Opposing gay marriage should be the last thing on LDS minds

[Solon]

According to the letter recently posted on lds.org, and linked by Pelagius in another thread, LDS leaders recently provided some explanation for why they oppose gay marriage:

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/...e-sex-marriage

the formation of families is central to the Creator’s plan for His children. Children are entitled to be born within this bond of marriage.

A sociologist friend of mine pointed this out to me:

Fundamental changes in family structures have been going on for several generations. Really since the industrial revolution in many European countries and the US, and especially pronounced since WWII.

The recent phenomenon of gays seeking legal rights to marry is really a small threat to traditional notions of marriage and family when compared to:

50% divorce rate among heterosexual couples.
The corresponding rise in single parent families.
Women decoupling marriage and childbearing.
Legalized abortion.
More accessible and effective contraception, and more people using it.
Declining childbirth rates (historically, and with respect to the developing world).

All of these have drastically altered the ways marriages and families are conceived (no pun intended, but I'll take credit) in the developed world over the past few generations. Gays seeking marriage represents only a tiny portion of a sweeping society-wide change in family structures. Opposing gay marriage so vehemently seems like shutting that barn door long after Bessie has moseyed on to greener pastures.

[TripletDaddy]

Originally Posted by Solon

The recent phenomenon of gays seeking legal rights to marry is really a small threat to traditional notions of marriage and family when compared to:

50% divorce rate among heterosexual couples.
The corresponding rise in single parent families.
Women decoupling marriage and childbearing.
Legalized abortion.
More accessible and effective contraception, and more people using it.
Declining childbirth rates (historically, and with respect to the developing world).

The typical response you will get to these statistics is, "Yes, but gay marriage will just make it even worse."

I am actually surprised that conservatives oppose gay marriage. If anything, they should actually support it. The sooner gays are allowed to marry, the sooner conservatives can start blaming gay marriage for everything that has flourished under a regime of heterosexual marriage.....child abuse, pedophilia, divorce, spousal abuse, fornication, infidelity, abortion, etc...

[MikeWaters]

Originally Posted by TripletDaddy

sooner gays

hehehehe.

[SeattleUte]

Gays are one of the three horsemen of the apocalypse, mortal enemies of the LDS Church. Intellectuals, feminists and gays.

[Indy Coug]

Solon, are you implying that gay marriage is the first thing on LDS minds?

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Gays are one of the three horsemen of the apocalypse, mortal enemies of the LDS Church. Intellectuals, feminists and gays.

I bet you're pissed you're not included.

[Sleeping in EQ]

The academic arguments that capitalism has devastated the family have come from the right, left, and center.

[MikeWaters]

Look how few of us live in the same town as our parents.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by SeattleUte

Gays are one of the three horsemen of the apocalypse, mortal enemies of the LDS Church. Intellectuals, feminists and gays.

That would be great satire if you didn't believe it as one of your creeds.

[Solon]

Originally Posted by Indy Coug

Solon, are you implying that gay marriage is the first thing on LDS minds?

Reading letters in church instructing people to work against it tells me that it is a priority for LDS leaders - for the moment in California, at least.

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

The academic arguments that capitalism has devastated the family have come from the right, left, and center.

This is where my friend ended up in our conversation: capitalist industrialism has had an immense impact on traditional family structures.