Broadcast on Prop 8

I love this video shown during the broadcast that Elder Ballard asked us to post on our blogs because it shows young people in favor of traditional marriage.

Below is Elder Bednar’s Prop 8 Q&A with institute students, also shown during the broadcast.

To dispel misunderstandings from my previous posts I’d like to mention that at the church broadcast, they told us to do “all that we can” to support prop 8 “in every way possible.” They said “thank you for your money and time.” They gave a week by week outline of what we are to do, including specific hours and ways to walk, call, distribute signs, and get out the vote. While they did not ask for donations to protectmarriage.com, they did refer us to the website and emphasized that all members can participate in some way to support the prop.

Referring to traditional marriage, the leaders said that “we can vigorously proclaim this message…with love” as we blog, chat, twitter, etc. This is what I’m imperfectly trying to do. I’ve made mistakes along the way, but I’m new at making myself vulnerable to strangers, so please forgive me if I’ve offended you. Being bold yet not overbearing is a tricky balance, I must say.

They invited us to this website made by the LDS Church: preservingmarriage.org

If you saw the broadcast, I wanted to know, what were your favorite parts? Here are my favorite parts from the Divine Institution of Marriage published by the Church that Elder Cook read:

“Tolerance, Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Freedom
Those who favor homosexual marriage contend that “tolerance” demands that they be given the same right to marry as heterosexual couples...Tolerance as a gospel principle means love and forgiveness of one another, not “tolerating” transgression.

In today’s secular world, …instead of love, [tolerance] has come to mean condone… Jesus taught that we love and care for one another without condoning transgression. But today’s politically palatable definition insists that unless one accepts the sin he does not tolerate the sinner….”

“How Would Same-Sex Marriage Affect Society?
…Marriage is fundamentally an unselfish act… Same-sex marriage cannot be justified simply on the grounds that it provides self-fulfillment to its partners, for it is not the purpose of government to provide legal protection to every possible way in which individuals may pursue fulfillment.…

…. the all-important question of public policy must be: what environment is best for the child and for the rising generation? …. the legalization of same-sex marriage likely will erode the social identity, gender development, and moral character of children. Is it really wise for society to pursue such a radical experiment without taking into account its long-term consequences for children?”

“The Sanctity of Marriage
Strong, stable families, headed by a father and mother, are the anchor of civilized society….

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has chosen to become involved, along with many other churches, organizations, and individuals, in defending the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman because it is a compelling moral issue of profound importance to our religion and to the future of our society.”