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Powder scares at 2 LDS temples, Catholic plant

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slow learner | 12:22 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I used to be sympathtic to the gay comunity, not anymore! Your actions speak louder than your words! You have no honor, no respect, no class,no tolerance!
bismal | 1:00 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I think we all know people in this community that hate gays enough to try to discredit them

Please wait until the truth is out and then remember it's a sin to judge others, payable by your being judge.
Jessica | 1:36 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I am gay, transgendered, and I was (and am) obviously very much against Prop 8. But what is being done in my name is *WRONG*, DEAD wrong, and I want the people responsible for this act of domestic terrorism brought to justice for their crimes.

These criminals do not speak for me. They do not represent me. What they have done is a disgrace not just to the GLBT community, but to the nation.

We DO want tolerance. (What else would we want? Intolerance?) But the way to achieve tolerance is THROUGH BEING TOLERANT; the small-minded criminals who perpetrated this act of violence, on the other hand, are harming our cause and making us look like monsters. I am shamed by their actions.
Comments continue below
Worried Son | 2:07 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
All of you on both sides - it comes down to one thing: The people receiving these things are someone's relative. In fact, my dad works in the department that received this letter. It could have been my dad! It could have been toxic, and not just an idiot prank! To anyone, gay, straight, black, white, I don't care - next time you think about someone "different" from you, just remember - that's my family you're threatening. That's your family that could be threatened next.
me again | 2:23 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
For those blanket accusing gays of this and that, especially of being violent and hurting their cause and/or not speaking out against these violent actions....

at the very least, read some of these comments! Some are here speaking calmly, regretting the extreme actions, not wishing to be represented by them.

RE: Jessica | 4:05 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I am glad there are still sane people on both sides of this issue. I voted FOR the family, but as one who has gay friends and relatives, I can relate somewhat to the disappointment that must be felt by others. (The reaction, however, is inexcusable.) I did not vote out of so-called homophobia, but out of a conviction that without the traditional family, we can't preserve society as it is. I think we've got a taste the past few days of what sort of society might well result WITHOUT the preservation of the traditional family.

Jessica, I'm glad you recognize that what's being done here is nothing more or less than domestic terrorism. The people who are doing this deserve imprisonment, not "marriage." There ARE still good and decent people at heart among you--I recognize that. I hope you and other reasonable, law-abiding, civic-minded GLBT who REALLY believe in "tolerance" can help the outraged engage in dialogue rather than cruelty.

These acts of violence, bigotry, and oppression are NOT winning friends to their cause OR showing that those who commit them deserve ANY "rights"--other than their Miranda rights, that is.

Let's all be civilized!
Jenny | 4:45 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Well said Jessica! I'm pretty sure that almost all members of the GLBT community feel as you do. I mean, how many times does an overly-zealous group of Mormons give all Mormons a bad name? (I'll give you hint: a lot).
Jules | 5:39 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Leave the Mormons alone already. This is getting ridiculous. Focus your anger somewhere else. The people of California have spoken. AGAIN.
Tired of HomoNazis | 5:57 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I'm tired of the threats of violence by HomoNazis who are attacking people and institutions simply because they did not vote the way these trouble makers wanted them to.

We must not back down now.
Mom in MO | 5:59 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
If you think the Church has planted this as a means of getting sympathy, you are a conspiracy theory kook. Did they also vandalize their own church buildings? Did they also send some powder to the Knights of Colubus? Did they also send death threats to themselves? Get REAL!
Maggie | 6:04 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
We know where this came from a "no brainer". The Church has been called every name in the book. We will weather this out. The Church will continue to help those around the world. If these "terrorists" think that they can hurt the truth or the Church think again. The people have said what they want with the vote of Prop 8. And if they think that we should be more understanding then read the Bible on what is said about Gay relationships.
AW | 6:32 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
The agent from the FBI said that there was no evidence linking this to proponents of prop 8. There is a problem of people automatically assuming it was a group of gay people. Even if it was, saying "these gays" is unfairly stereotyping. This implies that all homosexuals are terrorists.

I imagine those stereotyping gays as terrorists are the same that discriminate against Muslims. It's not fun when the tables are turned. On a recent visit to Texas, I had a difficult time convincing people that I was not associated with Warren Jeffs, when they heard that I was LDS.

In our congregations, we teach tolerance, not necessarily acceptance. I am not seeing a lot of tolerance on this board.
RE: Robert Oh | 6:39 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
You certainly have your "rights" to speak your mind. But must it be with hate-filled bigotry? Can it be sane minds agreeing to disagree? Must it be threatening, angry, and hate filled? No, I do not ask for conformity, nor do I expect it. I ask for respect and love rather than intolerance and hate.
Stereo - typing | 6:46 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I believe that commmon sense would tell us, that all who are opposed to Prop 8 would not act in this fashion. Reality is when there is just "one bad apple" or "one rotten bunch" it reflects poorly on the entire group. The group as a whole becomes "stereo typed" - Guilt by association! This happens in all organizations.

