Sunday, November 23, 2008

Why Us?

Recently on my religion blog I posted an article questioning why the GLBT is targeting us in their protests against Prop. 8. The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints make up only about 2% of the entire population of California. One observation was made that if NONE of us had voted for this proposition, it STILL would have passed. So why are they targeting us? I have thought of a few reasons that I wanted to share with you here.

1. We are highly visible.
During the days leading up to the election, we were the ones out on the street corners waving signs. I'm sure there were some of other faiths, but we were the ones that were out there the most. In addition, our missionaries are very visible on the streets with their white shirts and name tags.

2. We made up most of the work force.

Once again, many other faiths helped with this, but we made up a huge chunk of those walking districts, making phone calls etc. It is no secret that our church is very organized. In the event of natural disaster, our church is often allowed to help with relief when others aren't because we are already organized with leadership. So too, in the case of Prop. 8, it was just a matter of having a Priesthood leader call those in his quorum, or a Relief Society president having each visiting teacher speak with those she visits each month. I must adamantly state that every bit of help offered was voluntary. I know there were many in my congregation who chose not to participate in any way. I know there are also those who did not vote for Prop. 8. There was absolutely no judgement made by anyone, and no questions were asked if some chose not to help. But there were a core group of people who felt committed to the preservation of marriage who gave much of their time and efforts to support it.

3. Satan knows who we are.

I have thought often that some of those who do not view us as Christians might say that we are being persecuted because we are evil. But I believe just the opposite. Satan knows who we are and knows our capability to fight evil. The Savior taught this lesson well:
"23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end." Mark 3, 24-26
To those who say that we are being persecuted because we are evil I would ask, why would Satan attack his own army? "If Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end."

I don't know how this will all end, but I do know that a Prophet of God encouraged my family to help uphold the sanctity of marriage, and I obeyed. Our ancestors before us were persecuted, but kept the faith. An extermination order was signed by Governor Boggs, and they were forced to leave their homes behind and flee to the West. But despite the persecution, the Prophet Brigham Young led them to a place where they could worship freely. In these last days, we will surely see even more persecution, but if we are faithful in following the Prophet, the Lord will bless us and help us through.

3 comments:

Max Coutinho said...

Hey D!

Your church is being persecuted because of one reason only (the only one that raises the biggest of troubles in the world): Money!!

I heard that LDS church, alone, raised $20M for the prop 8 campaign.

All the rest that they may say is sheer demagoguery (because they can't admit, in public, that the reason behind any of this attacks is money - it wouldn't look good, now would it?)....

Anyway, prop 8 passed so they should just get over it!

Cheers

Oswegan said...

It certainly is a difficult issue.

Looney said...

I think the answer really lies in the GLBT-activist pathology: To cover up the parts of their conscience that condemn themselves, they must noisily lash out at something else and the LDS is a great target.