How the Mormons Stole Love

Today, closing arguments were made in the trial against Proposition 8, the bill that made same-sex marriage illegal in the state of California. Prop 8 was the first bill to amend a state's Constitution, which actually denied rights to its citizens.

And while we all knew the Church of Latter Day Saints (i.e. the Mormons) had a lot to do with the passing of this discriminatory, hateful and misinformed bill, the LDS emphatically denied that they had anything to do with its passing. Of course, we all know that was a lie.

Also today, making its Sundance Film Festival debut, was a documentary called 8: The Mormon Proposition, which details the LDS's involvement with the passing of Prop 8 and the deceit of the LDS elders and members about their complicity in the campaign of lies against same-sex marriage.

While still in Middle School, I was shown the 1972 Orson Welles-narrated film Future Shock, based on Alvin Toffler's book, which posits that Western Society would soon be so overwhelmed by technological advances, we wouldn't be able to cope with the changes associated with said technologies. Nearly 40 years later, and it seems to me we're doing just fine with modern technology. Among other things Toffler got wrong, Future Shock posited that pollution would destroy the world by the year 2000. Of course, at the tender age of 11, the movie's most memorable (and giggle-inducing) moment, featured a marriage ceremony between two men. While the prediction of same-sex marriage may be one of the few things Toffler got right, he seems to have omitted its opposition by the so-called "Religious Right."

Here's the thing: If we (i.e. Americans) continue to fall for the rhetoric and hate-filled propaganda promoted by, not only the Mormons, but the Catholic Church and Fundie Baptists, we'll never rise above the religious discrimination that was the basis for the founding of America in the first place. How dare anyone tell me (or anyone else) that my love is less valid than theirs? As pointed out more than once (especially in the "Stop Dr. Laura" campaign of the '90's), the Old Testament Bible promotes the selling of one's daughters, the abomination of eating shellfish and the stoning of religious dissenters. We may as well all go live in counties like Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia; where theocracies continue to rule and dissenters are jailed, or worse. As I recall, the 2nd paragraph of the United States' Declaration of Independence starts with the words " We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal..." So why should I (and millions of others) not be considered equal to everyone else?

As for Christianity, The New Testament makes no mention of marriage (other than that Jesus performed one). So why do folks who claim to be "Christians" continue to rely on it in an effort to promote their uninformed and hate-filled agendas? I can only surmise that fear and ignorance (the usual culprits) are to blame.

Here's the trailer (via) for 8: The Mormon Proposition:

It seems quite clear to me that the LDS led a campaign of hate against the LGBT community, despite the fact that not one of the books of the New Testament address the subject in any form. I may well be preaching to the choir, as it were, but if one mind is changed after reading this ramble, then this rant was not in vain...

More, anon.
Prospero

*After I posted this, my sister, a Liberal Born-Again (isn't that an oxymoron?) sent me the following in an email:

"As for Christianity, The New Testament makes no mention of marriage (other than that Jesus performed one)."

It’s actually wrong. He didn’t perform one, he attended one (turns water into wine) and he does speak to it when the Sadducees ask him about it (Mathew 23-30)

On that day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Jesus and questioned Him, asking, "Teacher, Moses said, 'IF A MAN DIES HAVING NO CHILDREN, HIS BROTHER AS NEXT OF KIN SHALL MARRY HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP CHILDREN FOR HIS BROTHER.' "Now there were seven brothers with us; and the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother; so also the second, and the third, down to the seventh. "Last of all, the woman died. "In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her." But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Again, Jesus answered the Pharisees marriage and divorce. (Mark chapter 10 verses 2-9)

"Some Pharisees came up to Jesus, testing Him, and began to question Him whether it was lawful for a man to divorce a wife. And He answered and said to them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses permitted a man TO WRITE A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE AND SEND her AWAY." But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. "But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate." He then teaches on adultery after this line. OK- he doesn’t use the word marriage here because he’s talking about divorce, but the last line is part of most standard wedding vows.

Don’t want to be preachy, just letting you know that the statement you made wasn’t entirely accurate.

This is Prospero again. Consider me corrected. Thanks, Sis.