To the best of my knowledge, neither of the parties involved in this story are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but this story illustrates why the LDS Church takes such a dim view of adultery and will generally excommunicate adulterers and adulteresses almost without exception. In this case, the wages of sin were, quite literally, death.
According to the Daily Mail, Mark Anders Chalin of Mankato, MN, pleaded guilty to criminal vehicular homicide in October 2012 in exchange for a recommended four-year prison term, to which he was sentenced in December 2012. Prosecutors say Chalin smashed into a car being driven by Jonna Martin, a 35-year-old engaged mother of four on August 7th, 2011, while driving on County Road 90. Also killed was Chalin's passenger, 23-year-old Amber Menezes, who was married to Chris Menezes, although another report indicates the two were legally separated at the time of the crash.
But it is the reason for the crash that arouses concern. Witnesses told police that just before the collision, they saw Amber Menezes straddling Chalin in the driver's seat, blocking his view of the road. It was subsequently confirmed that Menezes was on Chalin's lap and it appeared they had been having sex before Chalin veered into Martin's lane. Somewhat shameful was the response of Menezes' mother, Michelle Scholl, who attended the hearing and didn't support the plea agreement. She said, "I will never have grandchildren from my daughter. She was somebody who did something with her life. He is a repeat offender"
Committing adultery is not something that one would be proud to brag about having done with her life. And it cost her mortality. And imagine the conflicting emotions buffeting Chris Menezes; while he may think his wife got her just desserts, he also undoubtedly misses her. On the other hand, Michelle Scholl may have a difficult time with the idea that her daughter preceded her in death, so sanitizing her daughter's life may be part of the grieving process.
Four additional people were also affected by Amber Menezes' adultery; Jonna Martin's four kids and her fiance, Roger Thompson. So because Mark Chalin and Amber Menezes couldn't control their lust for one another, two people are dead, one is in prison, and five others are without someone they loved. The wages of sin can be fearsome.
Now you know why the LDS Church takes such a hard line on adultery. It's not as if it's impossible to avoid. Since we believe that "as man is, God once was, and as God is, man may become", this means our Heavenly Father went though mortality. He understands human emotions first hand; He undoubtedly knows how it feels to look upon a woman and lust after her. But by virtue of His Godhood, it is obvious He resisted those impulses during His mortality.
When our Heavenly Father tells us "Thou shalt not commit adultery", He knows what He's talking about. He didn't give us that commandment to oppress us, but to liberate us from sin and the sometimes drastic and unforgiving consequences of it.
6 comments:
You should make sure your facts are true before publishing an article like this and assuming how some people involved feel/felt.
I was raised Catholic and I know that Amber was too. Baptized, confirmed, and married in the Catholic church. From what I gain from attending church and from my own faith is that God forgives all sins. So to say someone commits adultery means that they should die? That doesn't make sense to me. I believe in a better God than that and I know I am no where close to perfect but I am human and God can forgive.
I went to college with her. She majored in law enforcement. kinda ironic considering the way things turned out.
Anyway. Obviously God decides what is right and just. But this has got to be possibly the worst way to go.
you die while committing adultery barreling down the road causing a head on collision that kills the mother of 4 young children. I mean that is a lot to explain to the man upstairs. one second your cruising down the road, next your explaining that debacle.
idk though. see. that's where it gets hazy. she didn't get a chance to repent did she? she died right away. but the guy driving? is he not equally guilty of what happened? but what if he changed his ways while he was in prison and truly repented? is he now forgiven?
why would god judge her guilty when she never had the chance to see the error of her ways. and judge him innocent if he changes his ways and grows as a person?
seems rather unfair doesn't it?
so while it certainly is not a good way to go. and is a tragedy for a lot of people. I suppose at the end of the day we just don't know. do we?
this is the way our society is going though. used to be if you were caught cheating your own family would disown you and you would have to move out of the community for the severe shame it caused you. now its just common place. nobody cares. its pathetic.
shes a victim of the times. not that it excuses her in any way. but what do you expect? our society has become so liberal and degenerate, all sorts of sexual perversions walking around us. hell, adultery seems like a petty offence when compared to the he-shes and the LGBTQRSXYZ community. bunch of sodomites.
wake up america. this is the way the entire culture is headed
I hope you are okay out there somewhere Gypsy girl.
Dear "writer",
It's a good thing that God is a fictional character and none of the religious laws were laid out by "him." These rules were fabricated by humans to keep the fearful in line, the ignorant blind, and the opposition ostracized. Not to mention that your take on morality backed by LDS Christian values is incorrect, but it's not your fault. You were conditioned to believe in a religion that's been misconstrued and manipulated by mankind for over two centuries. So it's not your fault. Just pull your head out of your ass next time.
Love,
-Everyone that chooses to use their brain.
You may not believe in God but guess what he believes in you and then the end of the day you will have to answered him
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