Rainbows & the Supreme Court

In light of recent events in our country this week I thought it ironic that my granddaughter came home from church with this Rainbows wristband (she got from the Reverent Grab Bag). 

I'm so thankful my grandchildren are at church learning truths about God's wonderful  Plan of Salvation, His commandments, and that no matter what any Supreme Court says-marriage is divinely instituted between man & woman. (click here to learn more about God’s Plan: https://www.lds.org/topics/plan-of-salvation?lang=eng)

In The Family Proclamation our prophet and apostles “solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of his children.”

I'm thankful that my little granddaughter learned what Rainbows REALLY represent: God's love and that Noah & his wife and family were saved because of their obedience. 

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said “those who understand God’s plan for His children know that God’s laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice, and those who obtain mercy are ‘they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment’ (D&C 54:6) … If a person understands the teachings of Jesus, he or she cannot reasonably conclude that our loving Heavenly Father or His divine Son believes that Their love supersedes Their commandments.” (General Conference, October 2009)

In addition, Elder Oaks stated, “The effect of God’s commandments and laws is not changed to accommodate popular behavior or desires. If anyone thinks that godly or parental love for an individual grants the loved one license to disobey the law, he or she does not understand either love or law. The Lord declared: “That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment. Therefore, they must remain filthy still.”(D&C 88:35)

Sadly, when people try to rationalize wickedness they don’t want to hear the truth and they certainly don’t want to admit it. Declaring the truth cost the Book of Mormon prophet Abinadi his life. 

He said to the wicked & rationalizing King Noah “Because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me… Because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad.” (Mosiah 13:4) Today, we hear things like “bigoted, narrow-minded, and old fashioned.” Society today is just like the Politically-correct-God-denying people of Isaiah’s day. “[They] say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things… Get you out of the way.” (Isaiah 30:9-11) They would rather reject God and His prophets than face the truth.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland wisely observed, “it is a characteristic of our age that if people want any gods at all, they want them to be gods who do not demand much, comfortable gods, smooth gods who not only don’t rock the boat but don’t even row it, gods who pat us on the head, make us giggle, then tell us to run along and pick marigolds. Talk about man creating God in his own image!” (General Conference, April 2014)

The Savior said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”

Elder Holland, speaking of love and obedience, went on to say, “So if love is to be our watchword, as it must be, then by the word of Him who is love personified, we must forsake transgression and any hint of advocacy for it in others. Jesus clearly understood what many in our modern culture seem to forget: that there is a crucial difference between the commandment to forgive sin (which He had an infinite capacity to do) and the warning against condoning it (which He never ever did even once).” (General Conference, April 2014 – Click here for the full talk: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/the-cost-and-blessings-of-discipleship?lang=eng&query=#9-10985_000_12holland)

And so as Rainbows cover TV adds, Facebook pages, and even the White House I stand for truth and righteousness. I share my witness that marriage is divinely ordained by God for man & woman. And, I am thankful for beautiful rainbows that remind us of God’s love and the need for obedience.