It is impossible to control the acts of individuals who claim membership, association, etc. with any group or organization. One or two actions do not necessarily speak for the entire organization or group. That group, however, is held accountable publically for the actions of a few - if they do not denounce (in this case publically)the actions as not being representative of the group. If this is not done, all credibility will be lost!

Organizations need to denounce in-correct actions (against stated policy /doctrine) by anyone claiming membership or authorized authority in the organization. This sometimes is done publically (to protect the organization and victims) but mostly done privately.

The poor actions of a few (unless it is a authorized representative) should never be a reflection of the entire group or of organization's belief/view, BUT IT DOES! Govern yourselves appropriately.
Wait Just A Minute | 6:51 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Wait just a minute...before we jump to conclusions, let's let the authorities investigate the matter and take it from there. I seem to remember a month or so ago a McCain supporter that was "jumped" at an ATM machine and burned with a B. Sudden hate was spouted, "Look what Obama's supporters will do...they will stop at nothing to get their way..." Come to find out this individual did it to herself (the backwards B was clue 1...LOL). So let's all calm down and let the authorties do their job, investigate the matter, and then make arrests. You know what they say about those that make assumptions...
Israelis and Palestinians | 6:53 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Imagine being in a gay couples shoes.

One day you are legally and happily married and the next day that right is taken away.

When a right is taken away such as your marriage license or the thought that you can marry your significant other, it seems quite logical that this could drive someone to make a terrible decision on the primary party who took the right away.

I am no longer LDS, but I totally respect the church. My advice to church members is to stick your ground and turn the cheek when this garbage happens. Remember: Jesus asked God to forgive his murderers.
Cats | 7:27 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I don't believe anyone is claiming that all gays have participated in this act of terrorism. However, it is JUST ONE OF MANY ACTS of persecution that have been perpetrated against the Church, and it's members, in the weeks leading up to and since the passage of proposition 8.

I believe these people are showing themselves for what they really are. They clearly don't believe in democracy, free speech or the right of citizens to vote their conscience. We will continue to stand for what's right no matter how much hate and persecution is heaped upon us.
yes on 8 mom | 7:40 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
When are they going to have that grandma who was attacked and spat on the Today Show or some other news show. Let's hear her story. That was just awful.

I'm sick of most of the news being one sided and not showing people who just want to protect marriage between a man and a woman. Let's hear their views.
IL mom | 7:45 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Dear Editorial,
Please thank your wife for having the courage to stand up for what she feels is right. I applaud her for writing that editorial to support prop 8.

Too bad many others are afraid they will be put on some hit list, if they voice their opinions.

Shame on those who fought against prop 8.....they are showing their true colors now......HATE.
Flo | 7:45 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
We all probably remember when a US citizen blew up the OK Federal Bldg and killed close to 200 people. What deranged people will do cannot be comprehended by sane, moderate, tolerant people. We know further calamaties are coming, we can focus on how to stay safe.

Sounds like the temple staff did their job and procedures served to protect what could have been a clear act of terrorism. We can't take our safety for granted. One bad apple...
Anonymous | 7:59 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
"That's your family that could be threatened next."

Yeah, and Proposition 8 threatened the families of gays!

So it is OK for you to threaten their families, but when someone threatens your family ONLY THEN do you take it seriously?

I thought empathy was an ability taught by Jesus to his followers? I guess Mormons aren't true followers. They have no empathy whatsoever.
IL mom | 8:11 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Let's move on people. Yes on prop 8 passed with a majority of the vote in CA. Get over it and on with your lives.
AG | 8:11 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
This is terrorism... and should be investigated as such! And we are called fanatics...????
VA momma | 8:16 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Why wasn't the story about the church in Michigan front page news? Let's see that covered on the news instead of just these temple protests. Where is the coverage of that Michigan church? I want to hear what really happened.

Can you imagine if we went to their places of worship to protest them? Shameful....
ted | 8:28 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
looks like the geys are digging themselves a deeper hole. let them do it.
St. George Aggie | 8:30 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I definitely think this has something to do w/ Prop. 8 because both the Mormons and the Knights of Columbus were the 2 main outspoken churches in support of Prop. 8. It is a little more than ironic that both church headquarters get mailed the same thing.

Apparently the democracy that makes our country so great means nothing anymore.

The people voted and the majority were in favor and the amendment passed. Move on! There have been many things and many candidates that I have supported that have failed according to democracy.

