Dallin H Oaks
"Tolerance obviously requires a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another’s differences. But tolerance does not require abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination."
Yesterday, was a nice day weather was a liitle a bit cooler than we encountered two months ago. We went to Brawley to join other members of our ward in a campaign on Proposition 8 of the state law. You may have heard that legalizing same-sex marriage is on the ballot in the state of California. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints along with other religious affliations and coalition groups have been working around the clock to protect traditional marriage. On this current election, Proposition 8 has resurfaced after it was passed for in 2000 general election. Our position on this issue is that marrige between a man and a women is divinely instituted and sacred. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms, “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society. We have no animosity toward our fellow brothers and sisters who are for same-sex marriage, they are entitled to their own opinion and beliefs. But, we believe that this amendment can lead to more harmful as well as damaging results in the future as we may have noticed now.
If same-sex marriage becomes a recognized civil right, there will be substantial conflicts with religious freedom and seperation of religion and state. In some important areas, religious freedom may be diminished. We are living in a world of transformation with the trends evolving from one end to another. Sometimes you feel that you’re still in the same place with minute changes involved until things like this pop-up and we realize we need to stand up for our beliefs. We should continue to be aware of our what is happening around us, our voice need to be heard, and not having other people dictate to us of what we should do. Advocates of same-sex marriage are suggesting that tax exemptions and benefits be withdrawn from any religious organization that does not embrace same-sex unions. If the opposition wins this battle of the Propostion 8 then the status of this state is viewed in a negative way.
Some law-makers have gone far in twisting words out of context. those who would impose same-sex marriage on American society have chosen a different course. Advocates have taken their case to the state courts, asking judges to remake the institution of marriage that society has accepted and depended upon for millennia. Yet, even in this context, a broad majority of courts – six out of eight state supreme courts – have upheld traditional marriage laws. We plead with you our families and friends to support this campaign for Proposition 8 and weed out the same-sex marriage idea. For further details on this endeavor log on to www.protectmarriage.com and www.lds.org on the subject Divine Institution of Marriage.
God bless America.
Sakiusa, Elizabeth and Meresiana Vakalala
