Shelly and I were talking about U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.), a member of the LDS Church, and how he has taken a position against a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. We believe that Mormon doctrine would lead one to support such an amendment, and are surprised that Reid thinks differently. We got to talking about what would happen if President Hinckley were to call Senator Reid in for a chat. I mean no disrespect to President Hinckley (perhaps a little to Senator Reid, though) as I present the following possible fictitious dialogue (which of course represents my own beliefs, not necessarily the doctrine of the Church, the position of Senator Reid, or even the views of my wife, who knows Senator Reid much better than I do).

PRES. HINCKLEY: Thank you for coming. Please, sit down.

SEN. REID: Thank you, President.

PRES. HINCKLEY: So how are things going in the Senate?

SEN. REID: They’re going well. Those blasted Republicans keep messing things up for the whole country of course, but I’m doing what I can.

PRES. HINCKLEY: I see. Funny you should mention “doing what I can.” That’s pretty much why I asked to see you.

SEN. REID: Oh? I really had no idea why you asked me here.

PRES. HINCKLEY: Well, it’s about the marriage issue. I understand you have taken a stance opposing a national definition of marriage.

SEN. REID: Oh yes. I’m the minority whip, you know, so I have to support the party stance. We can’t be writing discrimination into the Constitution.

PRES. HINCKLEY: Certainly. But I wonder if you have studied and prayed about this issue.

SEN. REID: Prayed? Well, I certainly pray every day, President. But I generally don’t pray too often about positions to take on political issues. I know you work for the Lord, but I work for the people of Nevada. I take my orders from them.

PRES. HINCKLEY: You take your orders from the people of Nevada?

SEN. REID: Well, I guess that’s not exactly true. I take them from the DNC. I am the minority whip, you know.

PRES. HINCKLEY: Yes, that’s what has me worried.

SEN. REID: That I’m the minority whip?

PRES. HINCKLEY: No.

SEN. REID: Where such a silly term as “minority whip” came from?

PRES. HINCKLEY: No, that you don’t work out answers for yourself.

SEN. REID: Orrin Hatch doesn’t either. He just calls you about everything.

PRES. HINCKLEY: I’m one of his constituents.

SEN. REID: Touche.

PRES. HINCKLEY: Brother Reid, are you familiar with this document?

SEN. REID: Of course, President. But I never know what to call it. “The Family Proclamation”? “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”? “The Proclamation on the Family”?

PRES. HINCKLEY: It doesn’t matter. What matters is what it says. Could you read for me this part right here?

SEN. REID: “We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of his children.”

PRES. HINCKLEY: Thank you. And could you read this part?

SEN. REID: Sure. “We further declare that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.”

PRES. HINCKLEY: And here.

SEN. REID: “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. 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.”

PRES. HINCKLEY: Thank you. Do you have any questions about any of that?

SEN. REID: No. I have that framed on my wall, but I guess I’ve never taken a good look at it. It’s nice.

PRES. HINCKLEY: Yes, well. Could you please read one more paragraph—the final one?

SEN. REID: Sure, this is fun. “We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

PRES. HINCKLEY: Do you know any “responsible citizens” or “officers of government,” Brother Reid?

SEN. REID: Sure. I work in the U.S. Senate. I know all sorts of officers of government. Responsible citizens, I’m not so sure.

PRES. HINCKLEY: I’m talking about you, Brother Reid.

SEN. REID: Me?

PRES. HINCKLEY: Yes, you. Do you think your position on the marriage amendment is consistent with what you just read?

SEN. REID: Well, when you put it that way, President, you don’t leave me a lot of wiggle room. I have a lot of pressures weighing on me when I take positions on issues.

PRES. HINCKLEY: Such as?

SEN. REID: Well, I have a lot of responsibilities and expectations to meet. For starters, the people of Las Vegas depend on me to promote their form of morality in the Senate. I could lose my reelection campaign.

PRES. HINCKLEY: You could lose a lot more than that.

SEN. REID: But I have to be an example for the other Democrats. I’m the minority whip!

PRES. HINCKLEY: I’m the prophet.

SEN. REID: Touche.

PRES. HINCKLEY: Thank you for coming.