Reflections on Proposition 8

I’ve watched with keen interest over the past few weeks as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (of which I am a member) has been targeted by protesters for its support of California’s Proposition 8 which preserved traditional marriage in the state. Over a dozen Church buildings have been vandalized, some Church members have walked past picketers to get to their Sunday services, and the Church’s Los Angeles temple was forced to close at one point.

Leaders of the Church—whom members revere as modern-day prophets—took an unequivocal position on Prop 8, urging members that, “Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.”

In light of the Church’s strong stand on the issue, protests by segments of the gay community have been somewhat unsurprising. What has been more striking has been that a noticeable portion of Church members has also opposed Church leadership on the issue. While the absolute number of such dissenters has been relatively small, I think Prop 8 portends increased levels of conflict within the Church over social issues in the coming years.

Church leader Harold B. Lee said:

“We have some tight places to go before the Lord is through with this church. The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. There will be inroads within the Church.... We will see those who profess membership but... [are] trying to lead people not to follow the leadership that the Lord has set up to preside in this church.

Now the only safety we have as members of this church is... to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet.... There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life.

But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, ... the promise is that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory."

The gay marriage issue will be just one of many polarizing issues that will sift the Church. Sooner or later, each one of us will be tested. The key to our protection will be a willingness to follow the Lord’s prophets.

Robby

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More...

• For a ground-zero perspective on Prop 8 from old family friend Chelsea Combs, see here or here.
• A first-hand experience by my sister Andra with Arizona's similarly worded Prop 102 is here (registration required).
• Also, Elder Neal A. Maxwell weighs in on the subject here.