Redefining Marriage

This week in class we learned about the effects of redefining marriage. 

I believe that redefining marriage is detrimental for our society.  There are many reasons why marriage should never be redefined.  It deeply affects all of our civil/religious rights, as well as the future of our children.  Lynne D. Wardle said, “How marriage is defined sends signals to and reflects common understandings about the expectations of the relationship.”  What kinds of messages are we sending our children if we allow the definition of marriage to be redefined.  Marriage is central to Heavenly Father’s plan.  Everything else is built around it.  It’s vastly important.  We read an article written for the gay community about how to “overhaul straight America”.  It was rather eye-opening and unfortunately we see those tactics being used all around us.  While there are some exceptions to the rule, the general state of a same-sex partnership is not one of commitment or love, or one of deep-rooted values, but rather it’s a relationship based on selfish desires.  The rates of “divorce” and multiple partners in a same-sex partnership are staggering.  How can an innocent child who is brought into such a situation learn about proper relationships?  Children need a mother and a father because men and women both offer different characteristics and differences that complement each other and that are both necessary for the proper upbringing of children.  A marriage is the union of a man and a woman, who, as a result of that union, bring children into the world.  It’s natural and it’s God’s design.  One only has to look at nature to see this.  There are no same-sex relationships amongst animals or plants or insects.  God’s design is that man and woman are meant to be together to replenish the earth.  As marriage is being redefined in the world around us, we who oppose it are seeing our civil liberties threatened – everyone from teachers, to therapists, to church officials, and more.  Why a cake baker should be forced to make a cake for someone, or a photographer be forced to photograph anyone's wedding is beyond me.  I don’t understand why someone can’t just move on and happily give their dollars to someone else who would be happy to oblige.  It seems that it's o.k. that we should give up our rights, and be forced to go against the very values that stand for,, but not the other way around.  
I believe that two people should be free to live their lives however they choose.  A person can love whomever they choose.  However, redefining marriage, which is the oldest and most vital institution that we have, is not necessary.  It’s not necessary and it is damaging.  Sadly, we won’t know the full effects of this for a long time, just as it took a long time to see the full effects of things such as no-fault divorce laws.  Unfortunately, our children will be the ones who have to deal with the effects, unless we stand together now to prevent any further damage.  We are taught to hate the sin, not the sinner.  I believe that to be true.  We should indeed treat everyone around us with love and compassion, as we are all sons and daughters of God.  However, we do not have to accept the sin.