Reminder: Video of Elder Oaks defending pro-gay marriage act (Respect for Marriage Act)

[Trucker]

Says there are misunderstandings, and that people focus on the fact that is solidifies gay marriage nationally, but that really changed little of what was already in place. He says the important thing is that it doesn't force religious organizations to perform same-sex marriage.

Here's the revenant text of the law. If this is all "consistent with the First Amendment", was it really necessary to support repealing DOMA and making the marriage in one state required to be recognized in another state? Did we "compromise" and not really gain anything?

"Consistent with the First Amendment to the
Constitution, nonprofit religious organizations, including churches,
mosques, synagogues, temples, nondenominational ministries,
interdenominational and ecumenical organizations, mission organizations,
faith-based social agencies, religious educational institutions, and
nonprofit entities whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or
advancement of religion, and any employee of such an organization, shall
not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages,
facilities, goods, or privileges for the solemnization or celebration of
a marriage."



And here's the entire text of the law:

[117th Congress Public Law 228]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 136 STAT. 2305]]

Public Law 117-228
117th Congress

An Act



To repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and ensure respect for State
regulation of marriage, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Dec. 13,
2022 - [H.R. 8404]>>

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Respect for
Marriage Act. 1 USC 1 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Respect for Marriage Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 1 USC 7 note.>> FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies
the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and
family.
(2) Diverse beliefs about the role of gender in marriage are
held by reasonable and sincere people based on decent and
honorable religious or philosophical premises. Therefore,
Congress affirms that such people and their diverse beliefs are
due proper respect.
(3) Millions of people, including interracial and same-sex
couples, have entered into marriages and have enjoyed the rights
and privileges associated with marriage. Couples joining in
marriage deserve to have the dignity, stability, and ongoing
protection that marriage affords to families and children.
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF SECTION ADDED TO TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE,
BY SECTION 2 OF THE DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT.

Section 1738C of title 28, United States Code, is repealed.
SEC. 4. FULL FAITH AND CREDIT GIVEN TO MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

Chapter 115 of title 28, United States Code, as amended by this Act,
is further amended by inserting after section 1738B the following:
``Sec. 1738C. <<NOTE: 28 USC 1738C.>> Certain acts, records, and
proceedings and the effect thereof

``(a) In General.--No person acting under color of State law may
deny--
``(1) full faith and credit to any public act, record, or
judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage
between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity,
or national origin of those individuals; or
``(2) a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the
basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law
of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or
national origin of those individuals.

[[Page 136 STAT. 2306]]

``(b) Enforcement by Attorney General.--The Attorney General may
bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court
against any person who violates subsection (a) for declaratory and
injunctive relief.
``(c) Private Right of Action.--Any person who is harmed by a
violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in the appropriate
United States district court against the person who violated such
subsection for declaratory and injunctive relief.
``(d) State Defined.--In this section, the term `State' has the
meaning given such term under section 7 of title 1.''.
SEC. 5. MARRIAGE RECOGNITION.

Section 7 of title 1, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:
``Sec. 7. Marriage

``(a) For the purposes of any Federal law, rule, or regulation in
which marital status is a factor, an individual shall be considered
married if that individual's marriage is between 2 individuals and is
valid in the State where the marriage was entered into or, in the case
of a marriage entered into outside any State, if the marriage is between
2 individuals and is valid in the place where entered into and the
marriage could have been entered into in a State.
``(b) <<NOTE: Definition.>> In this section, the term `State' means
a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or
any other territory or possession of the United States.

``(c) For purposes of subsection (a), in determining whether a
marriage is valid in a State or the place where entered into, if outside
of any State, only the law of the jurisdiction applicable at the time
the marriage was entered into may be considered.''.
SEC. 6. <<NOTE: 1 USC 7 note.>> NO IMPACT ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
AND CONSCIENCE.

(a) In General.--Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this
Act, shall be construed to diminish or abrogate a religious liberty or
conscience protection otherwise available to an individual or
organization under the Constitution of the United States or Federal law.
(b) Goods or Services.--Consistent with the First Amendment to the
Constitution, nonprofit religious organizations, including churches,
mosques, synagogues, temples, nondenominational ministries,
interdenominational and ecumenical organizations, mission organizations,
faith-based social agencies, religious educational institutions, and
nonprofit entities whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or
advancement of religion, and any employee of such an organization, shall
not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages,
facilities, goods, or privileges for the solemnization or celebration of
a marriage. Any refusal under this subsection to provide such services,
accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges shall not
create any civil claim or cause of action.
SEC. 7. <<NOTE: 1 USC 7 note.>> STATUTORY PROHIBITION.

