Thursday, August 5, 2010

What's Bothering You?

A lot of things recently, really just politically.
  • The one thing I'll just never understand, however, is how members of the church can celebrate a court decision that goes clearly against the stated position of the church. I know that it's hard to understand, and nobody fully grasps the issue in its entirety, but when the leaders of the church, those men whom we pledge to sustain multiple times throughout the year by the raise of our right hand, tell us that we support the passage of Proposition 8, why is it so hard to grasp that that is the line that we are to hold? Following the prophet will always supercede any political position that we already have, because it's no longer about politics - it's about being on the right side of the line, which has been clearly defined by the Lord's mouthpiece. That particular belief will sound pretty crazy to anybody who isn't a member of this church, but that is the only place where safety can be guaranteed.
  • Been listening to some podcasts of This American Life recently, which definitely leans left in its politics. They have been talking a lot about the economy, and how to improve conditions. You know what I found remarkable about their conclusions? The solution is always fiscal responsibility, staying out of debt, and keeping taxes low.
  • The Proposition 8 thing makes me mad. Supporting Proposition 8 seems to mean that you hate gay people. You are a bigot and want to restrict fundamental rights by supporting that constitutional amendment. You know what else this reminds me of? Being critical of President Obama means you're racist. Not liking what the Reverend Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson says means you're racist. People throw these terms around at every opportunity to detract from the greater issue at hand. Throw a white sheet on a person and it automatically discredits everything that person will ever have to say. Yes, that kind of white sheet.
  • This is a little off topic, but I would really think that a former governor would always be best suited to be POTUS. A state is really just a microcosm of the nation as a whole, and a governor who has a demonstrated track record of success would seem to have a pretty good idea about how to work with the two opposing parties, manage an economy, and lead a group of people. That just makes sense to me. I don't think Sarah Palin really qualified, mostly because her experience was so limited, but doesn't it seem like she had a better record than Obama did at the time of his election? I don't know.
  • If you don't like the direction of the country - economy, health care, social issues - then it's time to start encouraging your friends and family to vote differently, isn't it? Admittedly, I'm pretty hard right in my politics, but I can't believe how much I disapprove of in the last two years, politically.
Anyway, if you're interested in some political commentary of Proposition 8, you can read The Editors' response from National Review here, read about the problems with Judge Walker's handling of the case here, and the guys from Powerline here, which features this quote:
Conservatives have long said that the day would come when liberal judges declare the Constitution unconstitutional. That happened today, when a gay federal judge in San Francisco, relying on the opinions of mostly-gay "expert" witnesses, ruled that an amendment to the California constitution, which was adopted in perfectly proper fashion by a substantial majority of voters, is "unconstitutional." In this context, unconstitutional means "unpopular with me and my friends."

As a legal matter, Judge Walker's decision is a bad joke. It will be appealed, of course, but the outcome of the appeal will be determined by politics, not law. I think it is safe to assume that anyone nominated to the Supreme Court by a Democratic President is explicitly or implicitly committed to the proposition that gay marriage is a constitutional right. If you think that is bizarre, stop voting for Democratic politicians.
It's all very maddening, isn't it?

6 comments:

Kira Cook said...

I was ticked/confused when I read some of my mormon friends' posts about prop 8. The Primary song about following the Prophet says, "In this there is safety and peace." While I can defend my position just fine, I'm also okay with, THE PROPHET SAID. I like what you had to say, good work!

Dave said...

From page 113 of the decision: "Rather, the exclusion (same-sex couples from marriage) exists as an artifact of a time when the genders were seen as having distinct roles in society and in marriage. That time has passed."

Think about what that statement means and you have a clear idea of why we were asked to take a stand on the Prop 8 issue. This is so much bigger than marriage, people. This is the dissolution of right and wrong. Relative morality and the absence of right and wrong is the church of the adversary.

The Apostle Paul warned of these days:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth" ( 2 Tim. 4:3–4).

As to those who "claim to have membership in the Church" but actively campaign against (complain about, fail to support, etc.) Prop 8, I quote liberally from Elder Ballard's October 1999 General Conference talk entitled, "Beware of False Prophets and False Teachers":

"As Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is our duty to be watchmen on the tower, warning Church members to beware of false prophets and false teachers who lie in wait to ensnare and destroy faith and testimony. Today we warn you that there are false prophets and false teachers arising; and if we are not careful, even those who are among the faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will fall victim to their deception."

