The Church will be reading a letter this sunday in sacrament meetings reguarding the constitutional amendment for homosexual marriage in California Link . The letter contains very strong language, some might even say that it is sugestive of what we hear in the temple. The last paragraph states "We ask that you do all that you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating your means and time to assure that marriage in California is leagally defined as between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage."What do you think, is the church overstepping their bounds by getting involved in political matters?
There are members of the church who have come right out in criticism of the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saying that they have no business getting involved with this (Link).
The internet is aflame with this topic right now, there are even many stating that they believe that the church will eventually concede on this stating that it will be just like when the blacks received the priesthood.
I do not see the church changing their position on this one they seem to have clearly drawn a line in the sand and have called for members to make a stand.
It will be interesting to see what happens.
5 comments:
it's actually quite strange. In the midst of a significant death toll due to natural disasters in Myanmar (Burma) and China, the best the church can come up with is some memo about putting our best efforts into fighting a legalized gay marriage ammendment to the California state constitution.
Frankly, I'm not hung up about gays getting married. I'm not gay; I don't worry that my kids will be converted to be gay because it's legal in the eyes of the state; and, I'm not threatened by gay people.
There are better things to spend our time doing.
Good point,
I believe that the church has spent, a significant amount of time and money in both Myanmar and China:
Hong Kong Mormons Aid Earthquake Victims
Within days of the massive earthquake that rocked the Chinese province of Sichuan earlier this month, over 600 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from Hong Kong traveled to a factory in Shenzhen, China, to assemble 10,000 emergency kits for victims.
Full Story
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Mormons Aid Flood Victims in Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin
Hundreds of volunteers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints adorned in yellow "Mormon Helping Hands" T-shirts spent this past weekend rendering aid to flood victims throughout southern Indiana.
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Church Aid Sent to Myanmar
SALT LAKE CITY - 19 May 2008 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the United Parcel Service, and Atlanta-based CARE International shipped 142,000 pounds of medical and other supplies to Myanmar yesterday, to aid those affected by a recent cyclone.
The Church provided the supplies, UPS provided the transportation and CARE International will oversee distribution in Myanmar. The relief effort was made possible by leaders of CARE International who have established relationships with Myanmar officials.
http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/welfare/0,7133,1325-1-9--cWELFAREPOSTER,00.html
If the Church is truly led by a prophet of God, then maybe he knows somthing we do not.
You're right! Since the Church has covered helping everyone in the world and "all is well in Zion", it makes perfect sense to turn our collective efforts toward ensuring gay people live as second-class citizens.
You missed my point enitirely!
I didn't do anything to ease the suffering of these people (China/Myanmar)--I know there wasn't a ward activity to gather blankets, clothes or other necessities in our ward. Did you? Sure the Church did something, as you pointed out with the articles. But, imagine if the Church put out a memo saying we're going to do all these things to help...and each person needs to contribute X,Y, and Z. Imagine if bishops and stake presidents were beating the pulpit demanding 100% participation. Now that would be something! Instead, we get some announcement about fighting gay marriages in a state most have no influence over. As I said earlier...there are better things to spend our time doing!
In my ward we put together several thousand survival kits that were shipped over seas. But that is beside the point. Even if I did not have the opportunity to put together survival kits, I still have the opportunity to donate my money to the poor, and have been encouraged to donate until I feel a pinch.
A portion of the money that was spent on relief came from your ward, regardless of whether or not you knew you were helping when you paid fast offerings.
As far as 2nd class citizen goes, I think all people should be treated equally, with no special rights to any groups.
There are good arguments on both sides of the issue. I agree with Jessica, as a member of the church there are only two scenarios, either the prophet is called of God, and this is Gods direction, or the prophet is a false prophet. If the latter is true, than The Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith were also frauds.
For members of the church there is no grey here, the line has been drawn.
Here are a couple good quotes from last conference on the issue
"It is important to understand that natural laws were not determined on the basis of popularity. They were established and rest on the rock of reality.
There are also moral verities that did not originate with man."
(Elder Kenneth Johnson, “Restoring Faith in the Family,” May 2008 Ensign, 16)
"To those who have strayed because of doctrinal concerns, we cannot apologize for the truth. We cannot deny doctrine given to us by the Lord Himself. On this principle we cannot compromise.
I understand that sometimes people disagree with doctrine. They even go so far as to call it foolish. But I echo words of the Apostle Paul, who said that sometimes spiritual things can appear as foolishness to men. Nevertheless, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men.”
(Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Concern for the One,” May 2008 Ensign, 19-20)
Am I threatened by homosexuals? No, I have someone I care quite deeply about that is involved with it.
I know the Lord loves all of his children. He loves us so much that he offered his Son as a sacrifice for sin.
He loves us so much he sent modern day prophets
to teach us his ways, and help us avoid the sophistries of men, and the fiery darts of the adversary.
Try being a mormon in BERZERKELY!!! Ha-ha!
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