For the last couple of months I have almost been annoyed with the manner of which the church's stand has been on this proposition. As someone who is a very close associate with many who choose a different lifestyle from my own, it has been difficult for me indeed to attempt to defend the church's council when my own political thoughts had been in disarray. I found this quote by Elder Maxwell to be very interesting indeed. With all that is going on in our nation at this time, it seems that prophetic counsel is once again coming to pass for our generation. In my American Heritage class, there was a quote shared by Brigham Young who stated that, "When the Constitution of the United States hangs, as it were, upon a single thread, they will have to call on the 'Mormon' Elders to save it from utter destruction; and they will step forth and do it" (Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 361) However, with the rumors surrounding that the people's vote will once again be overturned it looks as though our democracy is beginning to "hang by a thread" and that the people's voice is no longer being heard.
As for Elder Maxwell's quote, I find this to be extremely good prophetic advice to those who are having a difficult time understanding why the church may have needed to get involved. Pay close attention to the way he words his advice on our involvement:
'Elder Neal A. Maxwell's counsel below is prophetic. Elder Maxwell was known to be very politically active. The question is: As Elijah asked, "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him [and His prophets]: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word." I Kings 18:21'
Neal A. Maxwell, "A More Determined Discipleship," Ensign, Feb 1979
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.
'"This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.
"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened....Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes willbe lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices areclear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us,let us not then complain of the heat."…there is occurring a discounting of religiously based opinions. There may even be a covert and subtle disqualification of some for certain offices in some situations, in an ironic irreligious test for office. If people, however, are not permitted to advocate, to assert, and to bring to bear, in every legitimate way, the opinions and views they hold which grow out of their religious convictions, what manner of men and women would we be?
"If we let come into being a secular church which is shorn of traditional and divine values, where shall we go for inspiration in the crises of tomorrow? Can we appeal to the rightness of a specific regulation to sustain us in our hour of need? Will we be able to seek shelter under a First Amendment which by then may have been twisted to favor irreligion? Will we be able to rely for counterforce on value education aided in school systems which are increasingly secularized? And if our governments and schools were to fail us, would we be able to fall back upon and rely upon the institution of the family, when so many secular movements seek to shred it? It may well be that as our time comes to "suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41), some of that special stress will grow out of that portion of discipleship which involves citizenship."
So, my dear friends, the day has come for us to choose "whose on the Lord's side who? Now is the time to show." I have come to learn even more so now the importance of loving someone for who they are and not for what they do. These associates will continue to be dear friends of mine, but I must defend what I believe.
Finally, here is an article about Elton John that I was a little skeptical about reading, but he actually defends proposition 8! Go ahead and take a look...http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-11-12-elton-john_N.htm
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