Mormons Join Their Persecutors

Let’s recap what’s happened around marriage:

• Early LDS chose to live in a way different than the "one-man-one-woman" U.S custom.
• The U.S. government and its Christian majority came down hard on them - in God's name.
• LDS argued it was their Constitutional right and didn't appreciate mainstream Christians forcing their views on them through government.
• LDS lost the battle and were forced to abandon the practice.
• LDS now join their persecutors in limiting the choices of others.  

The irony kills me. 

I’m no fan of polygamy, but early LDS argued it was a constitutional abuse to shut it down among consenting adults (and I agree).  They were forced to abandon the practice contrary to their wishes and the dictates of their conscious.  Now, many of their posterity have jumped sides, in God's name no less, to bully others using many of the same old arguments to defend the idea politicians should be able to dictate what a family looks like and which moral code is to be pushed by the feds.

It used to be that marriage in the U.S. was a religious ceremony and the civil portion of it was handled by private contract between families.  The government hijacked the marriage business (with licenses) as a way to stop interracial marriage and polygamy (all in the name of morality).  It was an abuse then and it's an abuse now.  LDS at the time knew this . . . but some of the more vocal Christian majority felt they were morally justified in using the arm of law to force Mormons to live a more traditional moral code.  It wasn't about protecting their own lifestyle but about forcing others to change theirs.

Now that this abuse of power (involving the state in marriage to begin with) is starting to turn against them as other groups use government to give space to their choices (as they should) by trying to force religions to perform marriages outside of their moral code (which I'm apposed to) many religions are now tasting their own medicine.  Ironic that the power some mainstream Christians employed to abuse early Mormons is now being turned against them.  A great example of why it's dangerous to use government to force any morality instead of just defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

A good solution to all of this is civil unions.  Religions could keep the word "marriage" and perform their religious ceremonies for whom and how they see fit (maximum freedom to religion).  Government could decide what makes up a civil union.

The fact more LDS don't adopt a more compassionate and freedom loving idea such as civil unions is surprising (or at least be open to discussing it!).  Even if they don't have a good alternative to "I'm anti-gay marriage - period.", why aren't there more who at least question the idea that politicians should be the ones that get to decide what a family looks like after all the abuse in LDS history?  After listening to many arguments over the years, it becomes pretty clear what ails them; fear and ignorance.  "If we condone their behavior by allowing it, then [slippery slope into hell]."  Or, "The whole world will turn gay and no babies would be born."  Embarrassingly stupid.

I say let people live by the dictates of their conscious within the bounds of the Constitution (clearly not designed to force a particular religious morality but to protect life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness).  If you disagree with another's lifestyle, use patience and long suffering - not the arm of the government to shove your way of life down their throats.

Shame on Mormon turncoats – they give the rest of us a bad name.  I wish more were willing to continue defending the principles of freedom. That historically is the Mormon way.