Searching for the right words....

so a part of my comments yesterday on Sam's FB was offensive to his sister-- that I know and have no ill will towards.  I told Sam I was sorry that I offended her.  He explained that she'd had a lot of persecution when she declared she was gay in high school and had to go through a lot of pain.  I re-read the offensive part of my comment...

True it is legal but you know that I will say, with my LDS beliefs... it is not moral.

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and I re-read her FB post to Sam on what she wrote about me offending her....

I keep coming to your page to post a response but the previous response is too upsetting to me to do so. I've tried several times tonight. It is too painful to be called immoral on my brother's page and i find it offensive.

Sam, thank you so much for posting this. The statement was respectful and kind. Marriage equality, especially in Utah, is something that is awkward and scary to see things play out and amazing our society progressing with fervor and that most of our nation wholeheartedly supports gay marriage. I hope all this makes sense. I decided to just go f or it and respond. This our night to celebrate and not to have a mormon try to cleverly past judgement. 

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I do believe what I said.  completely.  BUT I can see why it was rather high and mighty in sound if it was just read cold turkey... it is not moral.  Maybe even any reading of it sounds judgmental?  I see why she would be offended.  A time of joy, for she and her brother and their friends, and then I pronounce, without mincing words, it's immoral.  Raining all over what to them was a time of joy.  Me the wet blanket!

I was totally caught off guard with her comment of.... This our night to celebrate and not to have a mormon try to cleverly past judgement.  That really seemed strange to me to read that about someones opinion of my motive!

anyhow Sam is a schmoozer fellow that makes everyone feel they are right and he understands what they are feeling/saying so he reassured me that he knew what I meant & reassured his sister the same thing (she did go ahead and write a celebratory comment) and the train got back on track.

I've really thought about how to express myself with exactly what I believe, when it is contradictory to what someone else believes, and not end up in a sword fight.  I thought the legal/not moral words were the way that I would go.  Now I'm thinking that may not work for me.

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Sam later posted this on FB...  

 Yes it's a difficult topic, and I think its important to remember that people's hearts are often more in the right place than we realize, on both sides. Here is another article that better expresses what I was trying to say in my original post, perhaps I did not do it so eloquently. and that is that the church is making clear strides toward normalizing this situation and accepting the laws of the land and to try to reduce the "war" atmosphere and the us against them, and increase civility. The truth is there are many many Mormons who while they may not agree with gay marriage from a religious perspective, they are very willing to accept the legal right for gay couples to marry and to respect the free agency of them to do so. I think the church is moving very quickly in this direction. What I meant to say is I am always very touched when a Mormon expresses happiness for me even though they may not agree, and my hope is that when and if I ever get married, there will would be many active mormon friends and family happily at the ceremony. I don't think that is a very farfetched idea. well, at least that part. Me ever settling down and getting married could definitely be called farfetched .

I will not comment about this recent post on his FB as he is not seeking to change his viewpoint and neither am I.  He feels he is right and I know that I am.

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How anyone can feel the Church is changing it's stance on Gay marriage, after reading the Official statement yesterday, is puzzling to me.  The laws of the land have changed and things deemed, last- day-foretold-corruption, are now legal but they are not a part of our religion.  This goes back again to my standby favorite...11th article of Faith...

 11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

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Yes.  I will not be blogging everyday about this but when I figure out a more self-satisfactory way, to gentle out my words, when I state my feelings about my religious truth?....I will let you know!

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Here is the map the gays are happy about....

What a day of drama news-wise!!!

Supreme Court Decision to not make a decision!  Not a shock on the outcome but the swiftness of the decision was certainly electrifying.  It will impact all of us.  No matter where we live in the USA.  I'm so stunned at how lightening quick it all came down! 

The flood gates are open.  Wide open.

Coming the day after all of the Apostles declaring unity and that we are led by a Prophet, was quite interesting, don't you think?  Prophetic for sure!!

