Why the Mormon Church's support of Prop 8 makes no sense theologically.
As a former Mormon, it makes absolutely no sense to me why the Mormon Church supported Proposition 8. I can understand why the Catholics and other evangelical Christian churches all supported it, but not the Mormons. I've been thinking about this for days and have finally put my finger on what's so fundamentally wrong about this.
How do Mormons define marriage?
Mormons have a very specific theological definition of marriage that they refer to as a Temple Marriage. This kind of marriage is a special covenant that one Mormon man and one or more Mormon women enter into.[1] It is only performed in the temple, and is therefore only accessible to devout Mormon members who are eligible to enter the temple.[2] A Temple Marriage is considered an eternal agreement that lasts beyond death. It is one of the key requirements to entering the Celestial Kingdom, which is the Mormon's highest level of salvation.
What do Mormons think about non-temple marriages?
When a man and a woman get married anywhere outside of a Mormon Temple (even if they are themselves Mormon), they have what is called an "earthly marriage". This could be a civil marriage performed at City Hall, or a marriage performed in another church. This marriage covenant is considered valid enough so that the participants are not considered to be engaging in fornication, but carries no special meaning. Once one or more parties to the marriage dies, the earthly marriage has ended, and the two souls will not be considered married in the afterlife.
According to Mormon doctrine, all marriages - straight or gay - that happen outside of a Mormon Temple are "of this earth" and are theologically irrelevant to Mormons. This is why their support of Proposition 8 is based on nothing but homophobic bigotry.
[1] Although the Mormon Church does not currently practice polygamy with multiple living wives married to one man, they still practice theological polygamy as a man can serially acquire multiple temple wives over the course of his life if one or more of his wives dies. The temple marriage is considered valid for all of the women who were sealed to this man, and in the afterlife they will all be considered married to eachother still.
[2] Eligibility to enter the temple is only available to Mormons who possess a "Temple Recommend" card. This recommend is only granted to members who are currently abiding by all of the laws, paying their tithing (10% of gross annual income), and who pass a periodic worthiness interview.
How do Mormons define marriage?
Mormons have a very specific theological definition of marriage that they refer to as a Temple Marriage. This kind of marriage is a special covenant that one Mormon man and one or more Mormon women enter into.[1] It is only performed in the temple, and is therefore only accessible to devout Mormon members who are eligible to enter the temple.[2] A Temple Marriage is considered an eternal agreement that lasts beyond death. It is one of the key requirements to entering the Celestial Kingdom, which is the Mormon's highest level of salvation.
What do Mormons think about non-temple marriages?
When a man and a woman get married anywhere outside of a Mormon Temple (even if they are themselves Mormon), they have what is called an "earthly marriage". This could be a civil marriage performed at City Hall, or a marriage performed in another church. This marriage covenant is considered valid enough so that the participants are not considered to be engaging in fornication, but carries no special meaning. Once one or more parties to the marriage dies, the earthly marriage has ended, and the two souls will not be considered married in the afterlife.
According to Mormon doctrine, all marriages - straight or gay - that happen outside of a Mormon Temple are "of this earth" and are theologically irrelevant to Mormons. This is why their support of Proposition 8 is based on nothing but homophobic bigotry.
[1] Although the Mormon Church does not currently practice polygamy with multiple living wives married to one man, they still practice theological polygamy as a man can serially acquire multiple temple wives over the course of his life if one or more of his wives dies. The temple marriage is considered valid for all of the women who were sealed to this man, and in the afterlife they will all be considered married to eachother still.
[2] Eligibility to enter the temple is only available to Mormons who possess a "Temple Recommend" card. This recommend is only granted to members who are currently abiding by all of the laws, paying their tithing (10% of gross annual income), and who pass a periodic worthiness interview.