Kathryn Skaggs has a very specific goal in everything and everywhere that she can be found on the Internet — which is “to DO MORE good” (tDMg). She enjoys promoting credible information about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to those wanting to know more about Mormonism, in hopes of gaining a better understanding of her faith.
Kathryn is passionate about her Mormon beliefs. You can find her blogging at A Well-Behaved Mormon Woman where she regularly shares thoughts about her religion, some current events, family and traditional marriage. You might also know her as @LDSNana on Twitter.
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| Photo Credit: lds.org |
There’s Nothing Normal About ‘The New Normal’
I’m happy to, once again, be invited to participate in The Family Proclamation Celebration. It’s a wonderful tradition, and I’m very honored to be a contributor. Although considering I can’t always be trusted to be “well-behaved” I’m quite flattered that Middle-Aged Mormon Man would take such a risk, and allow me to guest post on his blog. Sure hope this goes okay…
Last year I wrote a guest post for Chocolate on my Cranium, and addressed The Rights and Entitlement of Children as set forth in the Proclamation. I’m extremely passionate about what God teaches about the birthright of every child, as opposed to the selfish desires of so many adults. This year I’d like to address the overall importance and timeliness of The Family: A Proclamation to the World.
Curiosity got the cat when I realized that the new sitcom; The New Normal — the one that a Utah television studio has decided not to air — was premiering, following a TV show that I do watch. I had only to view the first ten minutes to understand why that decision was made. That was more than enough. It’s really bad. A show like that is further evidence, not that we need more, of why the Proclamation is necessary, for our times. And most important, why each of us must stand ready to defend the positions that the Church does take, publicly, on moral issues that affect the family.
Gordon B. Hinckley, then current President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) gave this introduction prior to the Proclamation’s first reading, on September 23, 1995:
“With so much of sophistry that is passed off as truth, with so much of deception concerning standards and values, with so much of allurement and enticement to take on the slow stain of the world, we have felt to warn and forewarn. In furtherance of this we of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles now issue a proclamation to the Church and to the world as a declaration and reaffirmation of standards, doctrines, and practices relative to the family which the prophets, seers, and revelators of this church have repeatedly stated throughout its history.”
That was 17 years ago. Thank heaven, literally, for the inspired foresight given to these prophets of God, to unabashedly teach the bold, eternal doctrine of the family, to not only the membership of the LDS Church, but to the world — and why.
“The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”
For those of us who have been around for more than a few years, never would we have imagined the world in which we now live, where not only are homosexual relationships considered normal — or at least that is what mainstream media would have us believe — but also in some states same-sex marriage has now been legalized. Believe it or not, it wasn’t too many years ago that such things, even as a possibility, were unthinkable.
Same-sex marriage is a relatively new phenomenon, that until recently was never even suggested, let alone discussed. And not because we were all a bunch of ignorant bigots, but rather because society never imagined that God’s law for marriage, between a man and a woman, would be challenged – by anyone. It just wasn’t on any of our radars. But God saw it coming and through His prophets, as prophets are called to do, “felt to warn and forewarn” His children of what was ahead. And here we are.
Perhaps this view, or experience, seems somewhat naïve, or foreign, to those of you who now live in a world where tolerance for any lifestyle of one’s choice is considered not just acceptable, but expected. Nevertheless, for those of any generation that acknowledge God’s laws, above all others, we are bound by covenant, to stand in defense of what we know to be right.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World was given so that when the time came, which is now, when the family unit, as God ordained it, became distorted, those who call themselves “the children of Christ” would know how to act on these matters, and why.
Of great significance, taught in the Proclamation, is an understanding of gender, as an eternal characteristic of every soul. Today’s war on the family begins with gender identity issues, which when misguided leads to an undermining of the plan of salvation. Same-sex sexual relations cannot naturally produce offspring, therefore biologically halting the great work of creating eternal families as God intends. Same-sex marriages/relationships have no life beyond this life – they are temporal. God’s plan is for His children to progress eternally. There are two forces at work here, and one is not God.
