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Statement issued by LDS Church
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desertmichael | 8:09 a.m. Nov. 8, 2008
Ironic that the LDS would feel persecuted as they actively and effectively
persecuted gays and lesbians in California. Once again religion shows just how
un-American it actually is -- Utah! brilliant. I will join the boycott.
dave | 8:17 a.m. Nov. 8, 2008
wow! church can mobilize its zombies to affect other people but complain when
they push back??? They need to learn that non mormons resent them foe butting
their heads into their lives. If you need examples: Utah liquor laws, Prop
8,......
Comments continue below
John Pack Lambert | 8:33 a.m. Nov. 8, 2008
I hope we can follow the teachings of Jesus and respond to hate with love.
Cliff | 9:49 a.m. Nov. 8, 2008
How should one read this? "Don't just pick on us?"
The LDS Church has been singled out because it has taken the lead on Prop 8, and is especially harsh in its treatment of homosexual members and especially apologetic in its defense.
No other church proscribes so viscerally to member families dealing with a gay son or daughter, an approach so imbued with rejection.
Show me a modern Catholic family that is as destroyed by this as most active LDS families are?
The LDS Church has been front and center and undivided on this issue. Other churches are happily keeping their collective heads down.
The LDS Church has been singled out because it has taken the lead on Prop 8, and is especially harsh in its treatment of homosexual members and especially apologetic in its defense.
No other church proscribes so viscerally to member families dealing with a gay son or daughter, an approach so imbued with rejection.
Show me a modern Catholic family that is as destroyed by this as most active LDS families are?
The LDS Church has been front and center and undivided on this issue. Other churches are happily keeping their collective heads down.
Bro. Sam | 10:54 a.m. Nov. 8, 2008
I agree
xscribe | 11:39 a.m. Nov. 8, 2008
The statement used the term "mutual respect and civility" with regard
to each other. Maybe if religion would stay out of it and let their god take
care of it, instead of saying they're doing "his work," there
would be some mutual respect. He/she/it didn't need help creating the
world. I think he/she/it is capable of dealing with this issue without the need
of religious groups and others outlawing same-sex marriage.
get real | 11:48 a.m. Nov. 8, 2008
You who have commented on this article crack me up. If you would read the last
paragraph of the statement you would see that the church has no problems with a
civil and respectful discussion. It is the verbal attacks on both sides of the
issue they are decrying. They are asking others to grow up and respect the
opinions of all, not just their opinion.
What happened.... | 12:13 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
...to the American sense of fair play? That's democracy, folks. Both
sides stated their arguments and a vote was held. Sure, LDS members donated
money and time towards their agenda. The gay activists have been throwing time
and money at their agenda, too. Both sides made their case and the people of
California cast their vote. NOBODY HERE IN UTAH CAST A VOTE FOR THIS
PROPOSITION! We may have shown our support, but it was ultimately up to the
citizens of California ALONE. Well, they made their decision. If the
Proposition would have failed, the LDS church would not be picketing and
protesting and yelling "Shame On You!" We would respect the choice of
the people of California. If we can serve as a whipping boy for all that pent
up frustration, confusion, and personal turmoil, however, we have big shoulders
and we can let 'em vent for a bit. It still won't change the fact
that the majority of Californians do not want to see deviancy re-classified as
marriage.
Random | 1:43 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
And if prop 8 had failed, the same protesters would be out in force, rallying
around the same temples and telling the world how awful the LDS people are.
Brad | 1:45 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
As a Californian Mormon, I didn't know we had so much clout in California.
Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California. There are
approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million
and we got Prop 8 passed all by ourselves. What an accomplishment to do it all
alone!
to deseretmichael: | 1:47 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
How did the LDS church specifically persecute the gays?
the truth | 2:55 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
You gays, enough with the hate and intolerance already.
I mean, really, it is like you have no sense at all.
I mean, really, it is like you have no sense at all.
the truth | 3:00 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
All you Gays, enough with Hate and Intolernce already!
You lost. The majority chose otherwise. NO matter how you sum up the democratic process, you lost.
Constitution gave you the right of free speech to convince others and the majority disagreed.
That how this republic works constitutionally.
Any church has the righ to interject themselves in any state and in any moral debate they see fit.
