Mornon,Mormonism Families

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints strongly teaches that Families should consist of a father, a mother, and children. However, science is discovering that animals form different kinds of families. Animals form same-sex relationships. For example, female sharks can give birth to daughters without having mated with male sharks. Also, scientists using stem cells were able to obtain baby mice from two male mice. This is a serious conflict between the Mormon religion and science.

The proclamation does not say that same-sex relationships can't exist among animals and among humans. I am not aware of any verse in the scripture that says that same-sex relationships can't exist among animals and among humans. Thus, the recent discoveries of same-sex relationships in animals and the virgin birth of female sharks do not reflect in any way upon the LDS Church and should not causer concern among members of that Church. If individual Latter-day Saints have said that same-sex relationships and birth of offspring without sex between male and females can not exist in animals, those people are speaking for themselves and not for the LDS Church.

I can't speak for science, but I can speculate that offspring of sharks having virgin births will suffer pollution of their genetic makeup due to new genes not being introduced into their genetic makeup. This is an extreme example of what is known to happen when animals breed among themselves. If scientists were to develop procedures such that human females could produce offspring (daughters) without having mated with a male, pollution of the genetic makeup of the daughters would occur. Thus, there is wisdom in the LDS teaching that the marriage of a man and a woman is ordained of God and that babies are the result of mating between males and females.

It is true that same-sex relationships between humans can be warm and loving, and it is true, as scientists are learning, that from particular viewpoints, children raised in a same-sex families have normal development. Yet the LDS proclamation about the family states that "Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity". That statement implies there are benefits that can be given to children who are raised by two parents of opposite gender that can not be given to children raised by two parents of the same gender. I am not a psychologist or an expert in family life and parenting, so I accept that statement in the proclamation on faith. People who have expertise in family relations and parenting are invited to comment on their experiences. It would be helpful if they describe their training and backgrounds so we can properly evaluate their comments. Also, if people know of websites and/or books that discuss this issue, they are invited to leave as comments to this post links to the sites and publisher information about the books.
 
Use Faith in God

I am ending this post with a statement to my LDS visitors to this blog. As you look at yourself and try to understand who you are, don't let your decisions and beliefs be determined by things that happen in the animal world. Let your decisions and beliefs be based on your faith in God and your commitment to follow Jesus Christ as his disciple. Religion is not a matter of scientific research or logic. It is a matter of faith. Leave discussions about animals to the scientists and accept God through your faith, and follow him.