Swallowing my Pride

I take a lot of pride in how liberal I am. Sorry to my new conservative family, but I usually try to see the good in everyone. Because of this I have always been open to equal rights opportunities  even for those people who I don't understand or agree with. Anyone who knows me (especially if you knew me in high school) knows that I am a huge advocate for Gay Marriage. (for anyone who isn't briefed on my stances you can click this link right ==> HERE <== to read my last post all about it. I have always loved the fact that I am open and friendly and accepting of everyone. I have always felt very strongly about gay marriage as well. But that changed for me.

I am a Mormon. I haven't always been, but I am now, just as many of my friends/readers/followers are. Even though the church has said that they are against gay marriage I have felt that I knew better. I have also felt that even if someone is against being gay, and feels that acting upon gay emotions is a sin they can still support the opportunity for people to choose how to live their life.

Well the night after I posted my gay rights post, I prayed, as I usually do before bed. I had the feeling that I should not support it any longer. Then I didn't have a feeling, I had a smack in the face. Have you ever had one of those feelings where even if you don't understand something you know it's what you have to do? The feelings where you are forced to swallow your pride and just do something because God says "you know what Angela, you don't get it, that's fine, I get it. This is it. Go. Do." and you know you have to trust in the lord and just have faith? I had one of those.

I have been pretty quiet about that experience and had only told my husband about it until today. I have been fervently trying to seek truth and understanding of this principal since I got this answer. Then today I was able to talk to a really good friend on the subject. Now let me just say that I love this woman! She is one of the most loving, kind and accepting people I have ever met. I don't think I have ever met anyone who loves people the way that she does. She's an amazing mother, teacher, and friend and I she is an inspiration to me. So when I saw her today I wanted to tell her about what I had felt in prayer. She led me to the only document anyone who is LDS should have to read to know that gay marriage isn't okay. This document means the world to me, and is the single most beautiful piece of scripture I have ever read. Even when I was church hopping I always loved the words in it.

So I invite you to minimize this tab and go to your living room and take down the framed words hanging on the wall, or to open a new tab and look it up. The Family: A Proclamation to the World couldn't be clearer. If you don't know where to find it HERE it is.

I had my own thoughts and feelings on the topic while reading through it. I am not going to share them here, because I kind of feel like they are personal, and sacred. But please read it, don't dismiss this and decide you already know what it says and you don't care. What's the worst that could happen? You read some scripture and don't see anything new? Then you read some beautiful scripture! What have you got to lose? Pay special attention to sections 1 (We, The First Presidency), 7 (The Family), and 8 (We Warn).

I don't really understand all of 8, how gay marriage could be so detrimental. But this is scripture, brought to use form someone who sees things that we can't eve fathom. So I guess I'll just take it with faith and go on. I feel like for a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, The Family: A Proclamation to the World is the only thing you need to know.

But don't get me wrong, I will still love, respect and honor anyone who is LDS who is for gay marriage. Your values, standards, politics and actions can differ from mine and you can still be an amazing person with a good heart. But remember that marriage is a religious issue, so pray about it. How many of you have really prayed about this? The time is coming soon for people to vote for or against gay marriage. And when that happens I will vote against it.

Final Words: Read It.