"Wicked", H8, Heartsick, but Hopeful

Okay, Erin, this is for you. You want to know what's going through my head so here it is:

First of all, I can't stop singing the songs for "Wicked". It's haunting! The show was very fun, very impressive, a good date with T. I was pleasantly surprised about the ending since I only knew the music, not the complete story. SPOILER ALERT: I was so happy that Elpheba never did turn wicked, that she didn't die, and that she had a happily ever after with Fiyero. I suspected the Wizard was her father. I thought that the show might explore some of the deeper concepts hinted in the music, but it was really just fun. Then a friend lent me her CD and Couscous has been playing it nonstop. The music is now running through my head every moment so I'll have to ban the CD from her before I go crazy.

Second. Gosh I am just stunned by the post-election reaction to the passage of Prop 8. For at least a week, in every media source I turned to, I heard about the hateful, bigoted people who had passed it, about the hateful "Mormons" who made it all happen. Now of course I couldn't vote for it, but if I could have, I would have. But those "hateful" descriptions don't ring true to me at all. I know myself. Hate was never the motive for me. My friends in California who voted for Prop 8 didn't do it out of hate either. So I've been just feeling so stunned by the media being unable to come up with another explanation of why the proposition passed. Like maybe people just believe in their hearts that it's right, regardless of what is PC. It's weird to hear and see a lie accepted as truth everywhere I turn.

To add to the accusations of hate, have come the hateful behavior aimed toward some who supported Prop 8. ""It's easier to attack a minority religion, especially one that frankly isn't very well understood, than to protest because 70 percent of African American voters also supported Proposition 8," says Mike Ottermeyer, a somewhat exasperated LDS church spokesman. "It's a tactical thing. It makes it easier for them to vent their anger and frustration. But to vandalize chapels, vandalize temples, put graffiti on our buildings, protest outside our temples ... It's completely unreasonable. People have the right to protest. But this is way over the top." The illegal protests without a permit to harrass worshippers and the stories of individuals who because of their personal opinions are being forced out of their jobs. A rash of graffiti, arsons, vandalism, the anthrax scare at Catholic Buildings and LDS Temples. There is no evidence at this point that there is a link between Prop 8 and the arsons, vandalism, and anthrax scare ("Correlation is not Causation") but it is quite a coincidence. All these things have been disturbing, sickening, and extremely ironic.

For awhile I kept looking to different media sources to see what the latest attack was, but that didn't help my peace of mind. I finally realized that this is a case of the Iron Rod and the Great and Spacious Building. In the story, those holding to the Iron Rod are trying to go forward to eat of the sweet fruit representing the love of Christ, and they are using the word of God as their guide As they go forward, they hear very smart and beautiful people mocking them from the Great and Spacious Building. The Great and Spacious Building is the world with it's pride and wisdom. Ezra Taft Benson said about scriptural pride, "The central feature of pride is enmity -enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen....We pit our will against God's....The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives."

As I think about the media--entertainment media with it's fashion and beauty, and news media with it's human intellect--I see the Great and Spacious Building. And yes they are mocking aren't they? But here's where I found the answer for peace: "And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not....For as many as heeded them, had fallen away."

So, *poof*, off goes NPR. Entertainment media that supports the ideal of gay marriage? Nada. Delete goes the email forwards meant to enrage. I'm not listening.

And I have found amazing comfort in reading the most recent General Conference talks. They are almost all about being peaceful and optimistic in times of trial. It's almost as if they were... prophetic!

California Heroes: Could I Do That?

As I write this, official results have not been released, but I am feeling "cautiously optimistic" about the passage of Prop 8. I've been thinking alot about the people in California who have been standing on corners, donating money, and enduring personal attacks in order to "stand for truth and righteousness." At playgroup yesterday we were wondering if we could do that if we were asked, regardless of the outcome, and here are the thoughts that have come to my mind since.

1. If we ever consecrate our time, talents, money, or any other God-given gift in order to defend His truth, we will be blessed personally, regardless of the immediate external outcome.

2. There may come a time when the difference between winning and losing a stand for truth is determined by whether we are willing to give all, or whether we held back a little. (I wish I would have thought about that before I decided to donate less than I could have to this cause.)

3. I would rather be on the side of righteousness, losing a temporary battle, than on the side of wrong winning a temporary gain.

4. When Christ comes again he talks about dividing the "goats and sheep" and "wheat and tares." I don't remember reading the part about any sidelining spectators. There will come to each of a us a time when we will have to make a choice of where we will stand.

5. I need to be very careful to remember the fight is to sustain truth and righteousness. It is not a fight against people. If I take personally the tactics of those who are confused and oppose truth and righteousness, than I am allowing myself into an emotional place where I am tempted to villify and feel negatively towards people. That is just as surely a victory for Satan as is passivity towards the cause of truth. It is a very narrow path. But the two great commandments are to love God (ie. loyal to Him and His way) and love our neighbor (regardless of their behavior).

6. I will make a stand to defend God's truth. I find the truth about families in the Scriptures, in the Proclamation to the World, and in the words of modern prophets and apostles. Of course I've already gone through the effort of establishing my own testimony. That testimony gives me faith to listen and learn. "Now we have a world where people are confused, if you don't believe me, go and watch the news." My life experience has taught me that when I follow the word of God, even if I don't understand why, I will always live to be grateful. My same life experience has taught me that every time I disobey the Lord, I always live to regret it. No exceptions.

7. In reading the scriptures I have realized that it is not unusual for people to be mocked, derided, persecuted (even killed) for speaking and defending the truth. What is unique is the experiences most of us in the USA have had in our lives of being able to speak and worship freely. Californians possibly feel that those freedoms are waning. If we do see the day when we are persecuted on a broad scale for standing for truth and righteousness, we shouldn't be too surprised.

"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."

Thank you California Heroes for setting a great example and choosing the right, regardless of the consequences!!