A habit of getting it wrong

QUOTE: “The principle of plural marriage, against which the main force of the opposition was being hurled, had been a divine institution from before the foundation of the world. There had been some talk about President Taylor issuing a revelation abolishing that system of marriage. When a revelation of that kind is given it will be when the Lord has no use for the Latter-day Saints, and this will never transpire, for He has promised to give them the kingdom and to sustain them.” –Elder John W. Taylor of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in a talk in General Conference, 5 April 1885, as summarized in an article in the Deseret News, 8 April 1885. [source]

SCRIPTURE: “After receiving revelation, President Wilford Woodruff issued the following Manifesto, which was accepted by the Church as authoritative and binding on October 6, 1890. This led to the end of the practice of plural marriage in the Church.” –from the introduction to Official Declaration 1, Doctrine and Covenants. [source]

COMMENTARY: Today marks the one year anniversary since LDS church leaders issued a policy change to the secret church handbook of instructions indicating that gay marriage was an act of apostasy, that children of gay parents could not be blessed or baptized or advanced in the priesthood, and that if they wanted to join the church later in life they had to first disavow their parents’ choices. I just thought it would be nice to point out the historical precedent that when church leaders explained god’s will on the subject of sexuality and marriage in the past, it turns out that they often got things exactly wrong. God is bigger, more loving, and more inclusive than the small-minded men who lead the LDS church. He loves all of his children, and he supports their decision to marry the person they want to marry, regardless of gender. But what do I know? I’m just another apostate.