A Mormon Woman's Reflections on Life and the Gospel of Jesus Christ

A Massachusetts’ father committed to the parental right to teach his children about the nature of marriage according to his and his wife’s beliefs, ends up in jail.

It started with a “diversity book,” Who’s in a Family,” placed in the hands of his five-year old child, introducing the concept of homosexual relationships through “Clifford and Clifford’s dad’s partner.”

The Barkers, comitted Christian parents, saw just how far the administration would go in levering the Massachusetts’ law legalizing same-sex marriage to override their rights to parental notification on school discussions advocating and affirming the validity of same-sex marriage.

Please watch this video, narrated by Tony Perkins. Please continue to spread the word to vote Yes for 8.

I was talking with my teenage daughter about Proposition 8, and the deterioration that will ensue if Prop 8 fails, and marriage is redefined. She made the comment that it’s common among her peers to hear, “Why can’t we just let them do what they are doing? We know it’s wrong, but how would that hurt us?” This has rung in my ears for days. It’s part of the liberal inoculation that has trickled down to children through movies, what they read in the media center, and through culturally-shaped conversations by advocates of same-sex marriage and the normalization of all behaviors. Hey, even Donkey in Shrek has the hots for a Dragon. Willie in the Chocolate Factory is androgynous. From the knee and at every turn, the natural order is insidiously deconstructed, and many don’t even pick up that they or their children are picking this up, if we haven’t bracketed it for them.

Well, with this on my mind, I just bumped into this video. It asks the very same question that some who don’t see the drastic consequences written all over same-sex marriage approval–down to the demise of life itself–have posed.

Clearly, redefinition of marriage hurts everyone.

Some have turned the tables to assert that those who ratify Prop 8 are actually the ones “destroying rights”–as the California man who said, ”

The Yes on 8” campaign, strictly and honestly considered, is a mission of destruction. We must consider carefully what it means to undertake a mission of destruction in the name of God.”

My response to that statement–which is really the inverse of what is implied by those who say allowing Prop 8 doesn’t hurt anyone–follows:

This seemingly noble sentiment is not only a non-sequitor; it follows a very narrow field of vision. To indulge false, dangerous redefinitions of marriage is itself, the destructive act. The move to stabilize those definitions will lead to freedom and constructive conjugal bonds that have the potential of enduring.

The Proclamation on the Family stands as a banner of God’s will and wisdom in ordaining, preserving, and creating the family unit. It doesn’t mean that all families are harmonious, that there are not splintered and fragmented families, or that abuse doesn’t exist. Those are ills to cure, in this life and as we move on towards the next. But it’s not our perogative nor is it the solution to throw out the divine unit itself.

I marvel at how many who wish to redefine families have also been among advocacy groups who have cried out for protection of the habitats of land and marine endangered species, a cause aimed at protecting and conserving the natural habitat and life as it exists in its own order, to ensure quality of life and preservation of the ecosystems we and they enjoy for generations to come. Many will call out to preserve the black-footed ferret, the grouper, the grey-faced sengi, the beluga, and over 1100 other species that are deemed as threatened or near threatened– and to reconstruct their natural habitat. I find it noteworthy that such advocates do not seek to redefine the whale or African elephant when their livelihood and procreative powers are being stifled by the interloping of man in the environment. They, and we, seek to restore the endangered to its natural habitat. We try to “heal” the natural order.

Why, then, do we do the opposite with marriage–the quintessential unit of life, now and forever? Why would we ever want to redefine the family whose habitat is being endangered by pseudo-definitions and makeshift civil unions that satisfy some but do not satisfy the Creator of life himself? Heal it, yes. Restore it, yes. Redefine it, no. Absolutely not.

And. . .this is clearly not about lack of compassion for those with same-sex attractions. We have much love for those who contend with inclinations towards same gender relations. But we draw the line there, where God has drawn it. To perpetuate and sanction unnatural, constructed versions of love and family, is immoral, unproductive, and destructive–physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s time to save the institution of marriage. Vote YES for Proposition 8!

Take a look at this video, which speaks to the very tip of the sexual iceberg that will break open without a Yes on Prop 8 win.

Here’s a word of update from Steve Linder of ProtectMarriage.com on Proposition 8. The California Teachers Association and other likeminded groups are uniting in the face of the lead that pro-8ers have shown in the California polls. Steve writes:

Dear Friend,

With the polls showing Prop 8 moving into the lead, our opponents have sounded the alarm and are seeing millions pour in. What’s more, they’ve taken a 9-to-1 lead in fundraising in just the last week.

But don’t just take my word for it. The San Jose Mercury News reports:

Equality California, the lead organization for the No on 8 campaign, has raised more than $3 million within California since Oct. 6, including a $1 million contribution Tuesday from the California Teachers Association.

Since Oct. 6, large contributions to ProtectMarriage.com, the lead group supporting Proposition 8, have totaled just $405,969.

The No on 8 campaign has also received commitments for an additional $4 million in donations that have not been received, said Kate Kendell, a member of the campaign’s executive committee.

Over $3 million vs. $405,969 — with an extra $4 million on the way.

For more information, please visit www.protectmarriage.com.

On this misty, cool autumn day, October 4, 2008, a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, brought a warm and strengthening prophetic mantle to the pulpit and into the homes of Saints and friends of other friends who gather around to listen in for the will of the Lord for our lives.

I set out the scone prep, scrambled around finishing up a few morning tasks, and signed onto the Move Networks video access of General Conference. President Thomas S. Monson, living prophet, mouthpiece for Jesus Christ in our day, has just opened the 178th session of General Conference for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).

The prophet’s remarks included his sacred experiences in recent temple dedications, answer to his own sincere prayer for postponed rain, and his appreciation and advocacy for the dance and artistic venues that youth and adults participated in as part of the celebrations around the dedicatory services of the temple. He mentioned that those events forge “unforgettable” memories and lasting relationships for those who participate.

Additional Mormon Temples Announced

President Monson then announced the building of 5 additional temples over the coming months, including one in Calgary, Canada; Cordelan, Argentina, the greater Kansas City area, Philadelphia, and Rome!

I have to say, I stood up and let out an exultant– well, scream–and held the hand of my daughter as the tears came when those temples were announced. With each one, comes God’s power and peace. Grateful for every temple everywhere, as one who basks in the service and peace and ordinances of the House of the Lord, I have to say I was especially elated to hear about one in Philly and one in Rome. Philly is my birthplace, and, more importantly, the home of our nation’s freedom; and Italy is the home of my ancestors. I believe that those who have passed through this life and who have accepted the gospel in the spirit world (where we go after we die, awaiting the resurrection), have been influential in these events and rejoice with us today.  I saw in my mind’s eye, not only the 5,000 researched in my family who have passed away–whose baptisms and confirmations, and further ordinances, have been completed in the Savior’s House (Mormon temples: sacred not secret)– but all those now living and serving in the Mediterranean region, combined with all who have served there–rejoicing together.  I can almost feel the tangible marvelous spiritual effect this temple will have on the people of Rome, Italy and the entire region.

Wow!

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