Love Despite Disagreement

In the Saturday Afternoon Session of this last General Conference, Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk about love and tolerance. Since I've heard another message about love and tolerance recently, and I just saw this quote from Elder Oak's talk on Facebook, I think I'd have to be pretty thick to not get the message.

What this talk does not include, but Elder Oaks' talk and the other message did, is the concept of loving others, even of other sexual orientations. We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, are in a difficult position in respect to those who are attracted to people of the same gender as themselves. We try to be loving and tolerant, but we find it so terribly awkward. On top of the weakening social awkwardness on the topic of same-sex attraction, we are influenced by the knowledge that sexual transgressions, including same-sex physical relationships, are serious sins. Despite our love for our brothers and sisters, or rather, because of it, we feel the need to warn them of the consequences of acting on their inclinations. To make matters even more difficult, there's the question of same-sex marriage. While same-sex couples fight to freedom and equality, we fight to uphold God's standards and His definition of marriage. Thus, we make opponents, and thus enemies, of those that we claim to love and try to befriend.

At the end (and toward the beginning) or Elder Oaks' talk, he said, "As difficult as it is to live in the turmoil surrounding us, our Savior’s command to love one another as He loves us is probably our greatest challenge." "It is difficult because we must live among those who do not share our beliefs and values and covenant obligations."

If everyone had the same values and beliefs, living and getting along with one another would be much easier. Unfortunately, the Lord has never been much concerned with what's "easier." He commands us to do what's right. In a past blog post, I said that we all can and should "Act According to [Our] Beliefs," and not hate each other for doing so. This ties in to my thoughts about rivals. People can be on opposing teams, even on opposing sides of an important issue, while still not being enemies. They should both be courteous and respectful, and win or lose as graciously as they can, but they can still, as Elder Oaks put it, disagree without being disagreeable.

Another point that I should make is that, win or lose, I think people retain the right, and perhaps even the obligation, to disagree. Elder Oaks taught that while "Loving-kindness is required, ...a follower of Christ—just like the Master—will be firm in the truth."

I hope the same-sex community and their sympathizers will forgive me, but I believe that some things, including same-sex marriage and intimacy, are against God's laws, and that some of them, including same-sex marriage, should be against the laws of the land as well. You, of course, are entitled to you beliefs, and I hope that you vote and petition according to your heart-felt beliefs, as I will continue to vote and petition according to mine. We may have to agree to disagree on this topic, but we don't have to hate each other for that. As God's children we should all try to love and respect each other, despite the differences in our beliefs. I don't hate any of you, and I hope that none of you hate me. God teaches us to love one another, and I know that we can do that, even when we disagree.