Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.
Object Lesson: Show a picture of some historical landmarks--Mount Rushmore, The National Mall in Washington D.C., or Independence Hall. Discuss why it is important to protect and preserve them.
For ages, marriage and marriage regulations have been recognized and protected.
Quotes from Ancient Scholars
Aristotle said that marriage is "the foundation of the republic and the prototype of friendship."
Plato and Aristotle prescribed a set of laws governing the ideal ages, qualities, and duties of husband and wife to each other and to their children "to ensure that marital couples would remain bonded together for the sake of their children."
Aristotle also said that it was the "first duty of wise legislators to establish rules regulating marriage."
St. Augustine said that marriage is a "faithful and sincere fellowship; the seedbed . . . of a city and the foundation of domestic peace.:
St. John Chrysostom said, "The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together. . . Because when harmony prevails, the children are raised well the household is kept in order, and neighbors and relatives praise the result. Great benefits, both for families and states, are thus produced."
Why Marriage is Important
Marriage is a well-spring of social capital--those intangible resources that contribute to a strong society, economy, and nation--in any community. Marriage between a man and a woman generates social capital which is important to the well-being of children, adults, and entire communities. “This is due to the nature and qualities of marriage, not the label” as Lynn D. Wardle explained. Even the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that marriage “is the foundation of the family and of society, without which there would be neither civilization nor progress.”
Society is developed on “root paradigms” that crystallize the foundational beliefs of individuals, families, and the community. Throughout history the marriage-based family has contributed to the stability and growth of communities and countries. David W. Murray said, Marriage is a society’s cultural infrastructure.” Pope John Paul II said, “As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.” It is clear that when the institution of marriage disintegrates, the core values and root paradigms of a society also disintegrate.
The main issue with this topic is whether a “core social institution should be profoundly altered from a gender-integrating union” by allowing same gender couples to get married. Should the law protect the institution of marriage as being defined between a man and a woman? There can only be one definition of marriage. The last time a policy changed regarding marriage was when divorce was made available “on demand”. Although it was not predicted to be harmful, the results were astronomical. Once marriage lost the idea of being permanent, divorces sky-rocketed with detrimental results especially for children.
Marriage contains the script for parenting. Legalizing same-sex marriage profoundly edits that script of marital life in a way that moves children from the center to the margins of the relationship.” That explains it perfectly.
Legal scholar John Witte said, "A breakdown of marriage and the family will eventually have devastating consequences on these larger social institutions." When the institution of marriage disintegrates, the transmission and inculcation of the root paradigms and core values of society also disintegrate.
We know that “wickedness never was happiness” and there are studies that show that immorality related to same-gender unions causes individuals to exercise additional immoral behavior. A study done in Amsterdam found that gay men in steady relationships engaged in more risky sexual behaviors and had more partners than those who didn't have a steady partner. It seems that standards regarding promiscuity, infidelity, and multiple sexual partners are different for gay married couples as stated in the New York Times.
If marriage is redefined to include couples with the same gender, it will deprive those who marry of a “substantial part of the value of the institution and affects their lives, families, and future generation”.
God created marriage to be between a man and a woman and marriage is ordained of God. His way is the only way to find true happiness. Thomas W. Draper said, “If humankind can be persuaded to pursue the right thing in the wrong way, our chances of finding happiness will be diminished.”
Elder Neil A, Maxwell said, "As parenting declines, the need for policing increases. There will always be a shortage of police if there is a shortage of effective parents! Likewise, there will not be enough prisons if there are not enough good homes. How can a nation nurture family values without consistently valuing and protecting the family in its public policies? How can we value the family without valuing parenting? And how can we value parenting if we do not value marriage? How can there be love at home without love in marriage?"
Marriage is the oldest legal institution to recognize gender equal rights (one man and one woman). If the definition of marriage is cast aside, it will have negative implications for women's rights. Because marriage is so closely tied to religion, the legalization of same-sex marriages will raise serious issues about religious liberty.
As of 2012, most American states have rejected allowing either marriage of any marriagelike legal status or marital benefits for same-sex couples. Forty-four states recognize marriage as the union between a man and a woman only. Internationally, legal rejection of same-sex marriage is the prevailing rule and growing trend.
Learn from History--Preservation of marriage should be seen as a civil rights cause of the highest importance to all of society. In 1917 following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the new Marxist government attempted to implement measures that decreased the importance of marriage. In less than two decades, social breakdown, parentless children, and unstable family relations devastated individuals, families, and the entire nation. The Russian "family law policy" underwent a profound upheaval and was put into force, strongly supporting marriage and family. They experienced what happens first hand in society when marriage is not valued and protected.
Call to Action
President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "The evils of the world will continue to escalate unless there is an underlying acknowledgement, even a strong and fervent conviction, that the family is an instrument of the Almighty. It is His creation. It is also the most fundamental and basic unit of society. And it deserves--no, it demands--our combined focus and attention. We go to great lengths to preserve historical buildings and sites in our cities. We need to apply the same fervor to preserve the most ancient and sacred of institutions--the family!"
Refer to the photo and discussion about historic landmarks in America. Discuss how family members can follow President Hinckley's counsel to preserve the institution of the family.
Adapting to Children and Youth
Tell the following story: One day a father was sitting in his favorite chair reading a magazine after a long day at work. His young son kept asking him to play with him, but the father just wanted a few moments to relax. He saw a picture of the world in the magazine and had a great idea. He cut the picture of the world into a puzzle and told his son as soon as he put it together, he would play with him. He was very proud of himself for coming up with such a clever idea and sat down to read his magazine again. Within a few short minutes, his son was back with the finished puzzle all taped together. The dad was shocked! "How did you put it together so fast?" he asked his son. The boy turned over the puzzle where there was a picture of a family. The boy said, "I knew if the family was right, the world had to be."
Discuss how the family is the most importance unit in society and each family member can help it be strong.
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