This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I have searched every dictionary I can find and have checked all the references in the Bible to find "same sex marriage" and it is nowhere to be found. "Marriage" refers to a relation between a man and a woman who have become husband and wife or to the ceremony marking this union. Therefore the phrase "same sex marriage" does not legally exist.

Those same-sex couples who want to use the word "marriage" could avoid a lot of conflict if they found their own name, or word, for their union. File it with the government to make it legal, then they could issue a legal document so they can get the same benefits that married people have.

But please don't discriminate against those of us who are legally and lawfully married to a person of the opposite sex. You really don't want to be known as a thief for stealing our name.

Arlene Griffiths

Nephi