I am grateful it is not my choice.

I am saddened by what the world has come to, by what we have let it become. I mean no disrespect to any individual or community, however before you read on I will warn you that you may not agree with what I say. I believe in freedom. I believe that every individual has the right to make their own decisions and answer to the consequences of those decisions  I believe the war in heaven was real, I believe that our savior fought along side us for our agency. With that being said I believe that marriage is a sacred ordinance between a man and a women, and with our heavenly father. It would seem to most that my two beliefs are extremely contradictory  which is why I am grateful that marriage equality is not my choice. It is not my chose because it is not my place to make a decision that will affect countless others.
I may not understand why our heavenly father has commanded that a man and a woman join together in marriage. I however to understand that my father in heaven is perfect. He is all knowing, and he is kind and loving. I also know that our father in heaven would never give us a commandment that we can not fulfill. He knows what is in our hearts because he is the creator of them.
our bodies were created in his image, just as a man is suppose to love a women, all humans are suppose to have two arms and two legs. We are all aware however that this is most defiantly not the case. We all have trails that we must overcome, Heavenly father has blessed us with our trails that we may learn in this life and grow closer to him.
With that being said I believe the greatest trail we must all overcome is the judgment we throw at one another. We understand that god has commanded a man and a women to be married, however what we do not understand is that not everyone has had the same convictions that we have had. Others do not understand why marriage is sacred for a man and a women; this is does not make them evil or wrong, it just makes them different. We believe that we will be held accountable for what we know to be true. We know that marriage is sacred, not everyone has this knowledge, they will be judged for the knowledge they do have. We also know that all of gods children are equal and should be treated with love and respect. ALL of his children. Just as our savior suffered for each of us, he also suffered for homosexual individuals  He sat with them as they struggled through their decisions, he held them while they were mocked and scorned, he wiped their tears, and he loves them. Why would anyone chose such a life, why would anyone chose to be scorned and mocked? I have meant countless individuals who have been told they have a disease and that a doctor, a therapist, or some sort of special tea will "cure" them. this is not the case!!! the power of god is the only thing that will bring them comfort. I did not say it will heal them. They were given this trail and if they endure it well great shall be their reward. It is the same as it is with any burden or trail the rest of us carry.  Our savior felt their pain, and he loves them, just as we should. Homosexual individuals are not evil, bad, or corrupt. They are fantastic individuals with sweet sweet spirits who have made a different choice then us, and they have all the same rights as anyone else. We will never understand gods reasoning. We are not god.  God has demanded that we love all of his children. We are not to judge others for their decisions. Disrespect toward the gay community is unacceptable. We are to love everyone. All of us sin, our right to do so is not being debated in the supreme court, so we somehow feel that makes us greater than them, It does not.
Equal marriage rights may pass.
 I promise that no matter the decision made in the supreme court God will never leave any of his children in darkness. He promised that the holly ghost may always be with us if we live righteously, not if the world does. All we have to do is worry about us, teach our children about their loving father in heaven, and love one another. The choices of others are not our concern. I will never understand the emotions of another individual therefore I do not get to judge them. I get to love them.
I recommend that everyone visit them website  http://www.mormonsandgays.org/ It is a fantastic website where apostles and LDS. individuals who have struggled with same sex attraction discuss their love of god and share their personal experiences.

I choose to win

My heart is full today and I am not exactly sure what to say. This has been one of the most testing and trying weeks of my life. I didn't know if I was strong enough to make it through this trail. However I have learned a lot this week. I have learned that people are entirely and absolutely good; we as a species may be entirely selfish and self-consumed, however in the face of tragedy( or at least what feels like it) individuals are able to put themselves aside and help a friend in need. Every man carries with them the light of Christ and it shines through in the face of adversity.  I will never forget the friends I have or the sacrifices they have made for me. I have learned that I am stronger than I ever thought I could be. I have learned just as I have time and time before that my father in heaven loves me, he will carry me every step of the way and will never leave me in darkness.

I cannot say I didn't bring this upon myself I knew exactly how this would have to end, but as a friend once told me “I couldn't not take the chance". It sounds cheesy, but my life has been changed and I wouldn't take back a single moment or a single lesson I learned through this experience.

It has been a hard month. Facebook feels like the pit of despair with one tragic post after another.  I have found several of my friends with their heart and their spirit broken.  I have caught myself wishing I could offer comfort, however there was/ is nothing I can to heal their hurt or improve the situation. I guess that is not my job. Just as I cannot struggle through my own trails alone I cannot fix the trails of others.

“My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.”

I promise that our father in heaven loves his children. We will never be alone. I understand that life can be hard; losing sucks, losing anything, a loved one, a relationship, a friendship .Our father in heaven will make all of this up. We have the opportunity to choose not to lose. God is going to win. Our savior gave his life and because of his sacrifice we never have to be alone again. God is going to win; we simply have to choose to be on his side. I understand that this decision may not be as easy as it sounds. However I know that our father in heaven loves us, is aware of our struggles, and is aware of our pain. This is why he allowed his precious begotten son to suffer on the cross; for you and me. Our savior went through every possible amount of pain we can conceive and then some. It was not in vain. I will not waste his atonement.

God is going to win!!!! We are going to win, and every ounce of pain will be made up. Today I choose to stand with my father in heaven. I choose an eternal family, I choose to serve a mission for the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints, and I choose to be happy.