Mormon Church

Since the Supreme Court’s ruling in June making same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states, there have been a wide range of responses. While most people were excited and saw this as a step in the right direction for the equal treatment of same-sex couples, there were also people who were not happy about the ruling and felt it went against their religious beliefs. Some Christians interpret the Bible to say that a marriage between two people of the same sex is wrong; however, there are some Christians who do not agree with this interpretation. There is a third group of people who is emerging among the Christians. This group says whether or not you feel same-sex marriage is against your religion, it doesn’t matter. The law says same-sex marriage is now legal, and they feel it trumps religious views.

Mormon Views

President Obama has said it is important for religious people to put their beliefs aside when it comes to serving same-sex couples, but some may be surprised to hear Mormon leaders say the same thing. The majority of Mormons feel same-sex marriage goes against their religious beliefs. However, they feel it is important to follow the law, so it is something they plan on doing. This goes against what most religious leaders have said.

Kim Davis

Kim Davis is the county clerk from Kentucky who has almost become a household name. She became rather famous (or infamous to some) after she stopped issuing marriage licenses. Some people have applauded her decision to stop issuing marriage licenses after the same-sex marriage ruling, while others have condemned her and demanded she resign from her position. Many well-known religious leaders such as Mike Huckabee stood by Davis and even visited her during her brief stint in jail.

• While in jail, over 200 supporters gathered outside.
• They chanted “Thank you, Kim” from outside the jail.
• Many applauded and supported her decision, even after it defied court orders.

With the Mormon Church taking an opposite stance from these supporters, they have set themselves apart from the majority of religious leaders.

Dallin Oaks

Dallin Oaks is one of the higher ranking apostles in the Mormon Church. He expressed that while same-sex marriage goes against the Mormon faith, people who have a government position such as Kim Davis need to follow the law. He stated, “Office holders remain free to draw upon their personal beliefs and motivations and advocate their positions in the public square. But when acting as public officials, they are not free to apply personal convictions, religious or other, in place of the defined responsibilities of their public offices. All government officers should exercise their civil authority according to the principles and within the limits of civil government.”

What Does This Mean?

The fact that a strong influence in the Mormon Church has made these comments means it will be interesting to see what happens next. Most Mormons will probably respect Elder Oak’s comments and not let their religion get in the way of same-sex marriage rights. This means that Mormons in positions similar to that of Kim Davis likely will not have an issue with serving same-sex couples. If Mormons start putting the law before their religious beliefs, perhaps other religions will begin to follow suit. The Mormon Church may have a strong opposition to same-sex marriage, but they aren’t letting that get in the way of following the law. This is an important step for same-sex couples. Many of them want the same freedom and rights as heterosexual couples, and we aren’t quite there yet. Hopefully, over time, people will begin to adjust to this new normal and the number of incidents will become few and far between.