Preserving the Divine institution of Marriage

I am taking a quick break from posting cute pictures of Isaac,

and cooking projects,

to talk about something that has been occupying my thoughts and time over the past couple months. Even though I am pretty sure that the only people who read my blog are family and friends who already know my opinion on Proposition 8,

I feel like I need to point out a few things that I have found out while researching the issue. I thought that I would post a few talking points that I collected from here and here, that we can bring up in our daily conversations. (I highly recommend reading both articles if you are interested in finding out more.)

Hopefully, this will help get the word out about the importance of a yes vote.

- Proposition 8 is about preserving marriage, it is not an attack on the gay lifestyle. We an have tolerance without condoning. (Just like cute little Scotty learned to do when watching Isaac attack his birthday cake.)

We can love someone while still maintaining and advocating our standards and beliefs.

As Elder Dallin H oaks has explained,

"Tolerance obviously requires a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another's differences. But tolerance does not require abandoning one's standards or one's opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way or reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination."

- In California, the law provides for marriage-related benefits to be given to civil unions and domestic partnerships. Proposition 8 does not diminish these benefits. Proposition 8 does not diminish these benefits.

- While it may be true that allowing singe-sex unions may not immediately and directly affect all existing marriage, the real question is how it will affect society as a whole over time, including the rising generation and future generations. Unless Proposition 8 passes, California society will soon undergo a profound change in its basic understanding of marriage and family life. That will affect everyone in numerous ways.

- Legalizing same-sex marriage will affect a wide spectrum of government activities and policies, intended to ensure that there is no discrimination against same-sex couples. Over time, greater acceptance of nontraditional marriage will be demanded of all people. This could impact the ability of any religion to teach and practice its beliefs.

- In fact, some advocates of same-sex marriage are suggesting that tax exemption and benefits be withdrawn from any religious organization that does not embrace same-sex unions.

- Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt children. If gay marriage remains legal, public schools will be required to teach young children that there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage. ("They are going to teach me what?")

Children will likely receive “age appropriate” information about sexual relations within heterosexual and homosexual marriages. Morality is taken completely out of the equation.

- Failure to pass Proposition 8 will hurt churches. The court’s decision will inevitably lead to conflicts with religious liberty and free speech rights. Society will become more and more hostile to traditional beliefs about morality, marriage and family. We can express genuine love and friendship for homosexual family members or friends without accepting the practice of homosexuality. However, speaking out against practices with which a church disagrees on moral grounds - including same-sex marriage- will be identified as abuse, "hate speech" and discrimination.

- The prospect of same-sex marriage has already spawned legal collisions with the rights of free speech and of action based on religious beliefs. For example, advocates and government officials in certain states already are challenging the long-held right of religious adoption agencies to follow their religious beliefs and only place children in homes with both a mother and a father. As a result, Catholic Charities in Boston have stopped offering adoption services.

- The people of California voted 61-39 to make traditional marriage the law. Four activist judges overreached their authority and have ignored the will of the people. Judges are appointed to interpret and uphold the law, not to make the law.

Please do your part in defending the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. This is not about equality. It is a moral issue. We can't foresee all of the consequences if Proposition 8 fails, but we know enough to see that it is of profound importance to our religion and the future of our society that it succeeds.

"... the family is ordained of God. Marriage between a man and a woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World)