What's so special about April 6th 2009

 This is a deep read, but since April 6th 2009 is one week away, I thought I'd share this article.

Excerpt:


"As stated repeatedly in my past articles, I have no idea if anything special might happen on that date. It is only being reported here so that in case something of religious significance does occur, it will be a witness that God had planned it millennia ahead of time"

http://www.ldsmag.com/sci_rel/060518jubilee.html

Gay bigots attack LDS Church in Washington...again

***Warning. Explicit language on this site***

http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20081214194314979

Excerpt:

"We had a great last night sneaking about in snow covered Olympia. We paid another visit to the bigots over at the Mormon Church. We covered their building with messages in spray paint, such things as there is no sin in your desire, love who you want to love and love how you please, sex is fun! Its not shameful, queer and trans insurrection and many, many, many, many others. We also left them a surprise, its a pretty big one, we think theyll notice it within a few days. The Mormons are an atrocious bunch and, well, it just felt amazing to $@#! up their holy place, especially on an early Sunday morning with the snowflakes glistening in the street lamps."

Here's the supporting newspaper artice: http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/700466.html

Finally somone(s) speaks out against the hate

This organization put a full-page ad in the new York Times to speak out against the violence and intimidation against the LDS Church

http://www.nomobveto.org/

An ugly attack on Mormons

Here's a great op-ed piece from the LA Times.

Excerpt:
It's amazing. Hollywood liberals, who shout "McCarthyism!" as a first resort, see nothing wrong with this. If Jews were attacked in this way for giving too much money to a political cause, Barbra Streisand would already have a French passport.

Never mind that Proposition 8 carried nearly every demographic slice of voters. Put aside the fact that the Catholic Church and scores of other Christian churches supported it too. Discount the inconvenient truth that bans on gay marriage have now passed in 30 states. It's all the Mormons' fault.

Read the rest here:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/la-oe-goldberg2-2008dec02,1,5061334.column

Another member of the Church loses his job to the Prop 8 witch hunt

Richard Raddon, the director of the Los Angeles Film Festival who has been at the center of controversy ever since it was revealed almost two weeks ago that he had contributed $1,500 to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California, resigned from his post over the weekend.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-raddonresigns26-2008nov26,0,5947908.story

Document the hypocrisy

Here's a good compilation of the hate, bigotry and hypocrisy against the LDS Church and other supporters of Prop 8:

http://isupportmarriage.com/prop8protests.htm

Sign the petition to thank Pres. Monson and the LDS Church

Sign this petition to thank President Monson

There is a website with a petition set up to thank President Monson and the LDS Church. You can see read about it here:
http://mormontimes.com/people_news/church_news/?id=5156

The Petition is here: http://abovethehate.com/

Now the CA government picks up the witch hunt

Excerpt:

California's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) confirmed Monday that it will investigate allegations that the LDS Church failed to report nonmonetary contributions to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign.

An independent nonprofit organization, Californians Against Hate, called for the investigation after the measure passed earlier this month, effectively ending same-sex marriages in that state.

"They read my letter and I guess came to the conclusion that there's something worth looking into," said Fred Karger, who heads Californians Against Hate, which was formed to track donations in support of the ballot initiative. "I'm hopeful that the LDS Church will cooperate and share all the records and all the information they have about their activities in the Proposition 8 campaign."

Read the rest here:

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11064769

To read the whole complaint go to this site that is set up to destroy the Church: http://lds501c3.wordpress.com/category/proposition-8/

Legislating Immorality

Here's a fantastic editorial by the national review:

Excerpt:

To date, 30 states have voted on initiatives addressing same-sex marriage, and in every state traditional marriage has come out on top. But somehow the fact that Mormons got involved during the latest statewide referendum constitutes a bridge too far? In truth, Mormons are a target of convenience in the opening salvo of what is sure to be a full-scale assault on much of America’s religious infrastructure, which gay activists perceive as a barrier to their aspirations. Among religious groups, Mormons are not the biggest obstacle to same-sex marriage — not by a long shot. But they are an easy target. Anti-Mormon bigotry is unfortunately common, and gay-rights activists are cynically exploiting that fact. 


Read the whole article here:

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTU5MjZmMDIyMDU3NjRiMjBlNjcxYTlmOGQ2ODA5NjA

A letter from a temple worker

Date: Saturday, November 15, 2008, 6:16 PM

My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders:

My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am aTemple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional. She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work.

The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave
before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patroled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would.

On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake CityTemple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering theTemple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room.

Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put every one at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions non stop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike.

Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...".

But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your Presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!".

I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer. Your sister in Christ,

The Right To Win. Wrong

Here's a great article about the current situation with Prop 8

Excerpt:
In Oakland, California, a mob gathered outside a Mormon temple in such numbers that officials shut down a nearby freeway exit for more than three hours.

