Officials urge California: support marriage amendment

LDS Church officials are urging California Mormons to "do all you can" to support a constitutional amendment to recognize only marriages between a man and a woman.The call to action came from First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a letter that is scheduled to be read to local California congregations on Sunday, church spokesman Scott Trotter said."The church's teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal," the letter reads. "Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained or God, and the formation of families is central to the creator's plan for his children."Children are entitled to be born within this bond of marriage."Last month, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage.The church was active in urging California residents to ban gay marriage through a public referendum in March 2000. Proposition 22 was designed to prevent formal sanction of same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions from gaining future legal recognition on par with traditional marriage. Voters approved the measure, with 61 percent in favor and 39 percent opposed.Now voters are trying again, this time through a constitutional amendment.In the letter, President Thomas S. Monson, and counselors Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.""We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage is legally defined as being between a man and a woman."