Because A Prophet Said So

UPDATE 10 Jan 2014 (hyperlink): Church Instructs Leaders on Same-Sex Marriage

This blogpost has a target audience: those who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons.) Those of you who don't so identify are welcome to come along for the ride, or you can come back another day.

I just finished reading a blogpost promoted by a well known, openly gay, in good standing, member of the LDS church, regarding SSM (and as an adjunct, being gay in the Church.) You might be able to deduce that it takes the position in favor of SSM. It is exceptionally well written, providing several logically presented, well reasoned arguments in favor of SSM within the LDS church. It devolves for a few seconds into namecalling, walking close to the line of 'people who don't agree with this line of reasoning are homophobic' but for the most part, is well thought out and presented. And I do love a well reasoned argument.

At the end of the day, here's the problem that all his well thought out arguments haven't overcome: Because God, through His Prophet Said So. (Amos 3:7)

If I have said it once, I have said it a million times: We. Are. In. The. Last. Days. People. (2 Timothy 3:1-5 KJV) Geez. I can even type the scripture reference by heart now. The way this year is trending so far, by the end of the year, I'll have said it a billion times, and be able to write the verses out by memory.

I have a theory about SSM for members of the religious community in general and Latter-day Saints in particular, and it comes down to one word: winnowing. (Matthew 3:11-12 KVJ)

At the end of the day, everything comes down to obedience, or disobedience, regardless of our own wisdom or logic. Latter-day Saints (for those who might not know), believe that the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ, as taught and established by Him when He walked the earth Himself, has been restored by His prophet in 1820/30 (depending on whether you count from Joseph Smith's First Vision or from the official, legal establishment of the Church), Christ's original Church having been lost through apostasy after the deaths of the original Apostles. 

Ironic how the logic presented in the SSM argument fails compared to other doctrine or practices the blogposter, as a Mormon, likely accepts without much thought. For example: 

One may think tithes and offerings are just a way for Churches to milk money out of its membership. A Latter-day Saint faces the decision to be obedient or not chiefly because: God, through His Prophet, said so. (Malachi 3:8-10 KJV, D&C 119)

One may think that ones' personal freedom to smoke, drink alcohol, do drugs, eat meat sparingly and vegetables often, is a personal decision and the government should stay out of it. A Latter-day Saint faces the decision to be obedient to be abstinent or not, chiefly because God, through His Prophet, said so. (D&C 89, Leviticus 11:1-3 KJV)

One may think they are within their "rights" to think only of themselves, not extend a hand of kindness, or think of others. A Latter-day Saint faces the decision to have a servant's heart or not, chiefly because: God, through His Prophet, said so. (Matthew 5:14-16 KJV, Mosiah 2:17)

One may feel daily scripture study and prayer to be a waste of time. A Latter-day Saint faces the decision to be develop the habit and be obedient or not, chiefly because God, through His Prophet, said so. (Joshua 1:8 KJV, 2 Nephi 32:3-6)

Odd then, that we would rely on our own intellect and logic when it comes to something as important to God's plan for mankind as marriage. Is it better to be married or single? Does it matter Who I marry or Where I marry? Unsurprisingly, God has answered those questions through His Prophet. Sadly, what is a bit of a surprise, is that Latter-day Saint proponents of SSM would accept doctrine God has revealed on other issues, but reject out of hand, what God, through His Prophet said about SSM: marriage is between a man and a woman (The Family: A Proclamation to the World.)

God has been clear: "Those who would obtain a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world."

Proponents of SSM have no problem seeing the truth of that statement and accepting it on its face, and acknowledging the practice of obedience when it comes to something they agree with (tithing, service, Word of Wisdom, scripture study etc.) But when it comes to something one disagrees with, well, then it is just mere words. We not the Lord, know better.

Ironically, that scripture reference quoted above, comes from the Latter-day Saint's Doctrine & Covenants section 132, verse 15. You know: the marriage section.

Here's the reality test for Latter-day Saints, and truthfully, for people of all faith: Did God Say So, or Not? 

At the end of the day, we choose to be obedient or disobedient because we believe or disbelieve that God said so. For Latter-day Saints, that is buttressed even more by the revelations given by God, not just in written scripture, but through His Latter-day Prophet. 

One can choose to live their life according to God's word, because one believes it a better path. For Latter-day Saints, one has the assurance that God, through His Prophet will reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God other than that which has been revealed in scripture. 

As a Latter-day Saint, one may not like the world's or the Church's position on SSM. If you are in that number, you are asking the wrong question. The question is not: is the Church right or wrong. The right question is the same as it has always been: Did God, through His Prophet, say so?

If He has, then kicking against the pricks, regardless of our own logic, wisdom or feeling, is a dangerous, sad, and unfortunate path to be on. (1 Corinthians 15:1-30)