That's life. You move on. You don't force your hand.

This is a despicable act. I have lost sympathy for those against Prop 8 for acts like this and many others.

I know all gays are not the ones doing this, in fact it is probably not even gay people. But, wow whoever it is, is giving homosexuals a bad name.
East Coast LDS | 8:32 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I agree this is completely out of hand. But please, there is really no evidence that these actions are being done by gay people. It is possible that these acts were done by people who are so anti-gay that they are taking advantage of the situation to discredit and inflame feeling against gays. We just don't know.

But even if the perpetrators ARE gays upset about prop 8, it is still wrong to ascribe the actions of malcontents to the entire gay community.

I cringed every time the news media referred to the Texas polygamists as "Mormons" or even "fundamentalist Mormons" because they so don't represent the church I belong to. I suspect many of you felt the same. It is likewise wrong for us to lump all gays together behind these acts.
Bri | 8:38 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
It is far too easy for angry, frightened people to lump the "other" into a giant evil monolithic group of terrorists. Obviously the whole gay community didn't have a meeting and decide to terrorize the church. Surely we can see that? Oh, wait. I forgot where I lived for just a second.
Quiet | 8:39 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I will no longer be supporting the democratic process in any other way than with my quiet vote. No polls, no dollars, no campaigning, no signs...just a vote.

If this is what can be expected when one supports a particular cause or candidate, I'm out...until I go to the voting booth. Today it's gays and Mormons. Tomorrow it's young people, Libertarians, teachers, people who listen to NPR, dog-lovers and members of the Junior League. If you've got an opinion, best keep it to yourself until you get to the voting booth....if you want to work, live, attend services, or play in your yard without harassment from the those with radical opposing views.
The Rock | 9:03 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Do Gay Rights Exist?
Where do rights come from?
Some say from government, others say from God.

If rights come from government, then rights are subject to the whims of those who control the levers of power. In a democracy there are no rights without majority support. Gay rights do not enjoy a majority; therefore, gay rights do not exist.

If Thomas Jefferson was right when he wrote: "We hold these truths to be self evident� that all men are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights�" then rights are granted by God, and are absolute.

When Gay activists claim they have an absolute right to do that which God has absolutely forbidden, they are making a religious argument. Absolute rights are dependant upon the existence of God. In this scenario, "gay rights" constitutes an obvious contradiction.

The further America drifts from her moral roots, the more expendable your rights become!

Julie | 9:03 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Of course it can't be related at all. It would be irresponsible to say so. . . Jeez. If it were sent to any other people or any other place, it would be considered terrorism.
Hate Crimes | 9:10 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I hope that any arrests associated with any of the protests are being prosecuted as hate crimes against the mormons. If this type of thing was happening to the jewish people, or even the gays, people would be screaming hate crime. But once againit looks like the mormons are fair game for any kind of criminal activity.
misery loves company | 9:14 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I have never felt threatened by a homosexual. I have been seriously annoyed by a member of the "sunday squadron" many times.

Maybe, if the supporters of Prop 8 had fought a little harder prior to the election this might all be a moot point.

