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I believe Mormons everywhere may be silently thinking:

"What did we gain by pouring our money and time into passing Proposition 8? It will either be overturned by a court, or overturned by the obviously pro-gay-marriage electorate in 2010 or 2012 at the latest. So why did we expend the resources? Why did I risk my career, my family's money, etc. for a momentary flexing of our muscles? Why did we not foresee that passing Prop 8 would end up helping the cause of gay marriage and setting the Church's PR effort back decades? Why is the result of our massive effort that tens of thousands of those who support gay marriage are rallying everywhere, collecting contact information and money for the next go around? I thought we were doing this to preserve heterosexual marriage. Why have our actions seemingly advanced the cause by probably a decade? Anyone? Why? And will I be asked to do this again in two years? Then two years later?"

Anyone got the answers?

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mms wrote:I believe Mormons everywhere may be silently thinking:
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I know about a half-dozen people who made the big contributor list and......no, they're not.

The Nehor wrote:

mms wrote:I believe Mormons everywhere may be silently thinking:
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I know about a half-dozen people who made the big contributor list and......no, they're not.

So why do you think we did this, Nehor? Did we simply not foresee the disastrous result? I mean, really, why spend the resources for a momentary thumping of our chests when it looks like we will now have an ongoing thumping of what were our stated end goals?

I think few if any are thinking along those lines.

I think the followers are firm in their conviction that they have demonstrated their faithfulness by contributing to the cause, that Satan is going to win as predicted by prophets, that when gay rights are restored the end is near and Christ will return.

They see this fiasco as a sifting of the wheat and tares, a test to see who is going to follow the prophet, a revelation coming to pass. They bask in the knowledge that Christ is at the helm of the church and they are following the prophet as commanded.

They see themselves as victims of persecution as many faitful followers have always been which of course demonstrates the truth of the gospel.

~td~

Interesting. I have spoken with several who are thinking along the lines that I stated above (including some very active in the prop 8 campaign). They are not used to the Church asking peple to throw money and time away wastefully -- they believe in a more practical Church; one that would not aid the plan of Satan by advancing the agenda of the pro gay marriage community while thinking they are defeating that agenda. However, in an effort to cope with the results, I assume you are correct in stating that the explanation will be one of "it was a test."

If it was a test, Bill Marriott and Steve Young failed. This, I am sure, disappoints those who hold them up as Mormon heroes--never thinking they were the "tares."

mms wrote:So why do you think we did this, Nehor? Did we simply not foresee the disastrous result? I mean, really, why spend the resources for a momentary thumping of our chests when it looks like we will now have an ongoing thumping of what were our stated end goals?

What disastrous result? We won. The violent gays are breathing out threats against us and they're the ones earning bad PR. If they keep it up sympathy will switch sides. We may have to do it again. So will they. It's the nature of the game. We'll deal.

This was part of an email I recently recieved from a faithful Mormon:

Personally, we are very grateful for the people in California voting for a Constitutional change in the definition of marriage, which is the only way to stop the California courts from interpreting the laws in ways that were never intended, or anticipated, and which are (gratrfully) against the majority of the people's beliefs. This situation reminds us of Mosiah 29:25-27:

"Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord. Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people. And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land."

According to this Mormon, if the people of California choose iniquity in 2010 or 2012 then they will suffer the judgments of God, i.e. great destruction. Says so in the Book of Mormon, talking about "this land".

I was thinking that as the fires burn in Southern California, it is too bad that prop 8 passsed. Had it failed, people could say that California is being burned as a result. I admit it would be kind of funny--in a really twisted way--if the gay community started claiming that California was burning as a result of the bigoted vote against them in passing prop 8.

Nehor,

Mark my words. We will not be asked to do again that which we were asked to do here. The Church simply will not risk what will be risked in doing so. if you have not noticed, in the last several decades (at least) the Church has bent over backward to appear mainstream. In fact, for a church that values marriage so much, it has even withheld any mention of Joseph Smith's 32 marriages to those other than Emma when recounting the "significant events" in his life on his official website. So marriage is important, but not important enough to constitute "significant events" in Joseph Smith's life. You gotta admit that is kind of funny. C'mon.

"What did we gain by pouring our money and time into passing Proposition 8?

No I think very few are thinking this.

It will either be overturned by a court, or overturned by the obviously pro-gay-marriage electorate in 2010 or 2012 at the latest.

Might,might not. I do not think Mormons always operate on a why try if we may lose approach.

So why did we expend the resources?

To take a stand for what they believe God wants.

Why did I risk my career, my family's money, etc. for a momentary flexing of our muscles?

Career?

Why did we not foresee that passing Prop 8 would end up helping the cause of gay marriage and setting the Church's PR effort back decades?

I think they view it as a triumph.

Why is the result of our massive effort that tens of thousands of those who support gay marriage are rallying everywhere, collecting contact information and money for the next go around? I thought we were doing this to preserve heterosexual marriage. Why have our actions seemingly advanced the cause by probably a decade? Anyone? Why? And will I be asked to do this again in two years? Then two years later?"

I think most your assumptions are faulty.

Anyone got the answers?

Those are my answers and opinions. I could be wrong but I don't think near as wrong as you are.