Moroni - you'll find him on LDS TemplesToday after working out I went to walk the neighborhoods again in support of YES on Proposition 8 Protect Marriage. This time I walked with the dynamic Kim and Todd. They are a couple that is genuine and real. I like that. It was their second week walking too.
We hit 79 houses. It was awesome.
As we talked with people, it became clear that many people haven't studied Proposition 8's ramifications.
If Proposition 8 doesn't pass - we are in for massive litigation against churches. We will have professions choosing to lose credentials, or choosing to advocate for a lifestyle they don't agree with. We will see adoption agencies run by religious organizations close, because they won't be able to fight in the courts to provide homes for children. We'll find good teachers who will have to choose between reading a book advocating a lifestyle to young kids, and the desire not to compromise their beliefs. In effect - they will be forced to teach children a lifestyle. This shouldn't be happening in our country, period. We will begin to see a disappearance of a country founded on religious freedom.
After explaining the ramifications of not protecting marriage, mny people realized that the YES vote for Proposition 8 isn't a whim - it's a necessity.
In California - we all have equal rights to everything - tearing apart the definition of marriage is not necessary, and worse is detrimental to our society, our governmental process, our children and families.
I understand it's a sensitive issue for many of us who have loved ones who are gay. I guess I distill the issue down to - if you have a loved one who is addicted to alcohol or drugs - will you lower the age of drinking? Will you legalize drugs? I know the issue is more complicated than that - but that's how I'm looking at it - the big picture. What is the best for this country?
As a member of the LDS Church I'm doing my part in this election coming up in November, not only because I believe in it - but because as a member of the Church I believe in a Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. I find it a small thing to do because as a member of the Church I have been formally asked to do all I can to support this measure. So it was disappointing to hear that there are congregations in the Bay Area where the Stake President or Bishop are heartily ignoring the letter from the Prophet.
If we can't hearken to the little things... what happens when something really, truly big comes along. Will we be like Lehi who when counseled directly by the Lord to take his family into the wilderness to find the promise land... obeyed, or will we pick and choose the things we want to do, and then murmur and sabotage what our leaders have asked us?
Nephi, Lehi's son was asked to do some hard things. He didn't understand them completely. He didn't have to constantly ask for affirmation - instead he relied on something greater... Faith. I think in times like these - we need to ask ourselves, where is our Faith? Will we exercise it? Will we show who's side we're on?
I know I'm not perfect ... I have many issues. But when something is so cut and dry as a direct letter from our Prophet, we sustain... I will go, I will do... and I will put my heart and soul into it. I hope you do too.
Kim kept saying this great quote: "If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything."
VOTE YES on PROPOSITION 8.
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7 comments:
Yikes. I can't imagine actively ignoring the Prophet. And I can't imagine sitting in a congregation and supporting that.
I am glad that there are people like you who will do what needs to be done--the thought of confrontation makes me terrified. I don't know if I could knock on doors.
Good for you for doing what needs to be done!
Me too - if the leadership is doing that - what kind of a message is it showing to the members, the kids and the world-at-large?
The thing is...it's easy for folks like me to approach people... so we're nothing special.
The great people are like my friends Kim and Todd who aren't comfortable doing it - but do it because it's the right thing to do - and doing it for the world their kids are growing up in.
Those people...the ones that despite their fears are out there, they are the ones with courage.
An estimated 65,500 adopted children are living with a lesbian or gay parent. Gay and lesbian parents are raising four percent of all adopted children in the United States.
An estimated 14,100 foster children are living with lesbian or gay parents. Gay and lesbian parents are raising three percent of foster children in the United States.
Millions of children in the United States have LGBT parents.
You're not denying marriage to "gays" ... you're denying marriage to "parents" - not something to be proud of in my book.
Chino - Like I've stated before - when you chose to comment on my blog. You and I are on completely opposite sides of this issue. You will not convince me and I will not convince you to change. All I ask is that you be respectful.
Like I stated in my post, I am an LDS member. I sustain a Prophet whom I have faith in. As such - I find that his opinion and counsel carries far more weight than any statistics and numbers thrown my way. I much prefer to have a respected place in our Prophet's book - than yours.
We are being tested as members of the LDS Church. I for one am going to rise to the challenge. I'll put my actions behind where I raise my arm in support of our leaders.
There are always exceptions to every rule. But I find that it's always better not to lower our standards, but to shoot for the ideal. The ideal is a husband and wife raising children.
Just a thought - I think the thing is, with marriage as legal only between a man and woman, an adoption agency can choose to accept LGBT parents or not based on religious grounds. There are other agencies, that don't worry about it. If anyone can get married, then adoption agencies must close if they want to uphold their standard of what a family should be. The point that I love that you make, is that it takes away one of the prime points of our founding father's, religious freedom. Without it, what kind of nation do we become?
I was watching the BBC last month, and the man who helped legalize civil unions in Great Britain, had an interesting perspective. He, despite being a gay man, thought that keeping marriage as only between a man and a woman was a GOOD thing.
Well stated, Queen. I couldn't agree with you more.
Thanks chicas
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