We must try to keep both of the great commandments. To do so, we walk a fine line between law and love.
This Church was restored so that families could be formed, sealed, and exalted eternally.
But our zeal to keep this second commandment must not cause us to forget the first, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind.
God requires us to obey His commandments because only through that obedience, including repentance, can we return to live in His presence and become perfect as He is.
God’s laws are motivated entirely by His infinite love for us and His desire for us to become all we can become.
The truth is, however, that in the beginning … marriage was ordained by God! And to this day it is defined by Him as being between a man and a woman. God has not changed His definition of marriage.
Our commission as Apostles is to teach nothing but truth. That commission does not give [Apostles] the authority to modify divine law.
The work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ultimately concerned with preparing the children of God for the celestial kingdom, and most particularly for its highest glory, exaltation or eternal life
Eternal life includes the creative powers inherent in the combination of male and female—what modern revelation describes as the “continuation of the seeds forever and ever.
God’s doctrine shows that all of us are His children and that He has created us to have joy. Modern revelation teaches that God has provided a plan for a mortal experience in which all can choose obedience to seek His highest blessings or make choices that lead to one of the less glorious kingdoms. Because of God’s great love for all of His children, those lesser kingdoms are still more wonderful than mortals can comprehend. The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes all of this possible, as He “glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility—even when we disagree. We affirm that those who avail themselves of laws or court rulings authorizing same-sex marriage should not be treated disrespectfully.
We must never persecute those who do not share our beliefs and commitments.
For reasons we do not understand, we have different challenges in our mortal experiences. But we do know that God will help each of us overcome these challenges if we sincerely seek His help.
The ultimate and final judgment will be by the Lord, who alone has the required knowledge, wisdom, and grace to judge each of us.
This walk requires us to seek divine inspiration on what to support and what to oppose and how to love and listen respectfully and teach in the process.
Our walk demands that we not compromise on commandments but show forth a full measure of understanding and love
Remember that God promises hope and ultimate joy and blessings for all who keep His commandments.
Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives and to the degree that the women of the Church are seen as distinct and different … from the women of the world. … Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.”
Here is the full talk:https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/35oaks?lang=eng
-Sherri Jorgensen
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