Fallout from the Success of Proposition 8

The Narrow Path

Several hours ago a local TV station broke in with a bulletin about the march on the Los Angeles temple of the Church. "The" Church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sheryl found an ongoign live feed of what was happening, being transmitted from a helicopter which hovered a few hundred feet over the marchers. The homosexuals who constituted the crowd that was marching through the streets nearby and over the grounds of the temple were organized by a man sho said he wanted "to teach the Mormon Church a lesson."

This is interesting. First of all, Sheryl and Autumn and I all noticed that the Baptists and the Catholics who had been equally in favor of the proposition which banned marriage between members of the same sex had not been marched on, denounced by name, or even spit at. All their rage was directed at our church which the leader said had "bought" the passage of Proposition 8.

It is significant that our church was singled out like this. I have seen such behavior before. It usually fizzles out without accomplishing anything. That doesn't mean there's no danger, but it does mean that:

Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and . . . the Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done. [Joseph Smith, HC 4:540]

In other words, let them do their worst. This Church is true. Its leaders are apostles and prophets of the living God. The doctrines they teach are true. People who undertake to defeat this Church or its purposes will wind up like so many of the enemies of the Lord's church and kingdom we read of in scripture. Korihor is one example. Sherem is another. These two fellows made the same mistakes. They found the teachings of Satan appealing. They volunteered to spread his doctrines and thereby to spread his kingdom. They led people away from the truth. Finally, they both asked for a sign. Tsk, tsk, tsk! That's something you never do. Such people are defeated before they even get started, but they don't seem to know it. Perhaps these folks in LA also feel that, by expressing their rage and frustration, they can get the prophet and the Church to change.

But no number of signatures on any number of petitions will make a particle of difference. This is the Lord's Church. Its doctrines and policies are His. It is not a democracy. Even if (heaven forbid!) the whole membership of the Church were to falter and fall away, the Lord's standards and teachings would not change. All the tantrums and foot stomping and marching and shouting and placard waving in the world will not stop the correct and righteous work of this Church. I know this in my heart. Because of that knowledge, I plan to stay on board and never leave this church for any reason.

The spirit to be found in this Church is the Holy Ghost. It is the Spirit of Truth. It is the Comforter. He was there for all the most important things that have ever befallen me. I have felt His presence and so I know what Joseph Smith meant when he said that, "The witness of the Spirit is more powerful than the witness of our eyes." We have nothing to worry about if we are found standing "in holy places." That means that wherever we are had better be a place where the Lord finds a committed servant.

I think that most of my family will make it to the Celestial Kingdom. I pray frequently that I'll be among them despite all the weaknesses with which I've been blessed. I'm still trying.