Okay, so I'm usually the last person to have anything to say politically, but on this issue, I find it hard not to feel passionate about my personal convictions.
Everyone's talking about how this issue is key in California right now. However, what's not getting a lot of attention is that it's on the ballot in 3 states this year (California, Arizona, and Florida). We had a special meeting in church a few weeks ago to talk about the implications of the proposition here in Arizona. Again, this weekend in our (regional) stake conference, we had Elder Ballard, Elder Cook, and Elder Packer reminding us of the church's stance on this political issue.
In 27 years of attending church, I have not once ever heard anything political endorsed within the walls of a church building, and yet, on this issue, our church is speaking up. Here are the reasons:
- These propositions have nothing to do with the rights of same-sex partners (benefits, etc). They are measures to amend the state constitutions to include a formal and legal definition of marriage as being the union of a man and a woman.
- 45 of the 50 states either have a constitutional amendment or a statute (as exists in Arizona) that defines marriage as such. This shows that the people as a whole still believe in the traditional nature of marriage.
- In a few legal cases in states where the law exists as a statute rather than a part of the constitution, the state supreme courts have had the power to overrule that law and declare it as unconstitutional--this just happened in Connecticut a few weeks ago and, shy of supporting a proposition on their ballot to rewrite their constitution, there is nothing they can do in this election to defend the family. These propositions take that power away from the state judiciary or legislatures and give it to the people, to whom it belongs. These propositions let the people define marriage. If the people ever decide to repeal their law, that is their collective prerogative, and I pray that Heavenly Father helps us if that day ever comes.
So here in Arizona, church volunteers have been encouraging all members to be registered to vote and receive early ballots. Additionally, we've been instrumental in putting up signs, making calls at call centers, and applying some of our missionary zeal to discussing the issue with our friends, neighbors, and coworkers -- not to preach sin and repentance but to explain the intent of the proposition. And yes, that is a political sign you see in my front yard (I never thought that day would come)! It's actually sign number 2, as sign number 1 disappeared a few nights ago. We had ward volunteers delivering door hangers and in our neighborhood, the volunteer was apparently shadowed by someone taking down the fliers as they were being put up, probably the same guy who took my sign.
I've seen videos, read articles, and heard a lot of scary stories about basic parental and moral rights being challenged as consequences of legalized same-sex marriage. Parents have been denied prior knowledge of "diversity" lessons in public schools introducing children to families of all types. A bill in California calls a reference to a "father", "mother", "husband", or "wife" in a public school discriminatory. School bathrooms can be utilized by the opposite sex if that individual most associates "itself" (because I clearly can't "legally" use himself or herself) with the opposite gender. Textbooks would have to spend equal time discussing same-sex relationships or relations as any others. Churches could lose tax-exempt status if they refused to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies to be held in their places of worship. The list goes on.
It's a little scary as a father to think about the implications of public education and what morals are being legally taught these days. If my child's class can't hold birthday or "Christmas" parties because of the beliefs of religious minorities that may be in class, I can't imagine the school system not allowing parents to opt out of any moral / diversity / or sex-educational teaching that is taking place. Regardless of the world's education, the ultimate responsibility of teacher for our children lies with us as parents.
I know that there are a lot of good people out there who may not live with the same standards we embrace. God, however, will not change the standard. He laid it out clearly in a proclamation to the world a decade ago in which, almost as a prophetic warning, the Lord called upon "responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere" to promote measures to strengthen the family. Heavenly Father says, 'Hate the sin, love the sinner'. That was Christ's way and we should all emulate His example. But that does not mean that we should stand idly by and let the world around us define our morals and standards. Hence, in this case, the Lord does take a stand and has called us to actively support the legislation.
President Hinckley said, "No one need tell you that we are living in a very difficult season in the history of the world. Standards are dropping everywhere. Nothing seems to be sacred anymore... I do not know that things were worse in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah. … I think our Father must weep as He looks down upon His wayward sons and daughters."
