Today's Spiritual Message: Supporting Traditional Marriage in Lima, OH

Lima, OH?

Yeah, I don't think I'd ever heard of it before yesterday, either.

Nevertheless, my wife, our daughter, and I jumped into the car and made the 2:20 drive up to Lima to attend a National Organization for Marriage rally.  To be frank, we would have attended the larger, Columbus rally on Friday, but it was during work.

Lima's not exactly Manhattan (sorry folks), so there weren't millions in attendance, but we were happy to participate.

Here's one of the pictures taken of us at the rally:

Click here for the NOM website I pulled this from (also includes a snippet from us).

As the youngest couple, "with the most adorable baby in tow," I had a feeling we would be interviewed by one or both sides, and we were.

As I told Maggie Gallagher, I feel so blessed to live in a land where two sides can both show up to the same location and peaceably express their views (while in many countries this isn't possible).

Traditional marriage faces an onslaught of opposition:  unchastity before and during marriage, divorce, abuse, and same sex marriage, to name a few.  What I tried to communicate to both sides of the debate is that these are all issues we feel affect not only traditional marriage but also the family and society at large.

As I am paraphrased in Maggie's article, it is most certainly uncool, amongst our generation, to believe in chastity before marriage and full fidelity after, in a committed and loving union.  

Seattle, WA, December 2006

For my wife and myself, we know that if we are faithful in keeping sacred covenants we made in the temple of our God, our union will last not only for this life, but for all eternity.  

No fleeting one night stand or any other form of relationship can bring the same kind of happiness as an eternal marriage, performed by those with authority from our Heavenly Father.  I say this not to boast of ourselves, but to invite all to enjoy the same happiness and hope of an eternal union we cherish on a daily basis.

Speaking of the Savior, Jesus Christ, a Book of Mormon Prophet said,

 24 He doeth not ^aanything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he ^bloveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw ^call men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

  25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: ^aCome unto me all ye ^bends of the earth, ^cbuy milk and honey, without money and without price.

  26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should ^adepart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.

  27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his ^asalvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath ^bgiven it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to ^crepentance.

  28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but ^aall men are privileged the one ^blike unto the other, and none are forbidden.  (2 Nephi 26: 24-28).

Part of this salvation is eternal marriage; this blessing is open to any and all who will accept the Savior's conditions.  Thus, we invite everyone to meet the Savior's conditions and enjoy the happiness which springs from an eternal family.

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