(a) No Impact on Status and Benefits Not Arising From a Marriage.--
Nothing in this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be
construed to deny or alter any benefit, status, or right of an otherwise
eligible entity or person which does not arise from a marriage,
including tax-exempt status, tax treatment,

[[Page 136 STAT. 2307]]

educational funding, or a grant, contract, agreement, guarantee, loan,
scholarship, license, certification, accreditation, claim, or defense.
(b) No Federal Recognition of Polygamous Marriages.--Nothing in this
Act, or any amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to require or
authorize Federal recognition of marriages between more than 2
individuals.
SEC. 8. <<NOTE: 1 USC 7 note.>> SEVERABILITY.

If any provision of this Act, or any amendment made by this Act, or
the application of such provision to any person, entity, government, or
circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act,
or any amendment made thereby, or the application of such provision to
all other persons, entities, governments, or circumstances, shall not be
affected thereby.

Approved December 13, 2022.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 8404:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):
July 19, considered and passed House.
Nov. 17, 28, 29, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Dec. 8, House concurred in Senate amendment.
DAILY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS (2022):
Dec. 13, Presidential remarks.

<all>

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-con ... /8404/text

[JandD6572]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

There ya go, no further debate is even needed about defending our doctrine. do they even read the constitution?

[The Red Pill]

Gads pretending not to be gads...to keep the 10% coming in.

The fruit looks shriveled and it stinks.

[LDS Physician]

When you peal away all the rhetoric and mental gymnastics, when you realize that the church didn't need to say a word because the protect-religious-freedom provisions were already in the works ... you're left with this:

Fifteen prophets, seers, and revelators added their support to the legalization of homosexual marriage in the promised land.

That's what's in the center of the onion ... and it's rotten and it stinks to high heaven.

[Rumpelstiltskin]

When you peal away all the rhetoric and mental gymnastics, when you realize that the church didn't need to say a word because the protect-religious-freedom provisions were already in the works ... you're left with this:

Fifteen prophets, seers, and revelators added their support to the legalization of homosexual marriage in the promised land.

That's what's in the center of the onion ... and it's rotten and it stinks to high heaven.

"As priesthood holders, we have a sacred duty to always stand for truth and right." Elder M. Russell Ballard, 1997

What happened?

[LDS Physician]

When you peal away all the rhetoric and mental gymnastics, when you realize that the church didn't need to say a word because the protect-religious-freedom provisions were already in the works ... you're left with this:

Fifteen prophets, seers, and revelators added their support to the legalization of homosexual marriage in the promised land.

That's what's in the center of the onion ... and it's rotten and it stinks to high heaven.

"As priesthood holders, we have a sacred duty to always stand for truth and right." Elder M. Russell Ballard, 1997

What happened?

A few things, I think:

6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. (Isaiah 1:6)
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23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. (Isaiah 1:23)
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7 ¶ But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred t ... rong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. (Isaiah 28:7-8)
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11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us. (Micah 3:11)
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31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jeremiah 5:31)
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12 Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.

13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.

14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.

15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell! (2 Ne 28: 12-15)
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35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.

36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads? (Mormon 8:35-40)


They're too easy to find. Sad.

[blitzinstripes]

Romans Chapter 1 speaks quite differently about same sex relationships than the Q15. I don't see the words decent and honorable in here, anywhere.....

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

[blitzinstripes]

Leviticus 18

22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. 26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God.

[Obeone]

Good answer by Elder Oaks.

[Ebenezer]

They also sent representatives to the big rainbow party on the White House lawn when the bill was signed.

[Trucker]

They also sent representatives to the big rainbow party on the White House lawn when the bill was signed.

Nothing the church could do, except extend a heartfelt thank you:


Statement on the Signing of the US Respect for Marriage Act “We extend a heartfelt thank you and our congratulations to all who played a part in the passage of the amended Respect for Marriage Act.”


U.S. Senator Krysten Sinema of Arizona (center) joins former U.S. Senator Gordon H. Smith of Oregon (left) and Elder Jack N. Gerard of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (right) for a photo prior to the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act by President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington D.C. on December 13, 2022.

https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.or ... ct-signing