I know in the past couple of years I've blogged several times of the need to know what the Doctrine of the Church is regarding Gay marriage and also women being ordained.  Always in the hope that we would closely examine the Church doctrine and gain a testimony/conviction of the teachings that are at times very controversial and very opposed to popular views.

During the two days of Conference I felt speaker after speaker spoke of the validity of Apostles and Prophets.  What sort of pressure will be put on the Church to obey the laws of the land???  This is going to be quite fascinating to watch.

Today I got a note from a former Missionary in Alaska.  He's been in leadership in FL and is such a spiritual giant.  He expressed that the SCOTUS decision means we are truly in the last days.  

I just can't get over the counsel at Conference, over and over, about the Church will not always agree with what the world says is legal/right/entitled.   I can hardly wait to really dig into the meat of conference and do some tallying on counsel given.

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I've written before about Sam that used to live in our Ward.  His family still lives here.  He is gay.  I knew he'd be so happy about the decision.  I decided to express myself on his FB and not in a private message as I felt I needed to voice my choice which is not his.

Sam put this on as a part of his FB post...
A special congratulations to Utah, where only this weekend during the Mormon General Conference one of the highest leaders of the world church (Dallin H. Oaks) had this to say about the tide toward acceptance of gay marriage, which the church officially does not support. One might say the comment was prophetic, given the Supreme Court announcement only hours later.
"When our positions do not prevail, we should accept unfavorable results graciously, and practice civility with our adversaries.”
As for me I would greatly appreciate any of this suggested graciousness from my Mormon friends and family, since it is indeed a special day for me as I watch the legal protection and rights of people like me dramatically improve in America. 

I sent this...
My take is, no guilt!--I feel I have been gracious towards you and I also feel I have been civil. I don't feel we are adversaries even though we are totally on different pages regarding Gay Marriage. True it is legal but you know that I will say, with my LDS beliefs... it is is not moral. Now let's not have a cat/dog fight because of today's ruling. Let's just keep on being friends, with the parameters of respectful acceptance of our differences, that is in place. This is the fray that I have dreaded most. Member pitted against member. A civil war of believers in Jesus Christ. I don't want to be in that arena.

He said...
you have been more than gracious dear Nancy, and a true friend. and I'm touched by your comment. love you a lot!

I thanked him and told him I loved him also.  

 (old posts--about Sam  here   Soapboxing  here)

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I haven't talked to my friend Mariah about the ruling today.  I know she will be happy about it.  She is now excommunicated and my heart goes out to her.  She feels the Church will change its stance.  I told her I feel that will never happen.  Gayness in all of it's manifestations is not Biblical and it never will be.  She and I differ 100% in that matter.

This is is just so fresh today and coming just a few hours after Conference is just amazing to me!  It's almost mind-boggling to me!!

The Lord is trying His best through His leaders to get us prepared and in a safe little tucked away harbor.  Far removed from the dangerous shoals.

Thank heaven that we have the Gospel.  We don't have to spend our time fiddling around and trying to make sense of worldly things that infringe into our religion or lamenting and being terrifying.  We study it out.  Gain a clear conviction and then we just need to live the Gospel the best we can and encourage each other in our efforts.

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Today's ruling.....

 

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We've seen prayer be attacked along with Christmas.  We've seen marijuana be legalized.  We see gay marriage taking over and it will just be the beginning of all sorts of nightmares.  Women are wanting the Priesthood.  Adamantly...wanting the Priesthood.  Families are devalued and being torn apart.  Technology has been a force for evil, right along with a force for good.  On and on the list could go.

We can take a deep breath, be thankful for the Gospel and our testimony of it.  And most especially for the established Priesthood leadership, inspired, to govern and lead the Church.  In the last dispensation!  With the promise that it will not be taken or destroyed.  We can hold on to that and hold on to each other as we walk our very own mortal trek.

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LOVE the class act response from the Church!!!!  Our pattern to live by....

