The past few days I have been reading the summary of the ruling that legalized gay marriage. It states the majority's opinion and that of the dissent in the Supreme Courts decision on Overgefell v. Hodges (2015). It is quite long and a little wordy. As I read the majority's opinion I felt great sympathy for the same-sex couples, the petitioners, and could understand their desire to have their relationships validated and legalized and be able to have legal parental rights to their children. I have great compassion for them and their situations. I felt that I agree with and support the majority after reading the first half of the summary, which gives the reasons for the majority's decision.
Then I began to read the dissent. Each of the dissenting judges, Roberts, Scalia, Thomas and Alito, wrote logical, reasoned and compelling arguments. They opened my eyes to what I had not considered before. They each wrote about how the decision took away the rights of States and of the people to decide if they want to allow same-sex marriage to be legalized based on democratic means. This would be through popular vote or through our representative government.
Each of the judges also expressed concern over the effects this could have on religious organizations and people of faith who support traditional marriage.
One point brought up Judge Roberts is that marriage (between man and woman) has been around since the beginning of time. He wrote that it is not a historical coincidence that marriage between men and women arose. It is because of a vital need to conceive children and to ensure they have a father and a mother who are committed to raise them. In order to survive as a human race we must procreate and its best for children to have both a mother and a father who stay together. Marriage is also a religious institution not simply a governmental institution.
Judge Alito expressed a concern that I also share. He wrote on the long term ramifications of legalizing same-sex marriage. No one can know this because there is no precedence. Also that people who do not agree with this ruling will be vilified and be made to speak of it in whispers behind closed doors for fear of being labeled bigots.
I believe the words of the prophet President Nelson. He said in a BYU commencement address August 14, 2014, "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!"
I believe in the sacred nature of marriage and in the words of The Family: A Proclamation to the World by the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It states, "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."
I also believe that we are to love and be kind to all people! Especially those who do not believe or live as we do. God loves all His children the same, equally and without prejudice. We can have different views and still love and respect our family, friends and fellow Americans. I love and adore my oldest daughter. She is married to a woman. They are the sweetest and kindest women you could ever be lucky enough to associate with. They just celebrated their one year anniversary. Also, they are in the process of adopting. I couldn't be more excited to be a grandma again. We love them and love having them in our home. They are a cherished part of our family.
I was saddened by some articles I read this week for a class I am taking on marriage from Brigham Young University Idaho online. The articles were about divorce and the effects it has on children. Also the diminishing feeling of marriage being important and the best option. I was surprised to hear that it was "middle America" that is having the highest number of divorces and lack of desire to get married and choosing instead to live together.
