Tonight all California Mormons have been invited to their Stake Centers to view a satellite broadcast from Salt Lake City on the subject of Proposition 8. Elders M. Russell Ballard and Quentin L. Cook of the Twelve and Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Seventy will address the doctrine of marriage and why the church is involved in the Protect Marriage Coalition.However, the big news is that the Church is organizing and making arrangements for California student citizens at Institutes of Religion throughout the United States to assist with phone calls back to California voters. Although it does not appear that non-California citizens are being enlisted, it would seem logical that willing out-of-state members could be allowed to participate.
Yes on 8 ahead in the polls
For the first time since the polls began, likely voters in favor of proposition 8 have pulled ahead by about five points. This is reflected on both official websites for and against the proposition. The CBS/Survey USA released 6 Oct showed that Yes on 8 is leading by a margin of 47% Yes to 42% No. The 7 Oct Lake Research Partners poll shows Yes on 8 leading 47% Yes to 43% No.
Another amazing fact is that fund raising by Yes on 8 has exceeded the No on 8 by $10 million. Supporters of the initiative have raised $25.4 million, while opponents have raised $15.8 million. The number of contributors to the Yes on 8 campaign numbers over 61,000, the majority with small donations under $1,000. Some have estimated that LDS Members have contributed 43%.
New ads are effective
Although they have been dismissed by the opposition as being erroneous, absurd and full of lies, the new ads seem to be having an effect. Rather than embed them, which can be annoying (the embed, not the ads), I will just provide links here in case you haven't seen them. This is what the financial contributions have been buying - short, to the point and hitting at the gut level.
Ad #1 - It's already happened
Ad #2 - 4 Men in Black
Ad #3 - Whether you like it or not
Ad #4 - Finally the truth
Ad #5 - Everything to do with schools
Video - Robb and Robin's story
Video - Why California needs Proposition 8
Summary and conclusion
Since the church asked us to give of our time and means to the coalition I have written a dozen articles on this subject, You can find them on my sidebar under "Essays on Marriage." This has been an interesting journey for me. I recently changed my position about same-sex attraction. I used to believe that it was 100% choice. I now believe that some may indeed be born with it.
However, that doesn't change my belief that homosexual behavior is a sin nor my position on same-sex marriage. Even if the Yes on 8 ads are misleading or overstating suppositions as facts, as the opposition claims, I am still convinced that we need to be involved in protecting traditional marriage. Prophets have asked us to take a stand and I am convinced they know a lot more about this than I do.
Update
The broadcast was well attended in our stake. The chapel was full, almost to overflowing. Besides great explanations of why we are involved in promoting proposition 8, they introduced a new website, PreservingMarriage.org. Elder Ballard was especially focused on helping our young people understand the need to get involved and to have the materials they would need.
Both of the videos on the new website were shown in the broadcast. They are excellent. I especially liked Elder Bednar's discussions with the college age kids. They asked some great questions about how to answer their friends who may perceive our efforts as intolerant. I think this is the biggest complaint we get. I have written about that previously in this essay.
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YouTube links: Proposition 8 Questions and Answers:
1. Will same sex marriages hurt others?
2. Sick and tired of intolerance?
3. Are others supporting Prop 8?
4. Will courts overturn it again?
5. Didn't we already vote on this?
6. Don't others deserve the same happiness?
7. Will existing rights disappear?
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