I know that Kristin doesn't much like it when I start talking about politics on our family blog, but I feel like this is an important family issue, and probably the best place to talk about it, so here we go.
As you all surely know, this November, voters in California and other areas will have the chance to vote to determine, in large part, the future of marriage in this country. Of all the issues this fall, this is the one which will have the most lasting and profound effect on what kind of world our children grow up in. Presidents come and go. Economies rise and fall and rise again. Funding programs and international relations and all of these things are really very temporary when compared to the eternal Divine Institution of Marriage. I've blogged on this subject before. First of all, the most important thing we can do is get out and vote! and encourage others to vote! We need to vote and make sure that this proposition passes. This is not just a California issue. This is an issue for the entire country. We have seen very clearly how the issue of marriage cannot be simply left to the states. (Marriage opponents will surely make very obvious use of the Constitution's "Full faith and credit" clause (Article IV Section 1), notwithstanding the Defense of Marriage Act.) Fortunately Massachusetts law has prevented exportation from that state, but California has no such statute.
In a letter from the First Presidency, we have been asked to "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." In the early days of the church, members were asked to live the Law of Consecration and give of their skills, labor, time, and earthy possessions (sometimes even all of them) to the work of the Lord and for the building up of the Kingdom. The church today has generally asked very little of us, but shouldn't we be willing to give and live and fulfill our covenants of discipleship to the same measure as our ancestors did?
Once again, I'd just like to encourage all of us to do everything we can to see that this Proposition passes. "Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor. " (D&C 88:81) Let us each do all we can to "warn our neighbors" and fulfill the call that we have been issued.
Chruch's Website on Proposition 8
www.protectmarriage.com
lds.com newsroom articles here and here
BYU Daily Universe articles here, here and here (bottom left of pg 1 on this last one -- I couldn't get the article all by itself)
2 comments:
The big movement at my school is in the opposite direction, so I've been reading up on everything the Church has said about it. Thanks for the post. I agree. This issue is important!
As a Californian, thanks for this post! Things are really heating up here, we are praying for the miracle we need!
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