Mormons believe that marriage between a man and a woman is intended to create families. The ideal family unit, as ordained by God, consists of a mother, a father, and children – ultimately sealed to them for all time and eternity. If for some reason having children are not possible in this life, to those who honor the marital covenant, the opportunity will exist in the next. Eternal marriage is only available to a man and a woman united in what is considered a traditional marriage. From God’s perspective, all civil/traditional marriages, between a man and a woman, are on the path of becoming eternal. All others are not. It is the work of God, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, to bring to pass not only every soul’s immortality, but also Eternal Life – the exact kind of life that He lives.
Because of the important doctrines and inspired counsel given and explained in the Proclamation, we can know exactly where God stands on many of the social issues that currently affect society, and ultimately the family – and why. For instance, because we know that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God we don’t have to wonder what God thinks about same-sex attraction. Homosexual behavior is wrong. Therefore, we don’t have to wonder how God feels about same-sex marriage. It is wrong and we needn’t feel pressure to defend it as another’s misguided, insisted right.
The pressure that we should feel, based on information provided in the Proclamation, is the responsibility to stand as witnesses of revealed truths, in opposition to the many distortions that are continually perpetuated in mainstream society. And sadly, also by some within the Church who do not give heed to this document, as inspired, nor to the ongoing counsel of living prophets on such issues.
At the September 2012 CES Devotional, Jeffrey R. Holland, an Apostle of the Lord, gave this inspired direction regarding how the modern children of Israel, unable to flee as in ages past, can best accomplish our challenge to live in Babylon, until the Savior returns…
“Some principles are defended and some sins are opposed wherever they are found, because the issues and the laws involved are not social or political, but eternal in their consequence. And while not wishing to offend those who believe differently from us, we are even more anxious to not offend God — or as the scripture says, “not offend He who is your law giver”.
There is a wide variety of beliefs in this world, and there is moral agency for all, but no one is entitled to act as if God is mute on these subjects, or as if commandments only matter if there is public agreement over them.
In the 21st century we cannot flee any longer. We are going to have to fight for laws and circumstances and environments that allow the free exercise of religion and our franchise in it. That is one way we can tolerate being in Babylon but not of it.
I know of no more important ability, and no greater integrity, than for us to demonstrate, in a world from which we cannot flee, that to walk that careful path taking a moral stand according to what God has declared, and the laws He has given, but doing it compassionately, and with understanding — and great charity.
Talk about a hard thing to do — to distinguish perfectly between the sin and the sinner. I know of few distinctions that are harder to make — or at least harder to articulate. But we must lovingly try to do exactly that. Believe me, brothers and sisters, in the world into which we are moving we are going to have a lot of opportunity to develop such strength, display such courage, and demonstrate such compassion — all at the same time.”
I am profoundly grateful to have in our possession, in these last days, an inspired and timely declaration about the eternal importance of the family — The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Since it was first presented, it has continued to be taught, discussed and quoted at all levels of teaching, in the Church – which, as I understand, constitutes doctrine. Therefore I believe, with all my heart, that we can safely cling to its teachings as the will of God in matters pertaining to the family.
The blessing of having living prophets among us, is that we need not be tossed to and fro with the winds of secular change and popular perceptions, not knowing where God would have us stand. I believe that through His prophets, He has spoken in such a way that we can confidently act, knowing that in doing so we are helping Him to accomplish His great work — of which we were sent here to do.
To those of you who are holding out defending the family, thinking that this is all an overreaction, feel we should allow others to live as they choose, even legalize it for their benefit – next up: Top Hollywood Director Believes that Incest is Acceptable.
Normal? I think not.
tDMg
Kathryn Skaggs
Thanks Kathryn!
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So grateful for living prophets to guide us in these troubled times! Thanks for your courageous post on this important subject.
