Why marriage matters

The Family: A Proclamation to the World declares that “Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator´s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”

“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.”

Marriage matters because we are children of God whose come to earth to “progress toward perfection” to return to live with God and our families for the eternity. Only through family it is possible we could realize our divine destiny.

Researches have explained that “Marriage is a complex social institution. Marriage helps to unite the needs and desires of couples and the children their unions produce. Because marriage fosters small cooperative unions-otherwise known as stable families- it not only enables children to thrive, but also shores up communities, helping family members to succeed during good times and to weather the bad times.” (State of Our Unions-2012).

What are the effects of legalize same-sex marriage?

The Supreme Court of Justice of America legalized same-sex marriage in 2015 arguing that same-sex couples have the same right to marry as opposite-sex couples according to the fundamental liberties protected by the Fourtheenth Amendment´s Due Process Clause extend to certain personal choices central to individual dignity and autonomy, including intimate choices defining personal identity and beliefs.

According to Roberts, C. J who dissented legalized same-sex marriage said, “Marriage arose in the nature of things to meet a vital need: ensuring that children are conceived by a mother and father committed to raising them in the stable conditions of a lifelong relationships.” A man can´t supply the role of a mother, and woman can´t supply the role of a father.

Some statistics

• 44 percent of the children of moderately educated mothers born outside of marriage.
• 54 percent of the children of least-educated occur outside marriage.
• 43 percent of female adolescents from moderately educated homes live in a non-intact family. In contrast of 49 percent of female adolescents from least educated homes, and just 21 percent live in intact families. (The President´s Marriage Agenda.The State of Our Unions Marriage in America 2012 by National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia and the Center for Marriage and Families at the Institute for American Values. P. 2-4)

 Kron and Bogan (2001) explained,

• “Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school as their classmates who live with two parents.
• Children whose fathers are absent consistently score lower than the norm in reading and math tests.
• 75% of teen suicides occur in single-parent families. 
Children who live apart from their fathers experience more accidents and a higher rate of chronic asthma, headaches, and speech defects.
• 80% of the adolescents in psychiatric hospitals come from a fatherless home.”
• In a comparison of girls raised in homes with both parents, “the daughters of single parents are 164% more likely to become pregnant before marriage, 53% more likely to marry as teenagers, and 92% more likely to divorce of their husbands.
• The absence of a biological father increases a daughter’s vulnerability to rape and sexual abuse by 900%,” many of them committed by stepfathers or mother´s boyfriends. Girl teenagers have the highest rate of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) infections.”

The statistics are alarming. More and more children are growing up in unstable families. The negative effects of absent parents show the health, emotional, psychological and social consequences on children and society. Those children are increasingly likely to repeat their parents´ patterns.

What are we defending for?

We are defending the institution of man-woman marriage. We are defending the well-being of children. Same-sex marriage can not procreate together, so they are separating who love them and guide them to their eternal destiny as children of God. We are defending our religious liberty. We are defending our right to educate our children with our values and beliefs. We want to protect the most sacred of the institutions: The Family.

The Words of Prophets

The President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “The greatest guardians of any and all virtues are marriage and family. This is particularly the case with the virtues of chastity and fidelity in marriage, both of which are required to create enduring and fully rewarding marriage partnerships and family relationships.

Male and female are created for what they can do and become, together. It takes a man and a woman to bring a child into the world. Mothers and fathers are not interchangeable. Men and women are distinct and complementary. Children deserve a chance to grow up with both a mom and a dad.” (“Disciples of Jesus Christ-Defenders of Marriage” BYU Speaches, Aug 14, 2014).

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Of all the joys of life, none other equals that of happy parenthood.” I believe parents are the most important influence in the life of children. Parents are an anchor and a hero for their kids. Nobody can take the place of a father (and a mother) in the sacred responsibility God has given to teach, guide and lead his children to return save with their Heavenly Father, and He will bless fathers for taking care of His children. “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (3 Nephi 22:13)

 
Elder Dallin H. Oaks said: “Even as we seek to be meek and to avoid contention, we must not compromise or dilute our commitment to the truths we understand. We must not surrender our positions or our values.”

 

The Prophets warn the world saying, “ We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World; 1995)

 

My Testimony

I know that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained by God. I testify that we are children of a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother too. Their Plan is for us to become such as They are. It is the reason that Family is central for our eternal destiny. Father and mothers are equal partners with different roles. Nobody else can take your place as mother or father.