All things being equal, both sides need to lighten up ALOT!
Rights | 9:15 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Marriage is not a right. Marriage is a recognition by the state of the union between two people. Under California law, registered partners have all the same benefits as married people with regard to taxation, visitation rights, etc. So the ONLY thing that a marriage grants that a gay couple does not already have is a certificate, wherein the state officially sanctions their union. This is tantamount to the state saying "I condone and endorse your homosexual behavior." It is not a question of civil rights. Essentially, all Proposition 8 was asking was "Do you think the state of California should condone and endorse homosexual behavior?" Obviously, based on how the vote turned out, a majority of people do not feel the state should do this. This issue is similar to a situation where a gay person tries to seek approval from his/her parents. The parents can't make the child refrain from living a certain way, but by the same token, the child cannot force the parents to condone and endorse his/her lifestyle.
Debbie | 9:21 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Does this sound familiar to anyone? My husband and I agree; it sounds like the persecutions of the Church and it's members has begun. This is just the beginning. We need to prepare for what is yet to happen. This has just opened the door for other activists to persecute the members of this wonderful Church. We all need to be praying instead of complaining.
unfair | 9:21 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
It's unfair for some of the posters here to paint the whole gay community as being behind this despicable act. The majority of gay people are no more terrorist than all christians are murderers because one christian fanatic shoots a doctor at an abortion clinic.
Jon | 9:23 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Ok, so there's no evidence to prove that it was regarding prop 8, except that the envelopes were sent to the LDS Church and the Knights of Columbus (was that it?) another group that supported prop 8. Add to all this the facts that LDS temple gates in LA were vandalized with some graffiti by protesters of prop 8, and that the same group is threatening a boycott of Utah over it, and that people on these forums, from other prop 8-related articles, suggest The Church is getting what it deserves (really? vandalism is what we deserve?), does suggest that this is prop 8-related. However, it could be someone trying to make prop 8 opponents look bad, we don't know. My guess is that it's from a prop 8 opponent.
... | 9:28 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
This is not the first time that followers of Christ have suffered for their beleifs! The Lord honors those who honors Him! This is just one of the affects of taking up you corss and following the Savior! It was never easy for Him and it will never be easy for us. but the least we can do is still love our brothers and sisters! we abhor sin but not the sinner! we are all sinners and need each others help!
Cats | 9:29 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
To Quiet: I certainly hope your blog was intended to be sarcastic.
Duh | 9:37 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Even if this was an individual who supported Gay Rights and was outraged, this is not the thinking of good decent people who are just fighting for what they believe is equality. This/these individuals who committed this act are people who hate and have only one thing on their minds, feed the fire. I may not agree with giving marriage rights to gays but that does not mean they are bad people. Whether it be this issue or another, someone is always evil enough to drive a wedge between the groups who choose to disagree. And as a Soldier, I fight for those rights, equality for everyone, not just one group or person.
How many times? | 9:41 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Some of the comments made here I feel are a bit off base, but I do think it's important for protest and have their say. The problem as I see it is, the vote didn't go the way the gay community wanted. However, there was a vote. The vote was by the people, and for the people. It was a democratic process. People from Utah, Arizona, and other locations didn't cross state lines and cast a ballot. Money may have come from outside CA, but that happens in nearly every election.

However, I don't feel this is over. I think another proposition similar to Prop 8 will emerge in CA and people will vote yet again on it. The gay community will push this process until they finally get the results they want. I'm not familiar with CA law, but how many times can they put this proposition up?

Has the Church done anything to help protect the missionaries from any sort of threats or violence? Seems things might be headed that way. Let's pray it doesn't come to that.
Anonymous | 9:52 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
I think it was Bin Laden.
Who would benefit ? | 9:54 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
Who would benefit from releasing their hate against the church and their hate against the homosexual community? I beleive there are horribly vehement groups that are already protesting both. Some groups that don't like the LDS church because they don't protest enough against homosexuality.

Collect the evidence make sure the authorities take it seriously and not stay "politically correct" but honest.

Truth is important in this situation before any other acts are taken. Also the current environment that allows attack of the Mormon church or other religion needs to be stopped and prosecuted.

Mormons have always had persecution and it seems there is always a turning of the heads by many entities.
kelly in cali | 9:55 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
No one wants the protections that homosexual couples currently have under family code section 297.5 taken away. It clearly states they have the same rights as a spouse.

A poll taken before the election asked if people were yes or no on prop 8. Most said no. This same polling group then asked do you approve or disapprove of homosexual marriage. Most said they disapprove. Interesting when asked in plain English, how they responded.

Anonymous | 9:56 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
You have brought this on yourselves. Stop blaming others. Stop using the law to persecuting and oppressing people who believe differently than you.
SC | 10:00 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
As some of the comments have said. There is nothing that says specifically that this is realted to the gay marriage supporters. This statement may be true, however, if the gays and gay supporters don't want to be linked through assumptions, then they should stop assaulting people, and vandelizing property, and using vulgar langauge toward prop 8 supporters. then they wouldn't be "stereotyped".
Charlie Jones | 10:06 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
This is just some coincidence that people used to blame on the gay people. They knew if they used this opportunity now, the first group of people that would get pointed at would be the gay people. I say leave the gays alone, and until they are proven guilty, what have they done to you?
Remember Rosa Parks | 10:08 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
The civil rights movement had Black Panther, and other violence motivated groups, but does that diminish the acts of Dr. Martin Luther King, or Rosa Parks?

Violence is wrong in any form, but not everyone is that way. And for those that call a protest a riot... your are wrong too. One of the most fundamental principals is our right to protest.
Anonymous | 10:11 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
What I say, I say for a different reason, and that is that the Mormons got what they disserved.
Hank | 10:12 a.m. Nov. 14, 2008
1st of all, any investigating authority SHOULD suspect a connection. Stupid NOT to investigate that first.
2cd: receive ALL mail elsewhere, so it doesn't shut down the Temples, which is exactly what is desired by whomever mailed those letters.
It is not that much trouble to divert all mail to an office in another location.

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Courtney Sargent, Deseret News

Firefighters enter Temple Square in Salt Lake Thursday. Two temples and a Catholic fraternity received envelopes containing powder.

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