*standing ovation for MMM’s comment to the unknown comment that was not posted*
Middle-aged Mormon ManSeptember 27, 2012 9:01 PM
Anonymous: I would be the one that did not post your comment. The main reason is that I have been doing this long enough to know that there are times, and places to foment discussion – and the Proclamation Celebration is not one of those places.
First, this post was not written by me, so I don’t want this comment thread to be a discussion group. If you would like to comment to Kathryn, her address is listed above.
Second, I’m not sure that you actually read the post, or you would not have made the comment you did. Please go back and read it again, in the spirit that it is presented. Please notice how many times the word “compassion” is used, and “charity” too.
Third, I would encourage you to read this talk by Elder Oaks. http://www.lds.org/ensign/1999/08/judge-not-and-judging?lang=eng
No one is denying you your voice – or could they – you can shout from the mountaintops, or start your own blog. This one, however, is mine.
Thank you for that post. I feel sad we live in a world where people with our beliefs are treated like the intolerant bigots for not being accepting of all the behavior that goes against God. I also feel very grateful and blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and have the modern day revelation we do. It gives me faith and hope and a little more courage in standing up for what I know to be right and true.
Thanks for the reminder–next family home evening we will refresh our knowledge of the Proclamation on the Family.
Thanks Kathryn for this article. Looking forward to reading the “next up”.
Great article, Kathryn. For all your readers, here are some more references to learn more about Same-Sex Attraction & Same-Sex Marriage: http://ldsmediatalk.com/2012/09/20/explaining-mormon-beliefs-same-sex-attraction-marriage/
Oustanding, thank goodness for such clarity of precepts and doctrine, really appreciate your words, standing firm in the faith always, there are no compromises.
I also appreciate the other commentators above, especially Jocelyn Christensen, so true of modern day society.
All the best from across the pond, John
nope not my normal but it is THE normal that i see all around me…including in my ward. sad.
I look so forward to all of your posts. Thank you.
Oh good, glad you are writing about “the new normal”…when I read your comment above that “none of us saw this coming,” I thought, you would have seen it coming if you had been attending a non-church school in the late 90’s like I was. At that time, there was a huge (college-wide) push for kids like me to first tolerate, then accept, then celebrate the homosexual lifestyle. It was something that was talked about every single day. It was subtle at first and mixed in many good principles, which I believe in still…but it also successfully turned the tide of my generation to believe in many falsehoods about family, about love, about our role in determining what a family should be. It was a nasty plan. And for the most part it worked. Thank goodness, I took a long hard look at the FP after I graduated and realized that what I knew was right before college, was still right after college…I chose to not turn my back on God’s way…even though it’s not been an easy path (socially) to take, and it caused a rift between me and some of my dear friends who identify as gay…It has made all the difference in my life.
Thank you for putting into words what I feel. Great post!
My son was 1 month old when I took him with me to that RS Gen. Broadcast where The Family: A Proclamation to the World was presented. I remember cradling him on my shoulder as I listened, and I remember distinctly the feelings that came to me that evening. Seventeen fun-filled years later I look at him and, with the help of all these wonderful blogs, realize it was no accident that he was born when he was born, and that the Proclamation was given when it was given. Thank you, Kathryn and all the guest writers, for reminding me of how I can help him prepare for his mission.
How firm a foundation. Great post.
I agree, very well said!
So great! Thank you!
Thank you for continuing to speak out on this important issue!
So great! Thank you!
Great post! I want my teenagers to read and understand it so they can express it to others when they are asked.
Great post! I want my teenagers to read it!
Thank you for articulating what I think and feel but haven’t figured out how to say! I loved your post!
What a great read! I really enjoyed it! Very well said!
Very well said
I have watched Elder Holland’s devotional 4 or 5 times now. I have always enjoyed the way he addresses the ough issues. I have also enjoyed the MMM qnd WBMW blogs as long as I’ve been following them. It s good to see faithful Latter-Day Saints defend God’s laws. Keep up the good work both of you.