On Civil Unions...getting a little political....

Life has been pretty good lately.  I need to get more organized with school because it is getting crazy....Actually, I need to just get back INTO school.  It's tough when you've been away for several years to get back into the swing of it.  I don't love my classes, but I am hoping that when I come out of this degree, I'll be able to do some good things and be an instrument for righteous and true principles in the world.

This brings me to a conversation I had last night with someone.  We were talking about civil unions for homosexual couples.  Now, I don't want to get all political on you, but when I thought about it, I realized that  though the Church only specifies that we fight for MARRIAGE as being defined between a man and a woman, I think the principle behind it is so very important.  Marriage, to me, is a very sacred union between a man and a woman.  Everyone doesn't honor it as such, but it ought to be as so.  In fact, relationships themselves are incredibly sacred, and they are one of the only things we can take back to Heaven with us.  The whole Plan of Salvation is built on the idea of bringing our families, together, back to our Father's presence through repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ and ordinances of the gospel, and living there as families forever.  Homosexuality, though I absolutely LOVE my gay friends, is not OK.  The act of it is not OK.  Having homosexual tendencies is not wrong.  Just like having a temptation to smoke pot or have sex outside of marriage is not wrong.  But actually doing it? Not good....

Now,  on to Civil Unions:  according to About.com, "Definition: Civil unions are legal contracts between partners that are recognized by a state or government as conferring all or some of the rights conferred by marriage, but without the implicit historical and religious meaning associated with the word "marriage."

Civil Unions, though not defined as a "marriage" in the religious meaning, still give them benefits and essentially its like being married without using the word "marriage"....they can have their cake and eat it too. Benefits, to me, are like rewards.  I don't get benefits of being married because I am not married.  It would be fantastic to have health insurance right now....maybe I should get married so I can have health insurance and tax breaks. Hmm. Anyone out there wanna get married? ;)  Benefits are given to ENCOURAGE behavior.  Let's face it, that is one way the government does in fact try to sway us to do things.  I don't want to encourage their behavior.  At all.

Let's not forget, too, that gay couples cannot have children, its just not biologically possible...another reason why marriage between man and woman is so important.  That relationship is the hearth of the home, and children benefit from having the influence of a good man and a good woman in their lives. Men and women do, in fact, contribute in different ways to the growth and development to their children.  If gay couples, whether by civil union or marriage, are then given the right to adopt children, that is going to really interfere with the development of that child.  (and why would they not allow them to adopt children if they have already allowed them the same OTHER benefits of marriage??) Totally goes against my grain....I really feel strongly about this.

Anyway, just some thoughts for your day.  I would like to get the opinion of my other friends on this topic, so any comments would be great! :)