Here is something to chew on:
What does " love the sinner, hate the sin" mean? As much as I know that holy marriage is between a worthy man and woman, I am continually reminded that a man cannot force someone to be obedient to the laws of God.
Prophets teach that they are blessed for being compelled to be humble and teachable(Alma 32:13). But when the anti-Christ was brought before the king, though his teachings encouraged people to sin, the law of the land had no hold against him(Alma 30:12). I admire the people of Ammon who did not harm Korihor. They just picked him up and carried him out of the land. But it was strictly against the law to put men on unequal ground, "legally" speaking(Alma 30:7).
No one can enter the temple without thorough soul searching and being worthy before God to participate in the sacred ordinances there. Eternal Marriage is the highest ordinance preformed in the Temple and that cannot be achieved while participating in behaviors contrary to the laws of Him who's house it is. There are spiritual consequences for disobeying His laws and there are natural consequences(Darwin would agree that any species acting like that wouldn't survive).
It is God's Law that matters. He set down all laws natural, physical, and spiritual. When His laws are broken there are consequences that we cannot avoid. We lose privileges and blessings through disobedience. Isn't that punishment enough? Shouldn't we look to those who have lost these blessings with the greatest of compassion and longing to love them into the path of righteousness? To make them "legally" less or to discriminate them would bring them and us to a misunderstanding of each other.
When a person truly understands the gospel they will choose to be obedient on their own. As President Boyd K. Packer said in his April 1997 General Conference Talk,"
I have long believed that the study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than talking about behavior will improve behavior."
The law of the land can protect us but should it be used to lower the rights of others?
Please leave G-rated comments if you'd like to respond.
Jake-Truth is a Whole.
