I still have my religious and moral beliefs and will testify of what I have found to be true, and will continue to talk about my Savior and the wonderful plan that we all have by virtue of Him. Yes, I will continue to proclaim those things, but it's all in the delivery.

How can one who holds their beliefs so very strongly "lessen the blow" of the delivery? I mean, we read in the scriptures,"...for I am not ashamed of the gospel...". And we are counseled to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. Many prophets and religious people were persecuted for standing up to their beliefs; Noah was mocked when he testified that the earth was going to be destroyed. Nephi was mocked when his brothers found out he was going to build a ship. The pharaoh of Egypt and his followers mocked and made fun of Moses when he was sent by The Lord to proclaim the word of The Lord in saying "let my people go".  And Samuel the Lamanite, who hopped on top of a wall to preach repentance and of the coming birth of the Savior to an angry group of people that were trying to take his life. All of these are extreme, but the thing they all share in common is that they all have servants of God obeying His will. In this case, they speak harsh and direct words to people - something I have heard lately from the pulpit at General Conference.

But, I will admit that I am no where in the same boat spiritually as those aforementioned. I am asked to be a humble servant of The Lord. It is not my place to contradict or cause further contention, if you will. It is, however my place to stay positive and share the simple truths of the gospel. My evening prayers always include the missionaries throughout the world, "that they will be led to the homes of those people that The Lord has softened their hearts..." That, right there is the key for me to remember; proclaim the gospel to the General public, but with humility. Share what I know what to be true without any other commentary no matter how tempting it is.

So, what I should have said (if anything at all) and left it at that was:

I am disappointed with the actions of the court in overturning, what I believe to be the vote of the people. I believe very strongly that marriage between male and female are ordained of God, and that the family is central to the creator's plan.

I realize that not everyone shares the same beliefs in religion or even a God - that is their personal choice. My role is is soften, mend, and lift hearts through music, and to speak and sing by the power of the Holy Ghost to those that The Lord has prepared to hear with their ears and hearts. The delivery for me to to speak and sing with love unfeigned, without hypocracy, and by the power of the Holy Ghost. I failed in this, but thanks to true repentance, I can wipe the slate clean of this episode.

I am grateful for the gospel in my life; for the simple, easy to understand principles. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father that loves all of us unconditionally. He loves us, not the sins and misdeeds we commit, but those that we repent of.  I am grateful for my family and my sweetie for time and all eternity and the knowledge that family and marriage can extend beyond this life into the eternities.