LDS Church members are deciding how they will react to the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, whether or not they agree with the ruling.
Opinions on the June 26 Supreme Court ruling vary on the BYU–Hawaii campus. There are those who disagree with the ruling, those who align themselves with it, and those who feel they are unaffected.
“Very much opposed,” said Elder David Beagley, a service missionary on campus. “I think the Supreme Court had no right to decide for every state the issue. Clearly every state has every right to determine if they will adopt something or not.”
“It doesn’t affect the way that I live through the gospel,” said Rachel Luarks, a sophomore from Laie studying physical education.
“I’m so for it,” said Mariah Adair, a junior studying international cultural studies from Utah. “I think that living in America, we all have freedoms and we all have equal rights. I’m just disagreeing with the way they live their lives.”
Member of the Quorum of the Twelve Elder D. Todd Christofferson said members who support same-sex marriage can still have good standing in the church because that’s “not an organized effort to attack on … our functioning as a church.” But he said the Church will not ever support same sex marriage.
Shortly after the court ruling, the LDS Church released a statement, clarifying and reiterating the doctrine of the Church.
The statement says, “Changes in civil law do not, indeed cannot, change the moral law that God has established. God expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions or trends in society.”
“Marriage between a man and a woman was instituted by God and is central to His plan for His children and for the well-being of society,” says the LDS Church’s response. “Strong families, guided by a loving mother and father, serve as fundamental institution for nurturing children, instilling faith, and transmitting to future generations the moral strengths and values that are important to civilization and vital to eternal salvation.”
The transcript of the ruling from the Supreme Court’s website says, “The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person, and under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment couples of the same sex may not be deprived of that right and liberty. ... The State laws challenged by the petitioners in these cases are held invalid to the extend they exclude same-sex couples from civil marriage on the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex couples.”
In a letter from the LDS Church First Presidency, distributed to all wards and branches concerning the Supreme Court ruling, it says, “How do I respond respectfully to those who consider the Church’s position on this matter unchristian? Our objection to same‐sex marriage is not based on animosity toward anyone, but on our understanding of God’s purposes for His children. For us, the issues are not simply ‘tolerance’ and ‘equality.’ The issues are the nature of marriage and the consequences of redefining a divinely established institution.”
The Church statement also quotes Elder Dallin H. Oaks from his October 2014 General Conference talk “Loving Others and Living with Differences,” giving this counsel: “On the subject of public discourse, we should all follow the gospel teachings to love our neighbor and avoid contention. Followers of Christ should be examples of civility. We should ... be good listeners and show concern for the sincere belief [of others.] Though we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable. We should be wise in explaining our position and, in doing so, ask that others not be offended by our sincere religious beliefs and the free exercise of our religion.”
In March, LDS Church leaders worked with the LGBT community and legislators in Utah, to help pass a nondiscrimination and religious freedom law that a church statement says provides a level of “fairness for everyone.” In the week following the Supreme Court ruling, the church donated money to the Utah Pride Center’s homeless youth program in downtown Salt Lake City, reports KUTV.
“LGBT teens who are homeless are usually on the streets because their families kick them out. The pride center offers counseling and food through their pantry,” says the report.
It also quotes Utah Senator Jim Dabakis who is a co-founder of the Utah Pride Center and is an openly gay legislator. He said the Church’s donation was “in the works before the Supreme Court decided on gay marriage.”
The Church’s statement about the donation says, “We are grateful to be able to serve your efforts in this worthy project and appreciate the work that you and others are doing related to this initiative."
Students on campus said they were optimistic when asked how same sex marriage and religious freedom will coexist. “We don’t have to let them get married in our churches or on our grounds because we own the land, and we’re free to believe what we want, so I think they can coexist together,” said Adair.
Commenting on the importance of retaining religious freedoms in light of the Supreme Court ruling, the Church’s statement also says, “Our individual right to religious freedom is protected by the First Amendment to the United States’ Constitution and by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As we exercise that right, we must also exercise tolerance and respect toward others’ rights but do so without condoning behavior that goes contrary to the laws of God.”
Responding to a Ke Alaka‘i Facebook question about how members of the church are handling this situation, Rose Kane Tarakabu said, “Firm adherence to your principles includes loving others regardless of their flaws and wrong choices they make.”
“It takes a lot of tolerance,” said Beagley. However, he said in the United States, where people have freedom of choice and expression, people feel strongly about both sides of this issue “therefore coexisting will be very difficult.”