SALT LAKE CITY — 

The succession of federal court decisions in recent months, culminating in today’s announcement by the Supreme Court, will have no effect on the doctrinal position or practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is that only marriage between a man and a woman is acceptable to God. In prizing freedom of conscience and Constitutional guarantees of the free exercise of religion, we will continue to teach that standard and uphold it in our religious practices.

Nevertheless, respectful coexistence is possible with those with differing values. As far as the civil law is concerned, the courts have spoken. Church leaders will continue to encourage our people to be persons of good will toward all, rejecting persecution of any kind based on race, ethnicity, religious belief or non-belief, and differences in sexual orientation.

Beautiful Words of Love ....

271
Oh, Holy Words of Truth and Love

31243, Hymns, Oh, Holy Words of Truth and Love, no. 271

1. Oh, holy words of truth and love
We hear from day to day,
Revealed to Saints from God above,
To guide in heaven's way.

[Chorus]
Beautiful words of love
Coming from God above,
How sweet, how dear the words we hear!
They're beautiful words of love.

2. They're from Apostles good and true,
Whose names we all revere,
Who daily teach us what to do
In words of love and cheer.

3. They're from the prophets God inspires,
In counsels oft withstood,
Reproving all our ill desires,
Commending all that's good.

4. And from each chosen one that speaks
By aid the Spirit gives,
For every sphere of life it seeks,
For every one that lives.

5. As gems of wisdom, pure and bright,
That glow with lustrous ray,
We'll seek to gain these words of light,

Their counsels to obey.

Text: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849-1942

Music: Edwin F. Parry, 1850-1935

D&C 1:38

D&C 84:43-45

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What a powerful conference!!  I know it hit each of us differently but surely we can agree that personal revelation was definitely mentioned....several times.  What really came through was how many talks were about Prophets/following Prophets/the unity of the Apostles.  To me it was like circling the wagons.  Things will be said, at some point, that you may not particularly like but we either stand for or against the Prophets.  We need to determine where we stand in supporting/sustaining the Prophet/Apostles.  We are either followers of Christ or not.  No fence sitting.  No middle ground.  No fiddling around.  We are believers/followers/doers or we aren't.  

A huge laundry-list/gourmet-menu of deeds to be done and choices for receiving blessings...  It was laid out in detail over these last two days.  Kindly/gently/authoritatively and yet firm/plainly spoken/no doubt of what needs to be done IF we want to be true to the faith.  Our faith. CTR.

Service/Service/Service!!!!   No doubt about that.  Presented with such compassion.

I'm feeling Gay Marriage and Ordination of Women are going to be causing more discord than they already have.  Hoping I'm wrong.  

My mind is alive with a million thoughts running through.

Learn more about Jorj Klebingat  here  

Enjoy his amazing Conference talk here

I need to sit down and read and figure out how to do the many things that I lack! 

Ponder...love that word.  love that quiet action.  will do that and make a plan.  Wasn't it Elder Scott that talked about pondering this time???  

My heart is happy and thankful and I feel so blessed.  I didn't object or feel uncomfortable with any of the talks.  I believed them.  They are true.  I just need to pick my own behavior up a few notches!!

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 I really enjoy these two quotes and hope you do also.

“… There have been in this day, our day, men commissioned of the Lord with power and authority, and he has given them the inspiration to teach and proclaim these things to the world for the purpose the Lord has set forth … that the important things might be counseled by the elders of the Church to this people according to the inspiration and revelation they receive from time to time. As the Latter-day Saints go home from this conference, it would be well if they consider seriously the importance … of this conference and let it be the guide to their walk and talk during the next six months. These are the important matters the Lord sees fit to reveal to this people in this day” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1946, 67–68).  President Harold B. Lee

 Elder Robert D. Hales said, “The greatest blessings of general conference come to us after the conference is over” (“General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony,” Oct. 2013 general conference)

 

My prayers for guidance are already answered!!  Amazing counsel by inspired leaders!

Wish I knew how to make those memes!!  I'd make several!