Gender & Family Life

This week's discussions have been filled with incredible insight and meaningful knowledge in my Family Relations class. However, they have also been quite sensitive as we have been discussing same-sex attraction and how it affects the family. As my class has talked about this, I have been able to understand more about the topic. I am super hesitant to share my feelings on this topic because it is very controversial and sensitive, but here I go anyways I guess.
So to start off, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, God has even commanded us to do that. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World it states, "We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." These two genders were created to go together. It makes so much sense to me. A man and a woman each have different, but very significant roles. As the work together, they create unity and happiness. They are able to procreate and raise up children. What a beautiful power and miracle that is. Gay and lesbian couples don't have the ability to do that. The pieces can't fit with those types of relationships. But just because I don't agree with gay and lesbian relationships, doesn't mean I hate or dislike those people. In fact, I love them. They are God's children too. Now I don't know everything there is to know about them but this is how I view it. I don't really know if people are actually gay or lesbian. I feel that they just struggle with same-sex attraction, and it is their choice whether they act on those feelings or not. I think everyone has the ability to be straight. However, I could be wrong because I am definitely not an expert in this area, but so far, that is just how I view this. I do firmly believe that acting on those same sex attraction feelings is a sin though. God made a man and a woman for each other, not a man for a man or a woman for a woman. Studies show that a man and a woman that are married are better off than any other romantic relationship. I absolutely love that the data correlates with what God commands us to do. It is just another reason that shows that it is truth.
I am so thankful for the commandments that God has given us to guide us in these latter days. This world seems to be straying more and more off the path that He has set for us. Temptations surround us constantly, but there is still so much good that we can see throughout our daily lives. I hope that we will be able to do our best to conquer these challenges everyday. I know that God loves each and every one of us immensely and eternally. He wants us to live back with Him, and we can do that through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ has suffered every pain and affliction in this life and knows how we feel. I know that as we apply His Atonement in our lives, we will find everlasting joy and peace. God is always aware of us and wants the best for us. As we use Christ's Atonement, we will receive what is best for us from our Heavenly Father through trials and blessings. I testify that the Atonement of Jesus Christ has more than enough power to wash away our sins because it heals us too. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us, and we are never alone. I hope we will never forget these eternal truths.