I just thought I'd share this...I am upset about what this world has come to. The legality of gay marriage isn't just about unions between same-sex couples, but it will change the way our children learn about marriage in schools, it will change the requirements for those performing marriage, and it will change the moral center of our society. It's just setting us up for a slippery downhill slope...
What is more sad is that a lot of members of our church still do not accept what the church's position is on this legislation. It is so strange to me, since I know that when the prophet speaks, the discussion is over--we don't make the rules, God makes the rules. We can't change what our Heavenly Father has mandated as His standard for us. Yes, it's hard to be an "outsider" in our world today and it's hard to take this position with many friends (yes, I too have these friends) who are gay. But, my testimony is that I can't make the rules, and His law trumps whatever I may think or feel. He knows all. He sees the whole picture. And we must obey.
From "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," we read that "The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan." and also "We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." And we can't forget how this is a proclamation to the WORLD, not just to members of the church! This is a proclamation to all of God's children--including those in California.
Anyway, this article made me really sad, but really reinforces how "peculiar" a people we are in our society. From http://www.foxnews.com/:
Tom Hanks, an Executive Producer for HBO’s controversial polygamist series “Big Love,” made his feelings toward the Mormon Church’s involvement in California's Prop 8 (which prohibits gay marriage) very clear at the show’s premiere party on Wednesday night.
“The truth is . . . a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop-8 happen.” “There are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them. I do not like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper, any of the 50 states in America, but here's what happens now. A little bit of light can be shed, and people can see who's responsible, and that can motivate the next go around of our self correcting Constitution, and hopefully we can move forward instead of backwards. So let's have faith in not only the American, but Californian, constitutional process.”
When informed of the "Forrest Gump" star's comments, Kim Farah, a spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, said "Expressing an opinion in a free and democratic society is as American as it gets."
Bill McKeever, a rep for the Mormonism Research Ministry, added, "Personally, I find it un-American to tell people that they shouldn’t vote their conscience. Hanks said he doesn’t 'like to see any discrimination codified on any piece of paper.' Considering that just about every law discriminates in some form or another, makes this comment ridiculous. Hanks’ comment shows that he very much believes in discriminating against people with whom he disagrees. I may not agree with Mormon theology, but I certainly defend their right to express their opinion."
I love what Bill McKeever says. Perfect. Anyway, I may not make any friends with my two cents here, but I felt like I should say something.
**Update: Tom Hanks later apologized for his comments and said that "un-American" is a word not to be used lightly, and that Mormons are entitled to their opinion and to "vote their conscience."
**Update: Tom Hanks later apologized for his comments and said that "un-American" is a word not to be used lightly, and that Mormons are entitled to their opinion and to "vote their conscience."
So in these shots, I only look like 3 months pregnant, hehe... It was great to have Ben and Camille around! Ben is Jordan's older brother that lives in Kona--Hawaii, and Camille is his younger sister who lives in Virginia.
