chosen to believe in, but this is not about my beliefs or those particular choices.  It is about that dirty word......"choice".

As a child, our world is controlled by the choices of our parents.  What to wear, what to eat, where to go...we don't have a lot of say in the matter.  As we grow and as our parents teach and let go, we gain more and more say in those choices of life.  As a mom of young children, I was pretty happy and content with the principle of choice.......then my little ones became teenagers!!  My love for the principle of choice turned to hate very quickly. 

It is no secret that I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, (Mormon).  I choose to believe in the doctrine taught and I choose to teach that doctrine in my home.  I also choose to accept the Articles of Faith.  They are 13 statements written by Joseph Smith in the early days of the church when he was asked to summarize the basic beliefs of the Mormons.  The 11th Article of Faith states:

"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."

Everyone gets to choose what and how they believe.  Letting others around us make their own choices is a very hard, hard lesson to learn.  I suppose it's easy enough if those people are perfect strangers and their choices don't harm or injure or get in the way of my choices.  But when they are people in my life, people I have relationships with, it becomes very difficult.  

Here's where my own beliefs come in.  I believe the principle of choice is an eternal principle.  It existed before the world was created.  We, as spirits, were offered a choice.  We had to choose one side or the other.  Based on what I know and believe of those 2 choices, I am sure that all of us made the same choice.  We chose to come to an earth that was going to be prepared for us and gain mortal bodies.  The plan we chose involved learning and growing and continuing to make choices.  The other plan which was dismissed and never put into play, was a plan of force.  No one would have to make choices, no one would ever make any mistakes to learn from, no one would ever rejoice in their accomplishments.....we would just be on a single lane path with no detours and no options.  So that plan didn't happen and here we are.  So you see, the principle of choice is the driving force of everything! Adam and Eve were given 2 commandments in the Garden of Eden.  One... to multiply and replenish the earth, the other... to not partake of the fruit of knowledge of good and evil.  Those two commandments were conflicting and both could not be followed.  By not partaking of the fruit, they would remain in the Garden of Eden in an immortal state and not be able to procreate, therefore not fulfilling the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth.  With the commandment given to not eat the fruit, the Lord told them what would happen if they did eat.

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.  (Genesis 2:17)

Meaning that if they ate the fruit, they would be made mortal, subject to all manner of mortal issues, including death.

Well, we know they did eat the fruit, and here we all are in a mortal world and the eternal principle of choice continues.  

The Mormon church made an official statement yesterday. So did the Catholic church and so did the Jewish, both strict orthodox and moderate orthodox.  While each statement very specifically states the strong stand that the doctrine outlined by the Lord and by their religious structure will not change....that a marriage is a sacred covenant and a union between a man and a woman.  Each statement also called for the respect of everyone in the choices they make.  I sincerely hope that the plea for respect and love is not overlooked by all the opinions and energy surrounding this.  I also hope and plead that my choices and beliefs will also be respected as I am allowed to believe and teach in my home as I choose. I read this in a Salt Lake newspaper yesterday:

“This is another historic day," Utah Democratic Party Chairman Peter Corroon said Friday. "Today's decision acknowledges what Utahns have always known — families come in all shapes and sizes, and each of them is worthy of respect and legal protections. In addition to recognizing the rights of the individual, we also recognize the rights of religious institutions to not be compelled to act against their beliefs."

Utah House Minority Leader Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, called the court's ruling a great thing.

"We know this has been a divisive issue, and we recognize that each individual has the right to their own moral and religious beliefs regarding same sex marriage," he said. "But we welcome this ruling because it makes clear that discrimination based on sexual orientation is not acceptable under the Constitution and that families of all types are entitled to protection under the law."

Does the ruling dictate what a religion can teach and not teach.....No.  Does the ruling change my beliefs.....No.  Does it change how I will worship on Sunday and conduct my life during the week.....No.  It would seem the ruling is about equality under the law.  I would hope that same legal system will protect my rights to enjoy and live my life as I choose.  I would hope it would also protect the rights of all religious organizations to teach and conduct their religious rites as set out by the God they worship.  

There are all kinds of choices we encounter.  Choice is a God given gift and an eternal principle.  Some choices by others cause harm to people and laws are needed to protect. Some choices are a matter of life style and do no harm. Laws are good to establish equality under that law. The choice to disrespect others and their own choices is also ours, but only hurts and serves no purpose. I trust that the equality will be shared and respected by all.