If Utah or Federal law allows some members of our community to marry according to their heart and belief, and forbids Gays and Lesbians that same privilege, how is that equal grounds?

 

“Now there was a strict law among the people of the church, that there should not any man, belonging to the church, arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church, and that there should be no persecution among themselves. Nevertheless there were many among them who began to be proud and began to contend warmly….” Alma 1:21-22

 

“And there was a strict command throughout all the churches that there should be no persecutions among them, that there should be an equality among all men; That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself…” Mosiah 27:3-4

equal 1 b : like in quality, nature, or status c : like for each member of a group, class, or society <provide equal employment opportunities>
2 : regarding or affecting all objects in the same way : IMPARTIAL (Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary); 2. with the same rights: having the same privileges, rights, status, and opportunities as others with all citizens equal under the law MSN Encarta Online Dictionary

equal·i·ty 1 : the quality or state of being equal. (Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary)
1. state of being equal: rights, treatment, quantity, or value equal to all others in a given group
full equality under the law MSN Encarta Online Dictionary

per·se·cute 1 : to harass in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary;

oppress people: to systematically subject a race or group of people to cruel or unfair treatment, for example, because of their ethnic origin or religious beliefs 2. pester somebody: to make somebody the victim of continual pestering or harassment MSN Encarta Online Dictionary

per·se·cu·tion 1 : the act or practice of persecuting especially those who differ in origin, religion, or social outlook Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary

1. the persecuting of somebody: the subjecting of a group of people to cruel or unfair treatment, for example, because of their ethnic origin or religious beliefs MSN Encarta Online Dictionary

A Book of Mormon prophet wrote: “concerning pride; and those of you which have afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts, of the things which God hath given you, what say ye of it? Do ye not suppose that such things are abominable unto him who created all flesh? And the one being is as precious in his sight as the other”
Jacob 2:20-21.

Are you truly willing to believe this scripture, that one of God’s Gay children is as precious as His Straight children?

“...thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another” Mosiah 23:7.

 

“And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself.
“For what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto the one: Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other: Be thou clothed in rags and sit thou there - and looketh upon his sons and saith I am just?”
“Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” Doctrine and Covenants 38:24-27.

 

“... all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden...he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female;...and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile”
2 Nephi 26:28, 33

 

“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him”
Acts 10:34-35