Calif. Mormons encouraged to work for Prop. 8
The proposition calls for an amendment to the state's constitution to recognize only marriages between a man and a woman as valid. Elders M. Russell Ballard and Quinten L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy discussed the potential ramifications of the proposition not passing on Nov. 4, as well as specific ways members can help.
Each of the men encouraged young adults to use their familiarity with technology to spread the message of "preserving the divine institution of marriage" through the Internet and other means.
"It is my hope that you will engage," Elder Ballard said. "It is my hope that you will 'go viral.'"
Elder Clayton said he encouraged young adults, both single and married, "to do all you can."
The broadcast was transmitted to meetinghouses in California, as well as to colleges and Institutes of Religion in some other western states for California students attending school out-of-state.
Elder Clayton, who lived in California for 42 years, said the movement in recent years to legalize same-sex marriage "is a major concern of the leaders of the church," and is an issue that is important to the church's future.
Same-sex marriage "undermines the institution of marriage," Elder Ballard said "These doctrines of family and marriage were established in the beginning.... Although many in the world may question them, we cannot walk away from them, or alter them."
Elder Cook, who attended Stanford Law School and lived in California for 33 years before being called as an LDS general authority, outlined three of the potentially negative outcomes of same-sex marriage that could result if Proposition 8 fails on election day:
1. The state would give same-sex marriages and traditional marriages "equal dignity under the law," which could mean public school curriculum would teach that same-sex unions and traditional unions should be respected as equals. Students would also "likely receive age appropriate information about sexual relations within heterosexual and homosexual marriages," he said. "The freedom of families to raise children in an atmosphere that values and supports the unique importance of marriage between a man and a woman will be lost."
2. Religious adoption agencies would likely be told by the state they have to disregard their religious beliefs and place children with homosexual couples.
3. The church's tax exempt status could be revoked because it would refuse to perform same-sex marriages or open its buildings for such marriages. "The argument will be that the government shouldn't subsidize discriminatory beliefs with tax-exemptions," Elder Cook, said.
The church has partnered with the Catholic Church and Evangelical denominations as part of the Protect Marriage Coalition, and is moving toward a grass-roots effort to promote Proposition 8. Elder Clayton said 30 members of every ward and branch in California will be called to spend four hours a week on the effort until the Nov. 4 vote. He also asked that all California members devote each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to participate in "calling, walking and other assignments."
Elder Clayton said they're focusing on a three-phase course of action to gain support: (1) canvassing to identify voter preferences, (2) advocacy and persuasion to educate undecided voters and (3) get out the vote.
In addition to the Protect Marriage Coalition Web site (protectmarriage.com), the church has developed a Web site (preservingmarriage.org) with materials and videos to be used in the grass roots campaign. One video features Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of Twelve answering questions from college-age adults.
When one man asked how to combat those who say the church is intolerant because of its stance on same-sex marriage, Elder Bednar said there needs to be tolerance both ways "People can talk and they can appreciate each other, and they can have divergent or different points of view and still get along. And they can even still love each other."
Elders Ballard and Cook stressed that members need to remain civil and respectful in their conversations about the issue.
"There are good people who disagree with the church's teaching on marriage," Elder Cook said. "There are (also) faithful, temple worthy members of the church who struggle with this great challenge, often in silence, fear and great pain."
E-mail: mfarmer@desnews.com
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