Proposition 8

Well, I'm not one to get too politically involved (yeah, right!) but after several, SEVERAL emails, I figured I needed to voice my own opinion about Prop. 8. I realize that I have many friends and even family members that are gay and so let me preface this by saying that I love you, but at the same token I feel very strongly as a Mother, Wife, and Woman that things have gone too far. I am very concerned by what will eventually be taught to my children IN SCHOOL! Here are a few things that I have found interesting:
"For those who have been living in a cave for the past few months: in the beginning of this millennium, the people of California voted on Prop. 22, that stated we recognize marriage to be the union of a man to a woman. Recently, and with full media support, four (only four!) California Supreme Court Judges decided that the people's vote had no value (61% voted for Prop. 22) and they overturned that vote. This ruling has opened a literal floodgate of homosexual marriages in the state. To stem this tide and to strive to bring some semblance of morality back into California, Prop. 8 has been put on this year's ballot. Prop. 8 will amend the California Constitution to read, 'Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.' The majority of other states constitutions have similar amendments. In California Prop. 8 is facing fierce opposition.
Last night I (along with perhaps tens of thousands of others) attended an unprecedented broadcast sponsored by the LDS church aimed at rallying members (and non-members) to work in a 'grass roots' effort supporting Prop. 8, the 'marriage initiative'. In my life time I have never seen the church get this 'involved' in the political arena (more on that later). The meeting was attended by Elder Ballard & Elder Cook (from the Quorum of the 12) and Elder Clayton (from the Presidency of the Seventy). Elder Ballard presided. Elders Cook and Clayton are both from California. Elder Clayton has been the liaison from Salt Lake City to California in relaying strategies from the Brethren on how we LDS can and should get involved.
This was not what I would call an ecclesiastical meeting (it was NOT an extension of General Conference). Rather, it was a political rally of sorts. We were told we only have 4 weeks left and were given very specific guidelines on how we can be most affective in rallying our forces.
It was reiterated several times that normally the church does NOT get involved in the political process -- they will NEVER tell the members who to vote for, what political party they should align with, etc. However, when it comes to moral issues and be it known, THIS IS A MORAL ISSUE. They (the church) have the right or rather the obligation to exercise their right to free speech.
We were reminded over and over again, that we need to be sensitive (never rude or condescending) to others who do not share our moral values. However, we must make a stand when we are confronted with moral issues. Elders Ballard and Cook spoke of good members ('many who are worthy temple recommend holders') who have to struggle with same gender attraction on a daily basis. That struggle is no different than the personal struggles (temptations/sins) you and I have to deal with in our lives. Surely if someone held our personal temptations/sins up to public ridicule, we would be sorely offended. We should live as Christ did, by loving the sinner, not the sin.
We were also reminded that it is NOT SENSATIONALISM to think that were same gender marriage allowed to stand and to become legal, it could lead to extreme shifts in what is taught in our public schools ('sex' education for example). Also this will FORCE churches (including the LDS church) to marry same gender couples or lose their Tax Exempt Status. Of course, we would never capitulate or lower our standards. Therefore we, as a church, would become an 'illegal' institution. Let your mind run with that statement for a moment and then you'll understand why the Brethren are so serious about this!
A small production was also shown, aimed at educating young people (and old) on the full ramifications of all this. Elder Bednar (of the Twelve) is talking to a small group of young people in his office. Among other important answers to questions, he said something that (to me) was most profound. It is what he called, 'the Tyranny of Tolerance'. That is to say, tolerance is supposed to be a two-way street -- you have your opinion and I have mine -- let's just get along. Unfortunately, we have been shown over and over again that the opposition will only 'tolerate' THEIR VIEWS as being acceptable. This is a form of TYRANNY at it's worst; for they will never stop until we have EMBRACED their lifestyle and adopted their 'morality'. He again brought up the fact that public schools will have to teach this form of (im)morality in their 'health' classes. Parents (you and me) will teach the Lord's standard at home, while everyday our little ones from K-12 (and beyond, in college) will be force-fed (as with Darwin's 'Theory' of Evolution) EVERY FACET of this 'alliterative' lifestyle. That is how serious this is!>> Elder Bednar also said that this will not stop in California but will spread across the nation.
It was interesting that Elder Ballard made a focused plea for young adults, married and not, to get involved and do all they can in their sphere. He particularly mentioned their skills in computer communications of which older people are less apt (or are completely inapt). It has been his focus recently in the Ensign and other talks, to get these knowledgeable young people with burning testimonies actively engaged in this highly evolved form of communication using the Internet and other electronic media (texting, etc.).
At the end of the broadcast, we were told to have our closing prayer(s) locally. President Lam (our Stake President) finished the meeting with some more discussion and organization. He had all the Bishops of our stake stand and introduce their ward 'Zip Code Coordinator'. This person has a list of every household in their ward, by zip code. We members were told to contact these people for a list of names to contact (our ward has been doing this for weeks -- good Coordinator!).
We have been asked to donate 4 hours/week as individuals. Our focus primarily being on 'undecided' voters as well as getting advocates out to vote.>> As an interesting side note: There were thousands of 'Vote Yes On Prop. 8' signs available from our stake coordinator, however, we could NOT get them on church premises -- only from the coordinator's homes.
We were asked to dedicate our fast(s) this coming Fast Sunday towards everyones efforts in supporting Prop. 8. The meeting was well attended (more than our typical saturday evening adult stake conference session) and the feeling was very positive, even exciting.>> The Brethren are very concerned. They know if this ballot does not pass, it will be taken by the opposition as a sign that all restraints no longer exist. The Supreme Court's move was just a 'toe in the water'. If this initiative does not pass, it will be taken as a green light 'dive in'. As Elder Bednar mentioned last night, they will push as far and as hard as they are allowed. If this ballot does not pass, it will put our value system throughout the ENTIRE NATION on precarious ground, indeed.>> My brother Rick and I were just talking about how strange it is that we are even discussing this stuff! Who could have even conjured this up thirty years ago? Back then it would have been considered perversion in the extreme.>> Perhaps we can stem the tide, even if but for a moment, by making our stand against evil this one time!>> Tommy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Family and Friends,Did you happen to catch Bill O'Reilly last night on the Fox News Channel (Monday 10/13/08)? He talked about Connecticut's rather 'quiet' decision (again, by Supreme Court judges) to change the laws to allow gay marriage.Then Bill O'Reilly highlighted the situation in San Francisco where a 1st grade teacher invited her entire first grade class to attend her lesbian wedding AS AN OFFICIAL, CALENDARED PUBLIC SCHOOL FIELD TRIP!! He showed some video of the wedding, with lots of little 6-yr olds throwing flower petals - on this, their wonderfully 'educational' school field trip...And who performed that ceremony? None other than the (gay) San Fran. Mayor Gavin Newsome. Things are definitely out of control.Glenda