He spoke of two "towers" in the church that we should remember. One is truth. We believe in the absolute truth. That includes the existence of God, and the right and wrong established by his commandments.. Truth will endure the worst days. It will last through the eternities and it will remain unchanged. As a church we accept truth no matter where it comes from. We believe that men in history like Budda and Ghandi were inspired by the spirit. They spoke truth, however they did not have the full truth. In D&C it talks about how we also believe truth to be a knowledge of things as they are, as they were, and are to come. Elder Oaks goes on to say that "The existence of God and truth are fundamental to life on this earth, believe it or not. It is my duty to affirm God exists and the truths his commandments establish."
I know there is a God. I know for a fact that he lives and is an eternal being. He has given us commandments to make us happy. I also found this fantastic article on facebook that just proves that God's commandments do not restrict us, but make us more free.
The article is called "Waiting till the wedding night-getting married the right way." It is written by a man who writes a column for fox news. He and his wife are christians and this is what he has to say...
As anyone who’s read my abstinence column here at Fox News Opinion could guess, my wedding is something that I’ve looked forward to for quite some time. After having tied the knot at the end of August, I can now say beyond all shadow of a doubt, that it was everything I’d hoped and prayed that it would be since childhood. (I’d also prayed to be bitten by a radioactive spider and develop sticky hands, but… I was an idiot.)
Let me preface this column by saying this: my wife (I have to get used to saying that) and I not only waited sexually in every way (no, we didn’t pull the Bill Clinton and technically avoid “sex” sex,) but we didn’t shack up as live-ins and most importantly, we courted each other in a way that was consistent with our publicly professed values.
We did it right.
Our wedding was perfect. Our wedding night was nothing short of amazing. I write this on a plane heading into a tropical paradise with the most beautiful woman to have walked the planet earth.
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Feeling judged? I couldn’t care less. You know why? Because my wife and I were judged all throughout our relationship. People laughed, scoffed and poked fun at the young, celibate, naive Christian couple.
We’d certainly never make it to the wedding without schtupping, and if we did, our “wedding night would be awkward and terrible,” they said.
Turns out that people couldn’t have been more wrong. Looking back, I think that the women saying those things felt like the floozies they ultimately were, and the men, with their fickle manhood tied to their pathetic sexual conquests, felt threatened.
I think it’s important to write this column not to gloat (though I’ll be glad to), but to speak up for all of the young couples that have also done things the right way. When people do marriage right, they don’t complain so much, and so their voices are silenced by the rabble of promiscuous charlatans, peddling their pathetic world view as “progressive.”
Our wedding was perfect. Our wedding night was nothing short of amazing. I write this on a plane heading into a tropical paradise with the most beautiful woman to have walked the planet earth. I know everybody says that their bride was the “most beautiful in the world.” They’re wrong. I win.
I’d like to tell you a story of our morning after, however. One that transpired into one of the most glaring epiphanies I’d ever had.
As my wife (again, still not used to that) and I ate breakfast at a local inn, we discussed how excited we were to start the rest of our lives together, how scary it was that everything was now so different. At the same time, we overheard the table next to us discussing their very own wedding from the night prior. What a coincidence!
“The thing is, nothing’s really changed,” the bride said.
Puzzled, my wife asked, “Did you get married last night too? So did we!”
“Congratulations!” the other dame said. “Yeah we did, just last night.”
“Where’s the groom?” my wife innocently… scratch that, naively asked.
“Oh, he’s sleeping. There was no way he was coming out with me this morning!” She paused and smirked. “Let’s just say that he’s got a lingering headache from a really good time last night.”
My heart sank. Firstly, that poor schmuck's “good time” was simply getting snookered. Not enjoying the company of close family and long-lost friends with a clear head and clean conscience, not staring in awe at his beautiful new wife, wanting to soak in every glimmer of her eyes as she shot him heart-racing looks from across the dance floor, not taking all of the cheesy pictures as they cut the cake, not even carrying her across that suite threshold as they nervously anticipated their “nightcap.” He probably won’t remember any of it. Instead, he got smashed. He was “that guy”… at his own freaking wedding.
Then I realized something. Our wedding was truly a once in a lifetime event. It was a God’s-honest celebration of two completely separate lives now becoming one. Physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually, everything that made us who we were individually was becoming what bonded us together. Our family traveled from far and wide to celebrate the decision of two young people to truly commit themselves to each other, and selflessly give themselves to one another in a way that they never had before that very night.
The people next to us that morning? Well, theirs was just one big party. And the morning after? Just another hangover.
Our “weddings” were the same event in name only. They know it, and we know it.
Do yours the right way. If you’re young and wondering whether you should wait, whether you should just give in, become a live-in harlot/mimbo and do it the world’s way. If you’re wondering whether all of the mocking, the ridicule, the incredible difficulty of saving yourself for your spouse is worth it, let me tell you without a doubt that it is. Your wedding can be the most memorable day and night of your life… or just another party.
Oops. Did I just make a “judgment?” You’re darn right I did.
I love the part where he says "feeling judged?" He is right to say this. People think we are the ones judging them because they chose not to stay celibate. However they look down on us as well. They laugh and point fingers at those who chose to not have sex before marriage. Elder Oaks also said "Tolerance is often demanded, but seldom returned."
This leads me to the next tower that he spoke about. Tolerance. It is a friendly or fair attitude toward unfamiliar opinions and practices or the people who practice them. As members we need to be tolerant of the people who we associate with. However, Dallin H. Oaks says we should respect the people and their right to tell us what they believe. BUT we are not required to respect and tolerate wrong behavior.
This past few months I have had personal experience with these two towers. I have had a few friends who have come out of the closet. For me this has been really strange. I loved these boys but I had no idea how to react. From this talk I have learned that I can still love these boys and kindly tell them that I do not support what they do, but I am still here as their friend. "Kindness in the communication, but firmness in the truth." This talk was really profound to me.
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