You lost. The majority chose otherwise. NO matter how you sum up the democratic process, you lost.
Constitution gave you the right of free speech to convince others and the majority disagreed.
That how this republic works constitutionally.
Any church has the righ to interject themselves in any state and in any moral debate they see fit.
The church.... | 5:25 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
shouldn't feel bad about getting singled out by the gays and lesbians. Let
them scream it out. The church is morally right to pursue such an issue and
it's never ever about politics.
Keep up the good work LDS and other churches who also donated money to Prop 8. They can scream all they want and I will keep winking at them as they walk by me with their idiotic signs and rants...
Keep up the good work LDS and other churches who also donated money to Prop 8. They can scream all they want and I will keep winking at them as they walk by me with their idiotic signs and rants...
Michael | 5:36 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
The gays make me sick. The Church has a right to speak on decisions as directed
by God through our Prophet. No other institution, religious or otherwise has
this authority. Get over it all you gays, the word has been spoken and the
Church has taken action. It was the right thing to do and one day you will thank
the Church for this action.
Re: What Happened..... | 5:46 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
Well said...
Joe | 5:52 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
I think Hinckley would have handled this a lot better than President Monson. He
was much more media savvy. Its possible to get views across without getting
peoples backs up.
Danny C. | 6:57 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
Protesters: AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!
LDS Church: Are you done yet?
Protesters: AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!
LDS Church: *looks at watch* Still waiting. This could take a while. Let's get back to our plans for the Christmas show...
LDS Church: Are you done yet?
Protesters: AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!
LDS Church: *looks at watch* Still waiting. This could take a while. Let's get back to our plans for the Christmas show...
The Deuce | 7:28 p.m. Nov. 8, 2008
For xscribe: Let's just say for argument sake that there is a God. Do you
really want he/she/it to handle the situation? The are a few accounts in the
Bible where God handled things him/her-self and the result was not pretty. Are
you sure you want this?
xscribe | 7:31 a.m. Nov. 9, 2008
Yes!
Very interesting... | 2:17 p.m. Nov. 9, 2008
Well, I am neither gay nor part of the LDS church, but here I thought that
separation of church and state applied to state elections. Funny how that
works, when one church with an excessive amount of tax exempt money gets to use
its funds to push its ideas of moral righteousness on a group of people. Yes,
everyone has their right to free speech, but I am pretty sure that right was
guaranteed to American citizens, not to religious institutions. In fact,
constitutionally, I'm pretty sure that religious institutions are only
guaranteed the right to exist without being persecuted by the state in return
for keeping their nose out of the state's affairs. But most of you are
right, "the gays" should just accept their social inequality that
resulted from this "fair" election and not worry about the fact that a
church whose beliefs they don't follow is running their lives. That is
what living in America is all about, yes?
galstuk | 5:53 p.m. Nov. 9, 2008
Marriage, and the rights appertaining thereto, are a matter of state law. In
some states, it is possible to be married as a matter of sharing the same
domicile for a specified period of time; common law marriage. This is a legal
status recognized by the state and enacted by state legislatures. Whether a
Judge, Justice of the Peace, or Priest, the authority to marry comes from the
state and they are, generally, required by law to state this in the ceremony.
Because the law permits such a union, an LDS Bishop could now be required to
marry a gay couple. He would be hard pressed to refuse such a request given
that his authority to marry is governed by the state in which he resides and not
the dictates of his doctrine. Were he to refuse, the gay couple would simply
sue for redress and require the state to force the Bishop to comply with the
law. So much for the concept of separation between Church and State. In this
regard, religious organizations have consistently and constantly fought to keep
state laws from infringing on their belief systems.
Are we forgetting | 9:29 p.m. Nov. 9, 2008
that 2 other states passed the same law? California is not the only one. As an
American it is my right to vote the way my heart tells me. As an LDS member it
is my choice whether or not to follow the Prophet. Many people in this election,
LDS or not, made their choice. I chose to follow my church leader and make my
decision, not because they told me to but because I believe the Bible to be
the word of God. For centuries the law of marriage has been clearly defined
and who are we to try to override our God?
pfunk91 | 12:10 a.m. Nov. 10, 2008
I saw the protestors in Salt Lake City, or should we call it the "March of
the Hypocrites 2008?"