Dave said...

Continued:


"We can accept nothing as authoritative but that which comes directly through the appointed channel, the constituted organizations of the Priesthood, which is the channel that God has appointed through which to make known His mind and will to the world. … And the moment that individuals look to any other source, that moment they throw themselves open to the seductive influences of Satan, and render themselves liable to become servants of the devil; they lose sight of the true order through which the blessings of the Priesthood are to be enjoyed; they step outside of the pale of the kingdom of God, and are on dangerous ground."
...
"When we think of false prophets and false teachers, we tend to think of those who espouse an obviously false doctrine or presume to have authority to teach the true gospel of Christ according to their own interpretation. We often assume that such individuals are associated with small radical groups on the fringes of society. However, I reiterate: there are false prophets and false teachers who have or at least claim to have membership in the Church. There are those who, without authority, claim Church endorsement to their products and practices. Beware of such."
...
"President Spencer W. Kimball reminded us that the prophets “constantly cry out against that which is intolerable in the sight of the Lord; against pollution of mind, body, and our surroundings; against vulgarity, stealing, lying, pride, and blasphemy; against fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and all other abuses of the sacred power to create; against murder and all that is like unto it; against all manner of desecration."
...
"Therefore, let us beware of false prophets and false teachers, both men and women, who are self-appointed declarers of the doctrines of the Church and who seek to spread their false gospel and attract followers by sponsoring symposia, books, and journals whose contents challenge fundamental doctrines of the Church. Beware of those who speak and publish in opposition to God’s true prophets and who actively proselyte others with reckless disregard for the eternal well-being of those whom they seduce. Like Nehor and Korihor in the Book of Mormon, they rely on sophistry to deceive and entice others to their views. They “set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion” ( 2 Ne. 26:29).
...
"False prophets and false teachers are also those who attempt to change the God-given and scripturally based doctrines that protect the sanctity of marriage, the divine nature of the family, and the essential doctrine of personal morality. They advocate a redefinition of morality to justify fornication, adultery, and homosexual relationships. Some openly champion the legalization of so-called same-gender marriages. To justify their rejection of God’s immutable laws that protect the family, these false prophets and false teachers even attack the inspired proclamation on the family issued to the world in 1995 by the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles."

Dave said...

Continued...


"in the Lord’s Church there is no such thing as a “loyal opposition.” One is either for the kingdom of God and stands in defense of God’s prophets and apostles, or one stands opposed. And as Lehi of old counseled his sons, so this counsel is true for us today:

“And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

“And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit” ( 2 Ne. 2:26–28)."

Of such President Joseph F. Smith warned when he spoke of the “proud and self-vaunting ones, who read by the lamps of their own conceit; who interpret by rules of their own contriving; who have become a law unto themselves, and so pose as the sole judges of their own doings” (Gospel Doctrine, 381)."
...
"Let us remember that it is our duty to be faithful to the restored truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It takes faith—real faith, total and unreserved—to accept and strive to live prophetic counsel. Lucifer, the adversary of truth, does not want us to feel or exhibit that kind of faith. He encourages disobedience, planting defiance in the hearts of the unwary. If he is successful, they will turn away from the light into the darkness of the world. Our safety, our peace, lies in working as hard as we can to live as the Father and Son would have us live, in fleeing from false prophets and false teachers, and in being anxiously engaged in good causes."

Dave said...

To those members who rejoice in the overturning of Prop 8, I echo Elder Ballard's question, "Are ye disciples of Christ who are faithful to restored truths or false prophets and false teachers who turn away from the light into the darkness of the world?"

Let us not take lightly the destruction and desecration of eternal truths.

cropstar said...

I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said.

I'm completely baffled by how many of my mormon friends celebrated the prop 8 court decision. Baffled.

I'm also outraged at how a judge can completely debunk the entire voting system. Why vote if the decision can just be overturned by one judge. Doesn't that sound like dictatorship?

And as far as I know there is nothing in the constitution that talks about gay marriage being ok.

I'm just gonna keep following the prophet.

Thanks for being a conservative voice, silvs!