Prop 8 Broadcast
Keith and I went up to the church last night to hear the broadcast from Salt Lake regarding Proposition 8. Elders Ballard, Clayton, Cook, and Bednar spoke and gave us more information about the impact this will have on society if it fails. They also reiterated the church's stance and stated that this is a moral issue and that the church has asked its members to be involved in every way possible-to give of our time and our means- to ensure that Prop 8 passes.
They quoted from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" (text to follow) where it states that marriage is ordained of God and that it is part of our Heavenly Father's Plan of Happiness for His children to be able to experience mortality. There is no way that that could happen except through a mother and father.
Members of the church were asked to volunteer up to 4 hours a week to help with this cause. The brethren were asking for at least 30 people per ward and especially the young single adults and young marrieds to take an active role in moving this issue forward. These younger members of the church were specifically asked to use their skills and contacts with the internet (emails, websites, blogs, videos, YouTube, etc.) to get the information out to people everywhere.
Elder Bednar spoke to a group of BYU students and answered their questions. He said that tolerance doesn't mean to accept or condone something that is contrary to your beliefs. We are in a fight right now where it is tolerance (the world's view which means to accept) vs. free speech. One of the consequences of Prop 8 failing is that society would become an increasingly hostile environment for people who believe as we do. We will be expected to accept homosexual lifestyles and yet our own lifestyle of traditional marriage will be under fire and ridiculed when it conflicts with another's point of view.
Churches may lose their tax exempt status if they refuse to perform same sex marriages, church adoption agencies will be forced to close their doors (as the Catholic church did in Masssachusetts rather than place children in homosexual households), there could be sanctions against churches for teaching specific doctrine, and schools will teach children that all marriages are equal instead of allowing parents to teach their own beliefs and moral values to their children themselves.
Elder Bednar said that it is a ripple effect. The immediate effects will be seen right away but there will also be effects over time that would be like the outer ripples in the water. Those ripples will effect society for years to come.
We have almost finished Phase 1 which was the initial contacting of registered voters. Phase 2 is now underway which is to contact those undecided voters to share more information that could help them decide in favor of Prop 8. Phase 3 is already started too which involves signs, more calling, and encouraging people to register to vote.
There will be a big push right up until the day of the election to contact voters and get them motivated to get out to the polls. Members with college students living away from home and missionaries in the field were also encouraged to get absentee ballots for their children.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
1 comment:
Wow. I didn't realize the many repercussions of this bill passing. It truly will have a ripple effect. Thanks for making me more aware. I didn't know there was a broadcast either. Wish I could have seen it.
Do you still want to keep your blog on the down-low? Your blog might be a good way to help others be aware of this issue. I can add you to my blogroll if you want. You don't have to if you don't want. Just thought I'd put it out there. :)
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