Although, I think many will choose not to believe either one. I suppose is your choice. Hey, America is a great place where we can all agree to disagree without fear of imprisonment. Though many in the past have been tarred and feathered for less--a very painful condition by the way. Something about having your skin peeled away with the hot tar just doesn't seem like something Joseph Smith looked forward to when he restored our church. It must have been horrific. I'm glad they stopped doing that to our fellow saints back in the 1800's.
The recent statement about how much money our church has given (sorry cousin;) is not true in the least. The church didn't give a cent, the members of our church did give of their own means and of their own time-- as many on the opposite side of the issue did. This is a moral issue and one we will continue to support as members of the church.
Below is a statement that our church has presented to the public. I hope this helps clarify the situation.
Church Issues Statement on
Proposition 8 Protest
It is disturbing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being singled out for speaking up as part of its democratic right in a free election.
Members of the Church in California and millions of others from every faith, ethnicity and political affiliation who voted for Proposition 8 exercised the most sacrosanct and individual rights in the United States — that of free expression and voting.
While those who disagree with our position on Proposition 8 have the right to make their feelings known, it is wrong to target the Church and its sacred places of worship for being part of the democratic process.
Once again, we call on those involved in the debate over same-sex marriage to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility towards each other. No one on either side of the question should be vilified, harassed or subject to erroneous information.
Catholic Bishop Decries Religious Bigotry Against Mormons
“Catholics stand in solidarity with our Mormon brothers and sisters in support of traditional marriage — the union of one man and one woman — that has been the major building block of Western Civilization for millennia.
“The Protect Marriage coalition, which led the successful campaign to pass Proposition 8, was an historic alliance of people from every faith and ethnicity. LDS were included — but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals and Orthodox, African-Americans and Latinos, Asians and Anglos.
“Bigoted attacks on Mormons for the part they played in our coalition are shameful and ignore the reality that Mormon voters were only a small part of the groundswell that supported Proposition 8.
“As the former bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I can attest to the fact that followers of the Mormon faith are a good and generous people with a long history of commitment to family and giving to community causes.
“I personally decry the bigotry recently exhibited towards the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — coming from the opponents of Proposition 8, who ironically, have called those of us supporting traditional marriage intolerant.
“I call upon the supporters of same-sex marriage to live by their own words — and to refrain from discrimination against religion and to exercise tolerance for those who differ from them. I call upon them to accept the will of the people of California in the passage of Proposition 8.”
This will be my last entry on this particular subject. This is not what my blog is about. I have been nothing but kind to anyone in our family or community that is lesbian or a gay. We love our family, we love our neighbors. We would never attack any of them, desecrate their temples, churches or call them names or harm their property like my friends have had done to them in CA.
I pray for my sons safety. He is a missionary in California. He has been welcomed, into homes of gays, lesbians and trans-gender people alike. They have thanked him for his kindness and his help! This is how my husband and I have raised our kids. This is what our church teaches. By the way, we do have people who have same sex attraction within our church who are faithful members.
We also know the difference between right and wrong and marriage is between a man and a woman and has been that way since time began. I'm sorry if this seems harsh, I don't mean it to be. This is something that God has decided, not man. I would be a hypocrite if I didn't speak the truth. That is one thing you'll learn about us, we try our best to be honest.
Personally I really don't care one way or another a person wants to enter into a civil union or a contract with another person. That is your choice and your right. You do have rights under the law. Anything less than that would be inhumane.
As a church, Mormons do believe that eternal marriage is a sacred covenant entered into between a man and a woman and Heavenly Father. A covenant is a promise between man and God--not something we will ever take lightly.
I really don't thrive on conflict like this. You'll find that most Latter-day Saints didn't enjoy holding signs in public or making calls or leaving their families open to harm and religious persecution. Yes, we are no strangers to being persecuted. That doesn't mean we enjoy it, or invite it. Enough said.
