New calling!!!

I became a home teacher today! It's my first calling in like 12 or 13 years!

That is all.

Defending "Traditional" Marriage in Utah

Traditional Marriage in Utah

January 6, 2014 at 5:15pm

First off, this represents our (Utah Mormons) principles on government and religion:

D&C 134:9

9 We do not believe it just to amingle 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.




And then these are some examples of "traditional" marriage in Utah:

“This law of monogamy, or the monogamic system, laid the foundation for prostitution and the evils and diseases of the most revolting nature and character under which modern Christendom groans…”

- Apostle Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, v. 13, p. 195


"Patriarchal marriage (AKA polygamous marriage) involves conditions, responsibilities and obligations which do not exist in monogamy, and there are blessings attached to the faithful observance of that law, if viewed only upon natural principles, which must so far exceed those of monogamy as the conditions, responsibilities and power of increase are greater. This is my view and testimony in relation to this matter. I believe it is a doctrine that should be taught and understood.
The benefits derived from the righteous observance of this order of marriage do not accrue solely to the husband, but are shared equally by the wives; not only is this true upon the grounds of obedience to a divine law, but upon physiological and scientific principles. In the latter view, the wives are even more benefited, if possible, than the husband physically. But, indeed, the benefits naturally accruing to both sexes, and particularly to their offspring, in time, say nothing of eternity, are immensely greater in the righteous practice of patriarchal marriage than in monogamy, even admitting the eternity of the monogamic marriage covenant."

Journal of Discourses; Vol. 20; Joseph F. Smith



"Monogamy, or restrictions by law to one wife, is no part of the economy of Heaven among men."

Journal of Discourses; Vol. 9; Brigham Young



"Those who are acquainted with the history of the world are not ignorant that polygamy has always been the general rule and monogamy the exception."

Journal of Discourses; Vol. 11; Brigham Young



"Has the American Congress seen proper, since its first organization, to pass a law against polygamy? No. So far as the national law is concerned, it has no more bearing upon the subject of polygamy than it has upon the subject of monogamy, or something that never existed. Let us go still higher, above the laws of Congress, to that great instrument—the American Constitution, which we, as a people, have always held as one of the most perfect and glorious instruments that was ever framed by any nation, through their own wisdom, since the world began. It guarantees to us the liberty of the press, freedom of speech, liberty to seek for one's happiness, and to emigrate from State to State, and to enjoy all the privileges and
[p. 361b]
rights that any man could in conscience ask for. Is there anything in that glorious Constitution that forbids polygamy? There is not."

Journal of Discourses; Vol. 6; Orson Pratt



Etc...



Also, until 1963 (in Utah), it was against the law for a White person to intermarry with Blacks, Filipinos, or Asians. So, traditional marriage was also racist.

In 1977 (14 years after interracial marriage became legal in the state), an apostle, Boyd K. Packer, was still giving counsel to the young people of the church to ONLY MARRY SOMEONE FROM YOUR OWN RACE. Here's a link to the talk in full context: http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1051




So, when someone says they're for protecting "traditional marriage," do they know what they're saying?

My view on the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Thoughts on Race and the Priesthood in Mormonism

A HUGE effing deal.

http://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng

Go and read that. I will blog about it soon.

My Videomony

Sunday Mumbo-Jumbo 090113

I often do a lot of thinking while at church. Much of it pertains exactly to the meeting. Some of it is random. The following was what I thought about during Sacrament Meeting today.

My thoughts and doings this Sunday:

1. I went to Sacrament Meeting. This is good; I'm still wanting to attend SM from time to time. I haven't taken the sacrament for at least 10 years. At first, it was because I was unworthy and unrepentant. Now, I'm unsure why I don't take it. Maybe because, while I am no longer "living in sin," I still don't feel sorry for when I was.
How can I reconnect with this ritual? And I wonder; do I have a rebellious spirit?

2. Is there a way to be an active, non-believing Mormon?

3. I started thinking of a conversation the other day, where a good friend had expressed how he hates being emotionally manipulated by the emotive music and mood lighting, etc...found in church films, stories.
During SM today, I was trying to compare the Mormon-styled emotional manipulation with the use of hallucinogenic plants/fungi/drugs to enhance a meditation/spiritual experience/vision quest. And I concluded that they are not the same because, while LDS films want to make you believe a specific thing, vision quests--with the aid of chemical enhancers--are to help you see whatever you will.

4. I feel like probably everyone in the church is as prone to doubt as they are to believe. Some aren't afraid to explore doubts, but many are. Maybe my problem is that I cannot seem to abide the general facade; the appearance of firm belief, while hiding/suppressing our many underlying thoughts and doubts.

5. If you had gone through your life, to this point, without having been baptized a member of LDS, would you now be ready?

6. I put 3 of my photography prints in an art show today, for the first time ever. Kind of an exciting new experience.

7. I thank God for such a nice day out. Gray, cloudy, wet weather GREATLY enhances my mood.

8. I really love the people in ES. (ES is code for a Mormon Facebook Group I frequent.) You guys are my ward, and your kindness, love, understanding and charity for all is why I'm able to remain in the Mormon Church, to the degree that I do remain.

9. A young man--13 or 14 yrs. old--went up to the pulpit during testimony meeting. His testimony went like this: "Today, I'd like to bear my testimony about bearing my testimony. I think bearing our testimony is a good thing. I feel good up here today. Thanks for letting me share. Amen." He was grinning on the way back to his seat. I could see that he was kind of proud of himself for having bore his testimony, even if he knew it probably sounded kind of comical, which it did. I appreciated it; I enjoy hearing sort of the raw and simple things once in a while. I often tire of the repetitious "I know, I know, I know. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." The mother of that young man called him to come sit next to her. And for the next 3 or 4 minutes, she proceeded to chastise him in his ear, telling him how testimony meeting is only for being serious and talking about the church and about God. I watched as he deflated. I felt deflated for him.