"Let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel."
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
In the face of true persecution targeted towards members of the church recently (not-so-peaceful protests outside the temple in LA / outside of Temple Square in Salt Lake), keep in mind:
- Mormons make up less than 2% of the population of California. There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.
- Mormon voters were less than 5% of the yes vote. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6% of the Yes vote and 2.4% of the total Proposition 8 vote.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.
- The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.
- Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.
- The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.
- African Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8. This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.
- The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).
- The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims – all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.
- Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or her self. Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with "civility, respect and love," despite their differing views.
- The Church did not violate the principal of separation of church and state. This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ." The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process, to the extent permitted by law. U.S. election law is very clear that Churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues. The Church has always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.
- Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support, and then vote in the regular electoral process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair, and civil way. Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars, and worse. The fact is, we simply did what Americans do – we spoke up, we campaigned, and we voted.
*All contents of this post taken directly from my super-brilliant sister Joanna. I "borrowed" it all, because it was just that good. She's really great, & I'd link her blog... but it's exclusive.
20 comments:
Wow thanks, I really appreciate all of this info from Joanna.
The LDS church has become a target in this because they made a statement, but it is obvious that so many others believe the same thing.
Thanks for posting this. Now how can be get even more people to read it...
Thanks for the info. I really like #8, because it really is a basic right to exercise freedom of speech and no one should be persecuted, let alone the lds church.
Thank you for the information. I am so shocked and saddened by the anger directed at the church. Reading the reports of protestors outside the church buildings and temples scares me. I am so glad that nothing happened where I am and my prayers are with those who are experiencing this firsthand. Would you mind if I posted this information on my blog?
Oh my gosh Emily, please do.
I am going to follow Emily and post this, if you don't mind. Thanks to your sister for gathering the facts!
Facts are facts.
I still can't marry regardless of who voted yes on 8.
Too bad for me.
Brilliant.
JT & I talked about this almost all weekend. It's just fascinating.
Thanks for posting this, Kathryn. For all of thebickering and finger-pointing there are on message threads and in the media, I just wish people would educate themselves on the facts. And regardless of how much money was donated, nobody was in the polling booths with Californians when they voted their conscience. And they voted yes.
I was down at Temple Square on Friday to watch the No on 8 protests - almost 4,000 people marching around the temple. The irony was having people scream in my face "NO ON HATE!!" while I just sat there and listened. Pretty intense.
And I'm glad that despite differences in how you view this, you and Bret are able to be mature about it and remain friends. I think that is really cool - and how it should be. Yesterday I read a gay friend's blog that said that anyone who has ever "accepted" him and yet voted for Prop 8 is "disingenuious" and not honest. (sigh)
I actually wondered all of this. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated. It makes me feel a lot better about the whole situation.
Hi Kathryn,
I know you have no idea how i am. I went to HS with Kera and hopped from her blog to yours. Now I am hooked..... checking your blog almost daily. I love the way you write and what you write about. I shared this post with a gal i work with. She loved all the points that your sister made and would like to post it on her blog (of course give credit to you and your sister). Would you mind?
I hope you dont mind some complete stranger checking your blog.
Also, you look darling wearing those headbands from J-crew... I wish i could pull them off!
Hi Sheena. Of course you can use the text. It SHOULD be passed along. :)
I'm happy that I'm FINALLY invited to Joanna's exclusive blog. Yea for me!
I'm pleasantly surprised that 8 passed. :)
Good to know. Some folks need to get their facts checked, there's a lot of hating going on.
Can I also add...
I'm upset with the groups of people who have suggested a boycott of Mormon owned and operated companies. I read a prominent blog the other day that suggested that Marriott be boycotted. Marriott provides partner benefits, is developing a GLBT travel website, donates thousands to PFLAG, HRC, and other gay rights movements. I agree with Joanna, people need to be informed and educated before they start attacking others. Doesn't make sense to me.
I know you don't know me, but I really enjoy reading your blog. You have a great point of view on so many things.
I live in CA and it has been tough to see and hear about all negativity that is directed towards the church and its members. I have had a lot of these thoughts in my head the past week, but they are articulated so clearly here. Thanks for the great post. I know others have asked, but do you mind if I copy this too?
Elise, I think you've said hi before, right? Of course you can share it. Anyone can. It's not "mine". :)
Hi again! I stole this for my blog too :) I used to peek in on Joanna probably a year or so ago?? before she went private and I always liked her perspective.
I decided to reply to the leader who set up the protests at the SLC temple. We emailed back and forth all day yesterday and it was a truly positive experience. I shared the facts from the blog and he shared his facts. There is a lot of people misguided on both sides and that brings out the haters. By the end of the day he said they were moving their focus from the church.
Hey Kathryn, just wanted to let you know I'm going to post this on my blog as well. THANK YOU!!
And I see my sister-in-law Elise is a fan of yours as well! Too funny!
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