California Marriage Amendment
This post will remain at the forefront of our site until 5 Nov. 2008. However, we will continue to post new articles in the meantime, so don’t forget to scroll down and see what’s new!
On 4 Nov. 2008, California citizens will vote on whether to add a new amendment to the state constitution. Only fourteen words long, if Proposition 8 passes, the amendment will read, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”1
Why would we bother to bring this up on an LDS philosophy website? Because the First Presidency said to members last June, “We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman.”2
We’re a very small website with a very small readership, and we may not make a huge difference when compared to other venues. But when the prophet speaks, we’re covenant-bound to hearken. So we’ve decided that in addition to our regular articles, from now until the vote on November 4, we will place links and information on this page to help members of the Church become more informed and better able to fulfill the prophet’s call to “do all you can” to help this legislation pass.
Articles
First Presidency letter
The Divine Institution of Marriage
ProtectMarriage.com
Some actual consequences
Videos
Church broadcast to LDS California citizens living out-of-state (4:05)
Prop 8 consequences foreshadowed in Massachusetts (6:49)
Bloggers
Connor Boyack on Prop 8
A Modest Lifestyle Proposal, a satire New
Notes
1. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, “Opponents of gay marriage see hope in ballot measure,” Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2008.
2. First Presidency, “Preserving Traditional Marriage and Strengthening Families, First Presidency letter, 29 Jun. 2008.
October 13th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Thank you for taking your covenants seriously and not fighting against the prophet like some other Mormon-themed blogs do.
October 13th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I think we need to let this messages in some forums and yes we need to do all we can..and tell friends about this Article…..and yes some blogs fight a lot against the Prophet. But this web Its awesome, and have respect.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Nodymb1, I know what you mean. I’ve been perusing the net for the last week or so, and it makes me sad how many Latter-day Saints so casually dismiss the united counsel of the fifteen prophets, seers, and revelators. Some posts are breathtaking with how cavalierly the Church member discounts the prophets’ words as mere opinion.
I really hope such people reevaluate where they stand, because that is very shaky ground to be on. If we don’t follow the prophets when they give clear directives, then when do we follow them? It reminds me of when Spencer W. Kimball said, “Even in the Church, many are prone to garnish the sepulchres of yesterday’s prophets and mentally stone the living ones” (source).
October 14th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Thank you Nathan and Jeff. We are fighting a battle here in California as real as anything I have ever seen. We have to bring our pro–Prop 8 signs in every night because of the certain theft during the night. So much for tolerance! We know that what we are fighting for is what the Lord wants us to do. The focus is on defining marriage being between a man and a woman. It is not an anti-gay crusade. All we want is for the sanctity of marriage between and a woman to be honored.
October 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 am
Here is a very helpful site that explains some common concerns and misconceptions about Prop 8. One of the best ones I’ve come across.
http://www.truthaboutprop8.com/Fact-Fiction.html
Let me know what you guys think!!!
November 7th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Wow – I never thought that this would pass. I didn’t even bother getting my hopes up for it. If we’re not making the right people angry we’re not doing our job!
November 7th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
I don’t understand. What do you mean?
November 7th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I think he’s talking about what happened in California. Everyone is so mad and angry with the Church, and they are in the streets and screaming outside of the church. They say they have rights, etc., and they are so mad with all the Mormons, and they are making wars with them. They are so crazy …. but this is the correct choice. Marriage is only for men and women.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:41 am
We live in California and yesterday, when we went to our Ward building for Church, we found spray painting on the entrance to the chapel. On one side they had sprayed “CULT!” and on the other side, they had sprayed “Seperate church and state. Prop 8″…and yes, that is how they spelled separate. We had a contractor in the ward paint over the graffiti.