Comments on: Pictures at a Demonstration

By: david knowlton

david knowlton — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:29:48 +0000

Hi Mikel,

I would love to talk with you. If you get this write to me via the Utah Valley University we mail address. (it is available on the university’s web page).

By: Mikel Borg

Mikel Borg — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:36:13 +0000

David, thank you for your commentary. I am quite torn. I have started attending church again after many years. This time with my son Gabriel. I find the church’s support of the constitution and its equal protection clause, and the churches actions to be somwhat in conflict. I greatly admire you and your work, and I always have since we met in Austin. Keep it up. What should I do? Get my son into the church, I know others are leaving in protest. This is a tough situation. Be careful, I ave always respected and admired you. Good Luck. Thanks for standing up when others couldn’t.

By: H.Bob

H.Bob — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:33:56 +0000

I find it interesting that many here, while believing that they have a deep, nuanced understanding of the issues involved, assume that the leaders of the church do not; that they haven’t had years upon years of dealing with this issue where it hits home: Individuals dealing with revealed truth and their acceptance or rejection of it. Numbers being what they are, there are certainly those in the Church’s leadership with gay children and grandchildren–do you think they don’t wrestle with what their stance ought to be?
Do you think that any of the Church’s support happened on a whim? Do you think any of it would have happened without the unanimous support of the Council of the Twelve?
I was downtown during the protest, taking my wife to Baxter’s American for their last night in business. I watched (waiting for my wife’s train) at the Temple Square TRAX stop, as Lonnie Pursifull, the infamous street preacher, unloaded his car with brochures and banners, and wondered whose side he was on, or if he were only there to egg both sides toward a confrontation. I wonder how many anti-Mormon protesters got the impression Lonnie was LDS. I also wonder how many pro-gay marriage advocates got the impression the anti-Mormons actually support their cause.

By: david knowlton

david knowlton — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:46:53 +0000

Small world, no James?

The quote Mike G references was prominently displayed on a number of placards at the demonstration, as were other quotes from LDS scripture.

By: James

James — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:16:45 +0000

Weird. I was best friends with Jacob Whipple back in high school in North Carolina. He moved with his family to Charlotte midway through high school and I never heard from him again…until I saw these articles.

By: MikeG.

MikeG. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:42:01 +0000

This is a pernicious practice. People ought to leave their kids ought of politics.

I remember reading something along those lines in the D&C. It may deal with a different issue, but seems relevant:
We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.

By: D. Fletcher

D. Fletcher — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:42:15 +0000

Steve won’t kick me out, because he knows I love him.

By: gst

gst — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:16:11 +0000

Careful, D.: if you turn this into a demonstration, Steve will kick you out.

Sandra, if there’s a ballot involved, then it’s politics.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:45:08 +0000

gst – except this was not a political issue, but a ‘moral issue’ as the Church has repeatedly reminded us.

It is odd that you would disapprove of No-on-8′ers bringing their children to rallies, yet would approve (I’m assuming) of LDS parents taking their children to Church every week where they are taught that homosexuality and gay marriage are wrong.

This can’t be a political issue when it’s convenient for your argument and a moral issue when it’s not.

By: D. Fletcher

D. Fletcher — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:13:43 +0000

I’m really happy to know about the protest. I’m also happy to report that my Stake President’s talk in Stake Conference was so thrilling and moving that I won’t be exiting the Church, not this year, anyway.

But I am still ashamed of my Church leaders in SLC and California, for prompting members to cough up time and money in a political campaign where the Church has no place being.

Let people live the way they want! Let them marry who they want!