There has been a fair amount of controversy, for
example, in the recent past over the downtown Salt Lake shopping mall. Many
accusations have sprung up around the web against the Church and the use of its
funds. But I have to wonder, why is consideration never given to the idea that
it was the Lord’s will. Somehow many of us seem to think we know better than
the prophet, better than the apostles. Somehow we think ourselves more
enlightened, more holy, and more in tune with God’s true will.

But we are not. Let’s show a bit of faith here
that God is leading His Church. Let’s trust and sustain those He has chosen to
do so, in both their efforts on the spiritual front and the temporal front of
God’s kingdom.”

I think the same principles apply here too. In
my mind at least, it is an incredibly slippery slope for a faithful latter-day
saint to say that they keep the law of chastity, and then to endorse and
campaign for others to break that same law. Truth is truth, any part of it
cannot be set aside or ignored. In the words of Elder Holland: “At the
zenith of His mortal ministry, Jesus said, “Love one another, as I have loved
you.” To make certain they understood exactly what kind of love that was, He
said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” and “whosoever … shall break
one of [the] least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall
be … the least in the kingdom of heaven.” Christlike love is the greatest
need we have on this planet in part because righteousness was always supposed
to accompany it. So if love is to be our watchword, as it must be, then
by the word of Him who is love personified, we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others[emphasis
added]. Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to
forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive
sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning
it (which He never ever did even once).”

And in one my favorite talks by Elder Holland: “When we face such situations
in complex social issues in a democratic society, it can be very challenging
and, to some, confusing. Young people may ask about this position taken or that
policy made by the Church, saying: “Well, we don’t believe we should live or
behave in such and such a way, but why do we have to make other people do the
same? Don’t they have their free agency? Aren’t we being self-righteous and
judgmental, forcing our beliefs on others, demanding that they act in a
certain way?” In those situations you are going to have to explain sensitively
why some principles are defended and some sins opposed wherever
they are found because the issues and the laws involved are not just
social or political but eternal in their consequence. And while not wishing to
offend those who believe differently from us, we are even more anxious not to
offend God, or as the scripture says, “not offend him who is your lawgiver” —and I am
speaking here of serious moral laws….. My young friends, there is a wide
variety of beliefs in this world, and there is moral agency for all, but no one
is entitled to act as if God is mute on these subjects or as if commandments
only matter if there is public agreement over them.”

And from Elder Anderson: “This past month the First Presidency and the
Quorum of the Twelve published a letter to leaders of the Church across the
world. In part it read: “Changes in the civil law do not, indeed cannot, change
the moral law that God has established. God
expects us to uphold and keep His commandments regardless of divergent opinions
or trends in society.(emphasis added) His law of chastity is clear: sexual
relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and
lawfully wedded as husband and wife. We urge you to review … the doctrine
contained in ‘The Family: A Proclamation to the World.’”

Why are we here on Earth? Mortality is just a
drop in the bucket compared to what’s ahead…We are here to prepare to meet
God, and I would hope, help others to do the same. I’ve pondered this topic for
a long time. This is a matter of eternal significance….. and I think that the
prophets have made it pretty clear what the mind and will of the Lord is about
it. From the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church manual for Joseph Smith:
“William G. Nelson reported: “I have
heard the Prophet speak in public on many occasions. In one meeting I heard him
say: ‘I will give you a key that will never rust,—if you will stay with the
majority of the Twelve Apostles, and the records of the Church, you will never
be led astray.’ The history of the Church has proven this to be true.””