My son is 22 and considering marriage to someone from a different country and a different race. I have searched for church doctrine to guide him, but have not found anything. I grew up being taught that you should not do this, not because of prejudice, but because there are too many difficulties associated with difference in culture etc. He served a mission to this country, and knew the family of this woman. He has gotten to know her electronically and just told us about this relationship that is progressing. Now he wants to go there at a big expense to pursue this relationship. Until now my son has made wise choice, but I am deeply concerned that this is unwise for both he and this young woman. I would appreciate any advice and or resources.
Answer from Sister Tanner:
Amber this is a question that reflects a mother's real love for her son. I do not know of any doctrinal stand that the church has made against interracial marriage. The counsel has been to be wise and mindful of the differences in cultural traditions and how it will affect raising children as well as the relationship between the spouses. Most marriages that unite different cultures have a bigger adjustment than those which come from the same backgrounds but that does not mean they cannot work out especially if they are well grounded in the gospel.
I know of a lot of return missionaries that go back and marry someone from their mission field. If your son has had time to readjust from being home from his mission and then takes a trip back, he may find that marriage to someone from there is not what he wants. It may be, however that he will not know until he goes back and sees for himself.
My advise to you would be to be careful of what you say because even though you are speaking from the stand point of your love, it may come back to haunt you in the future. If he marries someone of a different culture, he will need your acceptance and love more than ever and so will his whole new little family.