As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we will be tested and we will go through times where we will need to stand for what we believe. How we stand or don’t stand against gay marriage will be a test for us. Russell M. Nelson said “The day is gone when you can be a quiet and comfortable Christian. Your religion is not just about showing up for church on Sunday. It is about showing up as a true disciple from Sunday morning through Saturday night—24/7! There is no such thing as a “part-time” disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus invited anyone who wants to be His disciple to take up His cross and follow Him.” At this time we need to stand for what we believe we need to let others know that our view won’t change because the world is. We cannot turn our backs on the Lord and what he believes. We cannot be ashamed we need to stand for what we believe and others will follow. As Russell M. Nelson said “The future of marriage and of countless human lives will be determined by your willingness to bear solemn witness of the Lord and live according to His gospel.”
That being said we do need to stand up for what we believe, but we also need to love our brothers and sisters regardless of what they are or believe. We can stand for what we believe and still be sensible and respectful of others. The Lord loved all of his children and we too need to love everyone. In the Proclamation to the World: The Family it says "ALL HUMAN BEINGS—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." Standing for what we believe in is so much more than sharing what we believe, it is also how we treat people and if we are a good example We should ever show unkindness and never tear down someone. LDS.org addresses same sex attractions and says “The Church firmly believes that all people are equally beloved children of God and deserve to be treated with love and respect." Church apostle Elder Quentin L. Cook stated, “As a church, nobody should be more loving and compassionate. Let us be at the forefront in terms of expressing love, compassion and outreach. Let’s not have families exclude or be disrespectful of those who choose a different lifestyle as a result of their feelings about their own gender.”
For more information on what was discussed here please see the following sites:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/russell-m-nelson_disciples-jesus-christ-defenders-marriage/
https://www.lds.org/topics/same-gender-attraction?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&_r=1
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