I Believe in Many Things

I've been feeling impressed to write about some things. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I believe things that often seem strange to others. I just feel the need to write some of my feelings and thoughts.

I believe that the power of God is on the earth. There was an apostasy sometime after the death of Christ and that power was taken from the earth for many years. I believe it was restored, to be held by worthy men of the LDS church. That may seem unfair to people of other faiths or women in the church, but I feel great comfort in knowing that I do not have to carry that heavy responsibility. I do not feel less because I don't hold the priesthood. I have never felt like a second class citizen because of it. The women of the church hold great responsibilities as well. We work in conjunction with the men, not beneath them. It is sometimes hard for me to understand why women would want to hold the responsibility of the priesthood as well as the responsibility for raising children, tending to the sick and needy, and supporting those around us. I feel a great burden when I think of my responsibilities and I would not want to add to it. That said, I do not think of the priesthood as a burden. Neither does my husband, my father, or my grandfather. They carry that power with faith and diligence. They stand as the pillars of my family and I want nothing more than to raise my sons in that wonderful tradition.

My family is eternal. We have been sealed together by the power of God and I have faith that we will be together after this life. It always makes me sad when I hear the phrases "till death do us part" or "as long as you both shall live." I never want to be separated from my husband and thanks to the sealing power, exercised by a man with the proper authority in the temple, we will be together for eternity. Temples are some of my favorite places on earth. My goal was always to prepare myself for the covenants I have made in the temple. People often ask what happens in temples. It is not some weird, secret craziness. We do not sacrifice animals or unearth dead relatives to dunk them in water. We perform sacred rituals that bring us closer to God, our Heavenly Father. We don't speak about them freely because they are sacred and it is not appropriate to discuss sacred things in most settings.

The last thing that has been weighing heavily on my mind is the matter of the LDS Church's stance on same-sex marriage. It seems to me that the church does not often actively endorse political movements. We are encouraged to go out, research, and participate in politics according to our conscience, so when the church leaders speak out in favor of (or against) a particular idea, prop 8 for one, I think it means something. I have no problem with the GLBT community. It is their prerogative to live their chosen life. It is my prerogative to disagree with same-sex marriage. No, I don't think that it would lead to people marrying inanimate objects or other such ridiculousness, but I think it makes a mockery of things that I hold sacred. I am all for civil unions having the same legal rights as marriage. I think it is unfair that they don't, but I will never be able to support something that the men I believe receive direct inspiration from God do not support. I am not following blindly. I have formed my own opinion based on researching the church's teachings and secular ideas of the subject.

I believe that the LDS church contains a fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that everyone has some measure of the truth. I do not try to convince people that I know everything because I don't. I just felt the need to write down some of the things I believe and know. I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. I also know that he has set forth commandments and guidelines for us to follow. He loves us when we make mistakes, but mercy cannot rob justice. He must be a just God and in order to do that and be a loving God He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. That atonement provides a way for all of us to come back to live in His presence, IF we obey his commandments and receive ordinances. Christ himself said that we must be baptized of water and of the spirit. I have faith that if I do what I am supposed to do, I will be able to live with my Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. That is what I believe.