A Case in the Future
In the next 2-4 years, we will most likely see a similar case to the Colorado baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Only that case will end in favor of the same-sex couple.
After the Supreme Court becomes overtly liberal (most likely in 2021), there will a be number of cases that will challenge Constitutional freedoms and rights. Another case similar to the Colorado baker refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple will be ruled on. With a victory to the same-sex couple, similar cases will follow.
One of the cases which will probably follow (maybe as much as within the next year or two, 2021-23) will be a marriage case, where a same-sex couple wants to be married in a church and is refused. This is the type of case that could lead to the government forcing churches to marry any legally recognized couple, or the church could face legal repercussions, like loss of tax-exempt status. We may see the beginnings of such a case in 2019 or 2020, particularly if it does look like a Democrat president will win the election in 2020 and the Supreme Court could turn liberal.
If the case is ruled in favor of the same-sex couple, many churches (like the LDS Church) will most likely stop performing a legal marriage in the church, and require couples to get married civilly first and then receive the church's "spiritual marriage," which is how the government will define it so religious freedoms are "preserved." Those churches who want to perform a civil marriage, as well as a spiritual marriage, will be required to perform marriages to all legal couples who desire it.
In the case of the LDS Church, the Church will require a civil (legally authorized) marriage first, and then the couple can be sealed in the temple. While this will be very controversial for many members of the Church in the United States (and a trial of faith for many), it is not an unusual practice as there a several countries that require a civil, legally recognized marriage. In these countries the sealing in the temple is not a legally recognized marriage, so couples get married civilly first and are later sealed in the temple. When that sealing can occur depends, and I am certainly not an authority on Church policy.
In any case, I believe the time is coming where a civil marriage will be required before a couple can receive the temple sealing.
While many of the Church's enemies would love to force the Church to perform same-sex marriages, the next best thing for them might be to force couples to have a civil marriage force, and then a waiting time before they can have the temple sealing. If a couple has to wait, then the adversary has time to work on destroying a family before they are sealed, and possibly prevent that sealing from taking place.
There is strength, power, and blessings that come with the sealing ordinance. The sooner a couple (and family) can be sealed together the better it is for their marriage and family. If that sealing can be delayed, it is easier for the adversary to destroy the family. It becomes easier for the couple to make excuses, for things to come up, for the anticipated sealing to be delayed. This increases the chances of the marriage and family to break up before a sealing can happen. Any children in the family do not benefit from the added strength and protection that comes from the sealing.
There is a possibility a marriage case could come sooner than 2021, but I don't think it's very likely after today's Supreme Court 7-2 ruling in favor of the Colorado baker's religious freedom to refuse to bake a cake for the same-sex couple.
Most people will see today's ruling as separate, but I believe this case was a step towards the marriage case, and towards the government's increasing control in the lives of the people. Because of today's ruling, those seeking to destroy the traditional family, and who are trying to strip away more Constitutional liberties and rights, will be taking a step back until future victories are more certain.
What will be interesting to see is if, once the Supreme Court is liberal leaning, more liberal-agenda cases are quickly passed through the various court systems to the Supreme Court. The Colorado baker's case took 5 years to make it to today's ruling. I expect future cases--those whose ruling would support the liberal/Democrat/socialist agenda--to pass through the various levels of the legal system much more quickly, once there's a liberal Supreme Court. They will be anxious to "legislate from the bench."
After the Supreme Court becomes overtly liberal (most likely in 2021), there will a be number of cases that will challenge Constitutional freedoms and rights. Another case similar to the Colorado baker refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple will be ruled on. With a victory to the same-sex couple, similar cases will follow.
One of the cases which will probably follow (maybe as much as within the next year or two, 2021-23) will be a marriage case, where a same-sex couple wants to be married in a church and is refused. This is the type of case that could lead to the government forcing churches to marry any legally recognized couple, or the church could face legal repercussions, like loss of tax-exempt status. We may see the beginnings of such a case in 2019 or 2020, particularly if it does look like a Democrat president will win the election in 2020 and the Supreme Court could turn liberal.
If the case is ruled in favor of the same-sex couple, many churches (like the LDS Church) will most likely stop performing a legal marriage in the church, and require couples to get married civilly first and then receive the church's "spiritual marriage," which is how the government will define it so religious freedoms are "preserved." Those churches who want to perform a civil marriage, as well as a spiritual marriage, will be required to perform marriages to all legal couples who desire it.
In the case of the LDS Church, the Church will require a civil (legally authorized) marriage first, and then the couple can be sealed in the temple. While this will be very controversial for many members of the Church in the United States (and a trial of faith for many), it is not an unusual practice as there a several countries that require a civil, legally recognized marriage. In these countries the sealing in the temple is not a legally recognized marriage, so couples get married civilly first and are later sealed in the temple. When that sealing can occur depends, and I am certainly not an authority on Church policy.
In any case, I believe the time is coming where a civil marriage will be required before a couple can receive the temple sealing.
While many of the Church's enemies would love to force the Church to perform same-sex marriages, the next best thing for them might be to force couples to have a civil marriage force, and then a waiting time before they can have the temple sealing. If a couple has to wait, then the adversary has time to work on destroying a family before they are sealed, and possibly prevent that sealing from taking place.
There is strength, power, and blessings that come with the sealing ordinance. The sooner a couple (and family) can be sealed together the better it is for their marriage and family. If that sealing can be delayed, it is easier for the adversary to destroy the family. It becomes easier for the couple to make excuses, for things to come up, for the anticipated sealing to be delayed. This increases the chances of the marriage and family to break up before a sealing can happen. Any children in the family do not benefit from the added strength and protection that comes from the sealing.
There is a possibility a marriage case could come sooner than 2021, but I don't think it's very likely after today's Supreme Court 7-2 ruling in favor of the Colorado baker's religious freedom to refuse to bake a cake for the same-sex couple.
Most people will see today's ruling as separate, but I believe this case was a step towards the marriage case, and towards the government's increasing control in the lives of the people. Because of today's ruling, those seeking to destroy the traditional family, and who are trying to strip away more Constitutional liberties and rights, will be taking a step back until future victories are more certain.
What will be interesting to see is if, once the Supreme Court is liberal leaning, more liberal-agenda cases are quickly passed through the various court systems to the Supreme Court. The Colorado baker's case took 5 years to make it to today's ruling. I expect future cases--those whose ruling would support the liberal/Democrat/socialist agenda--to pass through the various levels of the legal system much more quickly, once there's a liberal Supreme Court. They will be anxious to "legislate from the bench."
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