We are living in a day where there is no evil that was practiced in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah that is not practiced or widely accepted in our society. If you remember the story, Abraham asked the Lord to spare the city if he found 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, and even 10 righteous living with the wicked. And the Lord could not find even 10 who had not embraced the evils of that world. The difference today is that there are many more than 10 who have not accepted the standards of Gomorrah. When the people as a whole vote to define marriage differently or to embrace any other unrighteous standard we may be ripe for destruction. But until then, we should not allow the media or the judges or anyone other than the collective people as a whole tell us what we must accept as diversity and acceptable morals. Even if that day comes, we can still safeguard our families and fight "in memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children". God bless us as we strive to wave our Titles of Liberty high.
Yeah... while my mom thinks he's kinda cute, I have to admit, I was a little less than impressed. Mike and Richard thought it was HILARIOUS though. Mike took pictures of him so he could show the guys at work, who also thought it was hilarious. He sat in my front room for about 3 days and then he was sent to work with Mike to be passed around and finally ended up in the kitchen area holding candybars. At least he was put to work. So our new member of the family, George, has left home to find work.
a new Disney sing-along song movie for Amy,
a crouquet set,
... and near the end of our morning, there it was! Just as we were about to give up, we found the perfect toddler bed! 
Amy LOVES it, and she has even asked us to put her to bed a night or two. Advantage: She can get up in the morning instead of peeing her diaper, meaning she wakes up dry! Disadvantage: She can get up in the morning, and she does... at 6:30 in the morning. I think she's always gotten up that early, but she's always been content to stay in her bed and play and talk to herself until we came in to get her - basically, she spoiled us. Now that she can get up, she toddles herself into our room saying, "Mom! Mom! Some Milk?" Notice it's "Mom," not "Dad." Mike has been a good sport and let me sleep in some mornings, but if he doesn't get out of bed and take her into the front room for some breakfast or cartoons, she refuses to cuddle with him in the bed because she wants me, which is both sweet and a bit annoying some mornings. Oh well... I guess we can officially say she's completely potty trained before the age of 2 (she turns 2 in a couple weeks)! The only other problem we've had with the bed is her habit of occasionally falling out of it. I need to get some sort of railing for her because she is definitely her mother's child, meaning she rolls all over the place, including onto the floor. 
Speaking of painting, Amy let me paint her toes today. I decided to do mine, even though I want to go to the nail salon and get "halloweeny" toes at the beginning of October. My 4th of July toes were just not working for me anymore, so I pulled out the nail polish and Amy thought it was cool. I had tried to do this once when she was a little little baby, but she kicked too much. She actually held still really well and I made sure to blow on them before letting her loose. Every once and a while now she stops, looks at her toes, and says "pretty toes."
I wasn't sure he'd be able to keep up with this deliciousness, but then today... HOLY COW! He SMOKED pork spareribs with a homemade rub and a homemade bbq sauce. It was so good that we ate WAY too much, but it was hard to walk away from. So, if you're dying for some good barbecue, try to invite yourself over 2 Sundays from now for some mm, mm, good cooking. Thanks Mike!
Lisa turned 23 on the 19th. She is the sister just younger than me, which means when she gets older I get even older. Yuck. Lisa is a new 2nd grade teacher at Fulton Elementary School in Chandler. We are so proud of everything she's done this year - graduating, getting a job, etc. Love you sister!
My mom turned 44 (wink, wink) on the 20th. I got to meet up with her the day after her birthday and take her out to lunch to Red Robin. I love my mom SO much. She is truly one of my best friends and I know that I can always turn to her whenever I have a problem or have exciting news or just need a friend. Thanks mom, and happy birthday!
This is the baby, Jessica. Okay, so not so much a baby anymore, since she will turn 15 on the 27th. Hard to believe she's so old. Jessica is a lot of fun and Amy loves her probably more than any of her other aunts. She's always such a good babysitter for Amy. She is also a swimmer and swims on the Gilbert High Swim Team. Good luck this year Jess! Love ya!
