Thoughts on Prop 8

It’s taken me a while to really figure out what I think about the whole Prop 8 issue. I’m still not sure I’ve totally arrived, but I at least feel like I’ve come to some sense of peace with it all. I have voiced previously my general view of same-sex rights, but that was before the Prop 8 issue got really heated and the Church took an official and public position. To reiterate, my personal view (which may differ from other Mormon Democrats), is that while same-sex relationships are morally wrong, I generally oppose government imposing moral decisions on others. Obviously there are times when it is necessary to impose moral constraints in an effort to protect the safety or privacy of others, or to maintain public order. We could debate whether same-sex marriage poses sufficient threats to these communal interests to justify the imposition of governmental restraints, but that is not my intent today. My intent today is to explain the inner struggle I have had with this issue, and the small sense of resolution I feel I have reached.

First, I still feel that the role of government in these matters should remain extremely limited. Second, while the Church’s public involvement in matters such as this make me somewhat uncomfortable, I support the Church’s right to voice its institutional opinion on the issue. The Church has been careful not to endorse any political candidates or platforms but has, on rare occasion, voiced its position on important ISSUES, which I believe is consistent with the rights and requirements of charitable organizations in this country. Nevertheless, I was uncomfortable with my leaders instructing me to take and support a ballot measure, which I was inclined to oppose. I felt conflicted and unfaithful. Initially, the Church’s statements indicated that some level of dissent was acceptable and that disagreement was not equivalent to “not following the Brethren.” However, since the election has passed, I have received many personal messages from friends that have been asked directly by priesthood leaders how they voted on the issue and threatened with losing their callings or temple recommends if they opposed Prop 8. This is very discouraging. It also suggests that the Church’s position is more than mere guidance. It has caused me to think hard about my views and how consistent they are with my Church.

My initial reservations about Prop 8 related primarily to the institutions we were getting involved with. As I understand it, the Prop 8 movement was started by other religious and non-religious institutions, which repeatedly asked the Church to get involved. The Church initially declined several times, but eventually agreed to become involved. (I note the unavoidable parallel to Martin Harris and the manuscript, which I hope proves to be a false comparison.) Our involvement with some of these pro-Prop 8 groups gives me serious pause. Let’s remember that many of these groups are the same groups that picket twice a year on Temple Square. The same groups that refuse to recognize us as Christians. The same groups that said they’d never vote for a Mormon presidential candidate. And our differences go further than the fundamentals. We even differ about our definition of marriage, which I thought was the whole point of the exercise. 

And this brings me to the present. Where do I stand? I remain convinced that governmental efforts to legislate moral behavior are ill-advised and likely to cause more division and hatred than they are to regulate behavior. If we are concerned about strengthening families, which I believe we are, then there are much larger threats to marriage and families, like divorce, fatherless homes, abusive relationships, etc.  These problems exist right here in our own LDS homes. We should focus our efforts there before we try to hard to regulate the lives of other well-intentioned people. Notwithstanding these views, I also have faith in my leaders and feel compelled to follow their counsel regardless of my personal feelings. I have always believed in the importance of personal revelation and the need to receive a personal witness of the divine calling of my priesthood leaders. While the resolution of these conflicting issues may be different for everyone, I believe that my political views remain sound and that I can hold those beliefs without defying my leaders. I will support the decisions of our First Presidency whether I completely agree or not. I know that they, not I, receive revelation for this Church. I also know that I may not be as active and fervent in supporting this particular effort, just as others may have personal reasons why they have difficulty with other doctrines, practices or policies. Those struggles are the very challenges we were sent to Earth to deal with. How we react goes far in defining who we are.

I believe there are similar struggles for those that whole-heartedly supported Prop 8 and similar measures. I have received a lot of email since the election from fellow LDS members that include a lot of hate-filled rhetoric. I know a lot of it is born of frustration about the Church being targeted by the pro-SSM community, but when the Church steps out and takes a public position we should expect to receive criticism. If this issue is important enough for the Church to take an official position, then it is surely important enough for us to stand up with the Church and face the criticism. I’ve heard the arguments to the contrary: that the Church shouldn’t be targeted because there are other demographic groups that accounted for larger portions of the electorate in favor of Prop 8. But let’s be honest with ourselves. The Church hasn’t been targeted because of how we voted but because of the public support given by a large and, arguably, wealthy, organization. As I recall, Mormons accounted for some 25% of the funding for the pro-Prop 8 efforts. That is significant. The Church also took a very public and vocal position. We can’t possibly think that would go unnoticed. It wasn’t INTENDED to go unnoticed. It was exactly what the Church wanted. Given how close the vote actually ended up, it is naive to think that the Church’s position and support on the issue didn’t change the outcome. It clearly did, and that is why we have been singled out. We should stop complaining about it. Again, if it was important enough for the Church to take a position then it is important enough to withstand the consequential criticism. 

On a related point, we need to be careful that in responding to the criticism that has come, we don’t become exactly what we are being accused of. Much of the criticism of the Church following Prop 8 has leveled accusations of hatred, bigotry and arrogance. I fear that much of the email I have received from LDS friends about the criticism that the Church is receiving illustrated those very traits. Much of it is filled with hatred of gays and those that opposed Prop 8. Let’s not become the worst that we are accused of being.

Finally, I personally have my doubts about the long-term viability of Prop 8 and measures of its kind. I will continue to follow the Brethren, but I will also continue to focus most heavily on those issues that I feel affect the eternal salvation of my family and me. I also have my doubts about how central Prop 8 is to my personal salvation. I am willing to be wrong on this issue but for now I’m willing to keep my personal feelings relatively personal and move forward with the work of living life to be a good person. That’s about the best any of us can do.

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