proposition 8

Brent challenged me this morning to write about proposition 8.  My knee jerk response was to say "Well, it's complicated".  My feelings about it are complicated.  In reality, they aren't complicated at all. I just needed to educate myself on the issue at hand.  Prop 8 is actually simple and very straight forward. It reads as follows: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."  That's it.  Amazing that something so simple can cause such contention.  And have such far reaching consequences.  I'm only just beginning to grasp the potential for change that will come if this proposition, or something like it, isn't passed. 

To write about this is actually very difficult for me.  I tend to avoid politics when possible.  I tire of double meanings, hidden agendas, and contention in general.  I appreciate honesty and integrity, two things I don't see much in the political arena. So I search for the candidate that is the least dishonest and that person gets my vote.  Not exactly my idea of great leadership.

But the definition of marriage is something I cannot, in good conscience, leave to the politicians.  I care too much.  I have to become involved and support what I know is true. There is a line in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" that sums it up better than I ever could.  "The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and 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."  This is so straightforward and so absolutely true!  I know some people say that truth is a relative term. Meaning what is right and true for one person is not right and true for another.  That may be when you're choosing a career or a new car.  But in regard to the laws of God, there is no grey area.  There is a right and there is a wrong.  To fight against that only leads to unhappiness. You can hate me for saying that, but it won't change the truthfulness of what I said.

I know the desire to love and be loved is innate. We need emotional and physical intimacy like we need food to eat and air to breathe.  I wouldn't want to deny that to anyone.  But same-sex marriage is not a solution.  Our sexual orientation is not the same thing as the color of our skin and can't be treated as such.  We came to this earth with gender intact.  We are male and female to our very core and that is the way it has to be.  Now truthfully, I don't understand the challenge of same-sex attraction.  I can only imagine how difficult that would be.  I DO understand that we have a loving Heavenly Father who will help and support us through our trials.  I also understand that there is great strength in numbers.  I for one, am committing my support to the passing of proposition 8.  I hope, and pray,that you will do the same.