A bunch of hate-filled bigots crying out against hatred and bigotry.
There were more than a dozen groups in that coalition against gay marriage, yet, only the LDS Church was singled out in protest. Even the Catholic
Over 70 percent of African-American voters supported a ban on gay marriage, but those protestors would never dream of going into an African-American neighborhood like Compton or South Central and chant "Shame on you."
I don't support bans on gay marriage, but I can't support the lopsided, blinded by hate viewpoints of people who can't accept the fact that they were out-voted in a democratic process.
Oh, and by the way Cliff, obviously you've never been to the south, where Baptists shun their gay children far more often than the LDS. Another display of ignorance from a group that claims they hate ignorant people.
A bunch of hate-filled bigots crying out against hatred and bigotry.
There were more than a dozen groups in that coalition against gay marriage, yet, only the LDS Church was singled out in protest. Even the Catholic
Over 70 percent of African-American voters supported a ban on gay marriage, but those protestors would never dream of going into an African-American neighborhood like Compton or South Central and chant "Shame on you."
I don't support bans on gay marriage, but I can't support the lopsided, blinded by hate viewpoints of people who can't accept the fact that they were out-voted in a democratic process.
Oh, and by the way Cliff, obviously you've never been to the south, where Baptists shun their gay children far more often than the LDS. Another display of ignorance from a group that claims they hate ignorant people.
Loretta | 5:32 a.m. Nov. 10, 2008
LDS, don't feel you're being singled out because the LANGE temple was
"attacked" last week. Other churches are being picketed as well, and
I suspect there's an agenda being followed to "attack" us all
over time. Evangelicals over the weekend, and surely the Catholic cathedral
will get its turn.
In the meantime, why not rejoice when they persecute you and say all manner of vile things about you? Do you not remember the Sermon on the Mount?
In the meantime, why not rejoice when they persecute you and say all manner of vile things about you? Do you not remember the Sermon on the Mount?
Kristi | 11:43 a.m. Nov. 10, 2008
Frankly I think most people are missing the obvious flaw in this official
statement and I can't believe that the LDS Church's legal department
let this statement get out the door.
The LDS Church DOES NOT have a right to participate in politics. Its members do but the church as an organization does not. What the Church as an organization has done in the political arena is in blatant violation with its requirement as a 501C(3) entity.
I have nothing against LDS members exercising their right to vote. I encourage it. Just so long as the only encouragement from the Church organization is "hey remember that your right to vote is very important so everyone go vote." The minute the Church as an organization is instrumental in the placement of anything on the ballot anywhere or issues official statements or letters to its membership telling them how to vote they are out of line and I hope the IRS reminds them of that fact with a tax bill dating back to their first activity on this matter.
The LDS Church DOES NOT have a right to participate in politics. Its members do but the church as an organization does not. What the Church as an organization has done in the political arena is in blatant violation with its requirement as a 501C(3) entity.
I have nothing against LDS members exercising their right to vote. I encourage it. Just so long as the only encouragement from the Church organization is "hey remember that your right to vote is very important so everyone go vote." The minute the Church as an organization is instrumental in the placement of anything on the ballot anywhere or issues official statements or letters to its membership telling them how to vote they are out of line and I hope the IRS reminds them of that fact with a tax bill dating back to their first activity on this matter.
cinlds | 5:59 p.m. Nov. 10, 2008
The church did not place anything on the ballot. The people of California made
that choice. The LDS church did not give any money to any cause...it's
members did this out of their own purses. Let me get this right...when a church
with a moral compass encourages it's members to vote according to that
moral compass...its wrong...yet a presidential candidate who gets the backing
from a particular race...its okay? This is democracy, baby! The people have
spoken...red, black,white, LDS, Catholic, Atheist, Gay...each had their vote.
The Gay community may not be a religion, but they are a voice in
democracy...they just weren't the majority vote in this instance. There
will always be other elections.
To Kristi | 4:14 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
How more wrong can you be? A church is absolutely entitled to give advice on
issues, but not candidates. The church has every right to tell its members to
vote according to its teachings. This does not violate anything, including
separation of church and state. Let's drop this issue once and for all!
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While those who disagree with Equal Marriage Rights, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have the right to make their feelings known, it is wrong for it to target advocates of Equal Marriage Rights for being part of the democratic process.