In their midst was a San Francisco Supervisor who said “The Mormon church has had to rely on our tolerance in the past, to be able to express their beliefs.” He added, “This is a huge mistake for them. It looks like they’ve forgotten some lessons.”

Apparently Mormons don’t have the same rights as other Americans, at least not if they don’t vote the way gay activists want them to vote.

Read the rest of this great article here: 
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=M2E1ODgyMDczMDA3NzkzY2E4YTNhNjgzMjk2NmEyOTY

An open letter to Subway

Here's a letter I sent to Michele Dinello, the Director of Corporate Communications for Subway. This letter was sent as a response to this:
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid66446.asp

Dear Ms. Dinello,

I am writing today to express my dissatisfaction with the manner that Subway handled the recent event of a franchisee donating their personal funds to exercise their opinion in a democratic ballot measure.

I understand the fine line between keeping everyone happy and giving the impression that a company is being fair to all people, but the way you caved to the the political extortionists of the gay movement leaves me a bit dismayed.

The gay movement, which represents a very small section of society, is currently engaged in a campaign of vandalism, hate crimes, and terrorism, to strike fear into the hearts of those people who do not agree with them. By their actions it is clear that they do not respect people's opinion, nor the democratic process.

By buckling to the rantings of an insignificant blogger, you have helped them in their quest to silence those who do not agree with them. By your actions, it is apparent to me that Subway supports and is now providing material funding to an organization that has little regards for society, democracy, and the freedom of expression— a group who will use all the tools at their disposal, including hate and terrorism, to silence any an all who disagree with them. Think I'm exaggerating? Here's a few of many examples:

A queer anarchist movement glorifies the vandalism and assault on sacred houses of religion:
http://bashbacknews.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/the-queers-are-finally-bashing-back/

A religious group is attacked in San Francisco and needs a police escort to get them out of the area safely: (read the description on this video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrRxFoBSPng

Threats against all those who are opposed to gay marriage:
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=80220

Mailing of white powder, which the FBI classifies as domestic terrorism, to Mormon and Catholic places of worship:
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top%20stories/story.aspx?content_id=21175a17-57f5-43d8-a3e1-db86c473383b

Here's a nice compilation of the vandalism, hate and bigotry of the gay movement. (The music is a bit dramatic, but you get the idea)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWeg6AkYNQY

A more extensive collection of crimes and acts of hate and bigotry by the gay movement can be found on my blog http://renman.blogspot.com/ .

Now, you may be thinking that these examples are just a few bad apples in the group, but it is important to note that to date, not one gay movement organization has condemned these actions in an official press release or statement.

So what I would like from you and from Subway is :

1. A statement and press release clarifying that Subway does not support nor tolerate any organization that uses fear or engages in hate crimes or acts of domestic terrorism against any group of people, including people of religion, or that try to thwart the democratic process.
2. A statement clarifying that Subway not only respects the rights of its employees, franchisees, and vendors to become involved in the lawful exercise of the political process, but that you encourage it.
3. A statement that Subway will not apply any pressure or retribution against any employee, franchisee, or vendor who chooses to exercise said rights.

Thank you for your time

Ogden police investigate fire at LDS Institute

Ogden police are investigating a bizarre fire at an LDS Institute of Religion building near Weber State University.

Police said someone doused a plastic flower arrangement with an accelerant and lit it on fire inside the Institute's lobby on Sunday night.


http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705264285,00.html

"Bash Back" vandalizes Olympia LDS Church

http://seattle.indymedia.org/en/2008/11/2 70047.shtml

 

 

Excerpt: Last night, under the veil of fog, we visited the Church of Latter Day Saints. We left their locks glued with anarchist messages scrawled in spray paint over their boring veneer.

We did this to show our solidarity with all who are resisting heterosexism everywhere, hopefully to spur them into action; and also because we are angry at the amount of money and propaganda that the Mormon church pumped into the homophobic Proposition 8 campaign. From their disgusting commercials to their despicable sermons to those gross lawn signs, we are sick of this parade of bigotry. The Church has to pay.

Kevin Hamilton's Letter on Proposition 8 and the Mormon Church

Kevin Hamilton's Letter on Proposition 8 and the Mormon Church

Dear Friends,

In the aftermath of the recent election, we may find ourselves oddly on the defensive regarding our support for the Yes on Proposition 8 cause. Our young people have been especially subject to mean-spirited comments by high school friends and teachers. We have nothing to be ashamed of. We did nothing wrong. In fact, we did everything that a civic-minded American can and should do. I have put together a few facts that help me to appreciate our position better. For example:

1. Mormons make up less than 2 percent of the population of California. There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total population of approximately 34 million.Mormon voters were less than 5 percent of the yes vote.

2. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6 percent of the yes vote and 2.4 percent of the total Proposition 8 vote.

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated no money to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like donating.

4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the country.

5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is supported.

6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in favor of Yes on 8.

7. African-Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70 percent of black voters chose Yes on 8. This was interesting because the majority of these voters voted for President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama voters would vote No on 8.

8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs (assumed to be primarily Catholic).

9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims -- all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members.

10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or herself. Church leaders have asked members to treat other members with "civility, respect and love," despite their differing views.

11. The church did not violate the principal of separation of church and state. This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the United States' Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof?" The phrase "separation of church and state", which does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an 1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process to the extent permitted by law. U.S. election law is very clear that churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues. The church as always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.

12. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support and then vote in the regular electoral process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair and civil way. Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars and worse. The fact is, we simply did what Americans do -- we spoke up, we campaigned and we voted.

Hold your heads up high -- you did a great job on this most important cause. We will have more opportunities in the future to participate in our democratic process. Let's remember the lessons learned and do an even better job next time.

These are my personal opinions and thoughts; any errors are mine and in no way reflect official church policy or doctrine.

Thanks,
Kevin Hamilton

Feds investigate vandalism at Mormon sites

Federal officials have launched a preliminary inquiry into whether recent acts of vandalism against Mormon temples and meeting houses are hate crimes, a department spokesman said Friday.

"We are looking into whether these acts are intimidating people into not going into houses of worship," said Juan Becerra, of the Salt Lake City FBI. "The right to worship is a basic civil right."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints actively supported the passage of Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that banned same-sex marriage in California.

Since the Nov. 4 election, seven houses of worship in Utah have been vandalized, according to Becerra.
Thursday, envelopes filled with an unidentified white powdery substance were delivered to two Mormon temples, one in the Los Angeles area and one in Salt Lake City.

Preliminary results showed that the white substance tested negative for known hazardous biological agents and toxins. The final report should be available next week.

Becerra said federal agents are working with Salt Lake City church officials and local law enforcement.
Sacramento church officials have stepped up security at the Rancho Cordova temple.

Ten church buildings in the region have been vandalized since the election, said Lisa West, spokesperson for the church in the Sacramento area. "That's more than we usually get in an entire year."

http://www.sacbee.com/crime/story/1399018.html

Another protest at an LDS Church on Sunday

Demonstrators gathered in front of a Mormon temple in Newport Beach on Sunday to protest passage of Proposition 8. They were targeting the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many members of which poured money into the campaign for passage of the proposition.

"We're not asking churches to sanctify marriages," said Ron Fichter of Laguna Beach. "To me it's just basic human rights."

Fichter, 64, said he came out as gay in 1965, was in the Navy for six years, and took part in one of the first gay marches in Washington, D.C., more than two decades ago.

"We've come a long ways, but we have a long ways to go," said Fichter.

Read more here: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/church-beach-passage-2230532-clayton-fichter

Gay rights activists picket in front of Mormon church

Gay rights activists demonstrated in front of the Vallejo Church of Latter-day Saints on Sunday morning.The group, numbering about a dozen, continued Saturday's rallies across the country, during which thousands gathered to protest the passage of Proposition 8.

Prop. 8 banned gay marriage -- legal since June -- through an amendment to the state constitution indicating that marriage is only between a man and a woman.

The group began their protest as members of the church began to enter shortly after 8 a.m. There was a brief confrontation with church officials, who asked the protesters to leave a church-owned sidewalk on Los Santos Court and move to a Tuolomne Street sidewalk.

"These protesters are welcome to do whatever they want in terms of a peaceful protest, but we will not tolerate them on our personal property," said Thomas S. Mortensen, the church's bishop.

read the rest here: http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_11003849

The Battle Continues...

Here's a great article from Meridian Magazine:

http://www.ldsmag.com/lineuponline/081117battle.html

Excerpt:

Even if Proposition 8 is overturned in the courts and same sex marriages receive legal secular recognition, the gospel of the Church will not change. Let me repeat, secular arguments do not trump spiritual imperatives.


The gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints , and of many other Christian and other faith based churches, do not and will not recognize marriage other than between a man and a woman. This will never change.


Does this mean there may be hard times ahead for for the Church, for individual Latter-day Saints, and for churches and members of other faiths? Without question. Everything we believe will be challenged and attacked.


Our defense, however, is impenetrable.


Our defense is Christ.

The Homosexual Inquisition has begun

So the members of the GLBT community have begun scouring the supporter lists for Prop 8 and have begun protesting anyone who has supported the measure. Their first target. An employee of a restaurant who had the audacity to donate $100 to supprt Prop 8. Read about it here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-derrick/el-coyote-anger-tearsand_b_143981.html