Feelings about "CHANGE"

The following are excerpts of emails shared amongst my family members the night of November 4th. I thought my sister Holly's comments were real, honest and appropriate to share (and document) on my blog.

(Holly)...

There were 2 issues that had my attention last night: who will be our next president, and what will happen with Prop 8 in California?

I am hopeful that Obama's presidential "Changes" will be less liberal than his voting record as a senator would suggest. I am grateful that America will have such a strong leader in such difficult times. I would be more comfortable if his moral values were more reflective of mine. I prefer when society is lead by moral values, not moral decay, as society is inclined to either uphold good or propogate evil, depending on it's influences.

It seems as if Prop 8 passed in California. The definition of marriage - between a man and woman - will be included in the state constitution. This has been a bitter battle, (and my heart aches for the many individuals who feel discriminated against in this issue. Either way this decision went, someone would get hurt: either the individuals in homosexual relationships and friends and family who love and care about them -OR- religions, children in public education systems, and individuals who hold to their religious belief that only marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.

Strange that 2 goods should be pitted against each other, in that we are commanded to uphold, live, and defend God's teachings as well as love and show kindness to everyone around us. But, when (as in this case) they are seemingly in opposition, we must all choose according to our own conscience. My own values and religious tenants guide me to prioritize God's will and truth above the rights of individuals pitted against it, even though it feels ironic.

And, is not this the great gift and test of agency? Seek after God's truth, then choose to align our actions in harmony or opposition to it. What if God's will or truths are seemingly unkind or intolerant of others, specifically of those who do not choose God's way? Will I align my will to God's truths or will I exercise my agency to promote ease, kindness, and tolerance to all individuals in society?

Does Matt 22:36 - 40 play into the discussion?

I have never more frequently than the past several months heard so much talk of intolerance, bigotry, closed-mindedness, or blindly following a prophet, all in regard to choosing a candidate or voting yes on Prop 8. None of these uncomfortable accusations were directed at me personally, but I fear that as the sorting of the sheep and goats gets underway, it will become difficult and perhaps impossible for individuals choosing to embrace God's truths to coexist with their brothers and sisters who don't choose it, or even more difficult - to coexist with those who feel that choosing it is intolerant and that loving others is more important than fearing and loving God. Will we be asked to prioritize in such a mutually exclusive, wedge-driving way? If this is the case, then the soul-wrenching and heart breaking choices in this election are a foreshadowing of what is to come. Perhaps this is just the beginning, and before the end, labels of intolerance, bigotry, and close-mindedness will all eventually be attached to me.

How strong am I? How confident am I in delineating God's truths from society's perspectives? Do I believe in the prophesies that followers of truth and righteousness will be bitterly persecuted? Do I really know what persecution is? Will it be my responsibility to teach these truths to children? friends? family? society? ...and teach them to follow regardless of the persecution from society that will surely follow? Will I follow the prophet even if I don't understand why he's asking something of me?

I know someday I will stand before Jesus Christ who, through righteous choices and selfless suffering in his days here on earth, has earned the right to judge me, but has first offered to forgive me and right my wrongs, so I can stand before Him clean and confident to accept his love and blessings and peace and strength and all the advancement he so chooses for me. And I can imagine my thrill and sense of accomplishment when he says i've served him well and that choices in life have glorified him whom I love and respect so much, and supremely, above all else.

If my ability to stand confidently (and humbly) with Jesus in the end means that I must respect individuals in their use of agency then my skills of tolerance should be exercised. And if it means I need to also speak up when I feel they are making choices that would separate them from Christ's eventual love, peace, thrill, and accomplishment, and most importantly, advancement, then I better dig deep and find the courage to start waving the banner of God's truths, no matter what awful things are said about me by people who are telling me to put the flag down.

And, if standing with Jesus in the last days before his triumphant reclamation of all that's his reqires both, then I'll hope that if those who have persecuted me find themselves later in darkness, incapable, because of their own past choices, to see the path they're travailing, that they'll remember where I stand, waving the banner, and come find the truth, so that when they look again, their way will be illuminated.


(Alisa's response)...

Cute little Brooklyn was so worried on election night after learning that Obama won the election. No, she hasn't studied the issues. No, she is not politically educated. Yes, she is only 9 yrs old. But she is old enough to form an opinion based on what little she knows and what she has learned. She had heard "talk" from peers at school, friends, and family about their dislike for Obama, namely that he lies. (Sorry, Mike. I know you are an Obama supporter. Read on only if you wish.) Before bed, she asked, "Mom, what if Obama turns everybody bad?" I didn't understand what she meant, at first. I answered something random. So, she asked again. "No, Mom, what if Obama turns everyone bad? I don't want to be bad." I told her she didn't have to do anything that she felt uncomfortable doing, even if it came from the President of the United States. We should always follow God and our prophets, even if it's different than what the laws say. She then asked, "How does that work? I could get in trouble for not following rules. I could get put in jail." I recounted the story of Joseph Smith, telling her that he was thrown in jail many times for going against everyone else and doing what was right. I explained that doing what's right is not always popular, nor is it always easy. She then asked, "What happened to him?" "He died," I said. Brooklyn looked at me and said, "I don't want to die." As delicately as I could, I tried to assured her not to worry too much about it and that she would probably not need to die for her beliefs. But, at what point are we going to need to prepare ourselves, our children for that possibility...that reality? It scares me. I have young children that I don't want to raise in socialized country or in a country where the leaders aren't honest. Obama said in his speech last night, "I will be honest with you." (He wasn't honest during his campaign.) Obama said (paraphrased), "I didn't get all of your votes and I know that. But, I hear your voice. I am your president, too." Yes, Obama will be my President. He will be Brooklyn's leader. As Karl Rove said last night in the post-coverage, referring to himself and other Republicans...I will support him when I can, and I won't when I can't, when it is against what I morally feel. And it is during those times that we need to be more vocal about what we want, what we feel. Obama says he will hear my voice? Then, I hope he hears me...or at least a 9-year-olds voice who's only concern is to do what is right.

(My Dad, Richard)...

Without a doubt, we have the most special family. I have not heard as tender as story for a long time. The amazing thing is it is true and it happened in our family. Alisa, your advise to Brooklyn was wise and right on. The future of our country, we know by prophesy, is not pretty. We are slowly seeing our freedoms slip away little by little. As the time of the Second Coming approaches, it will seem as though everything is out of kilter, even some things in the Church. The Church will be tried. The Savior said the cleansing will first start in His house. If it were to occur in any other order, God would be a hypocrite, in judging the world with out first judging his Church. I fear for the future especially the future that most effects my children and grand children who are all younger than I. We must all stand fast to what is right, always following the prophet and only the prophet in the bad times. We will not be deceived if we do that. We may not always avoid worldly consequences, but we will have our rewards in eternity. Love you all very much.


........


I think these feelings and concerns have only been proven with the aftermath of Prop 8. The members of the Church and temple-goers in California have felt the "heat". Tauntings, physical force, offensive signage and graffiti, mob-like crowds, and spit are being endured by countless Latter-day-Saints for supporting (and essentially passing) Prop 8. With the millions of dollars that the Church put out in support of this proposition, the Church is being targeted. (It's, ironic that the Catholic Church and other religious institutions also put forth a lot of $$$ in support of it. Yet, they are not feeling the brunt of it.) We must be strong even when it is tough. The world is changing and so is our country. The new President-elect wants CHANGE. We're gonna get it, but we may not like it. I'm grateful to have a living prophet that will lead us through this. (We survived Clinton...we can survive Obama!)