Proposition 8 & Mormons
Posted on November 24, 2008 by Jamie Larsen, under Thoughts by Jamie Larsen.
I have to admit that I didn’t hear much about Proposition 8 in California until shortly after the elections took place. For those that aren’t aware of it, Proposition 8 was on the ballet in California to reverse the decision regarding same sex marriage that was put into place months earlier. I read more about this in local California newspapers after the election took place on November 4th.
The stories were really disturbing to me. This is why I am writing about it on my family blog.
Many of the stories that I read were against the Mormon church and it’s members. Calling us bigots and haters and other bad things. First off, Mormons are not haters. If any people understand how it feels to be persecuted for their lifestyle, the Mormons know it. Our faith has been persecuted and laughed at since the church was re-organized in the early 1800’s. And even today, people still point fingers and persecute us for our beliefs and our standards.
We don’t hate or demoralize those that choose to be with someone of the same sex. We do however hold a high importance and sacredness on the institution of marriage (between man & women) and family, as many religions do. This doesn’t mean that we don’t believe in civil rights for gays & lesbians either.
When the church encourages it’s members to go out and to make other people in the state aware of Proposition 8, of course we would do it… And of course the church would ask of their members to do it. It is what we believe.
The Mormon church was not the only church that encouraged it’s members to get out and make the public aware. There is a great article from two Catholic Bishops from California that made a statement about Proposition 8 and their support of it.
Unfortunately, since Proposition 8 was passed, the mormons have come under a lot of heat all over the world from those that opposed it. This is really hard for me to believe. I understand the hurt and disgust that people may feel. I feel the same way about some of the Propositions that were passed in my own State. But to target the Mormons for something that alot of people feel so strongly against, not just the Mormons, is hypocritcal and pretty disturbing.
I have to be honest, I grew up in Utah were I never really encountered homosexuality. When Kaylene and I moved to the Netherlands, this was really my first opportunity to learn about gay relationships. My co-worker was gay and we had hung out several times together in the two years that we lived there. I don’t hate him for who he is. I don’t neccesarily understand it. Which I don’t think many heterosexuals would. I would love for him to have the civil rights which I think homsexuals deserve (hospital rights, same household tax rights, etc…) but I believe that marriage is a sacred instiution given to us from our Heavenly Father that is between a man and a women.
I know that God lives and sent us to this earth for a purpose. We are to follow his plan while here and to return to his presence with more knowledge and a wonderful body. We are all his children, whether black or white, male or female, homesexual or heterosexual. He loves us all.
If any of you want to read the reason why the Mormons were involved in this political battle from the Church, read it from their website at: www.newsroom.lds.org
Corry Reijnders on November 26, 2008
I got a writing from a templeworker about how God is working with persecution. I will send it in the mail. Maybe you know it already.
Love, Corry