Fasting for the Family

I received this email today asking us to fast for the family. I know a few people who are involved in the Prop 8 campaign in California and you need to know that the polls show it to be very close - too close for comfort. But California isn't the only place where traditional marriage is at stake. Many other states will see this issue on the ballot in the coming years.

So here is the email I got:

We of the LDS persuasion will be participating. How about your joining us?

Special Fast November 2, 2008

This November's election will be one of great significance for each one of us and our country as a whole. It is suggested that the Sunday before the election, which is November 2nd, we take the opportunity to fast for our country and the leaders who will be elected and the voters who will elect them.

Whether you are of a political persuasion or not, this year's election will be significant. I personally encourage you to learn about the people who want to lead our country and make a prayerful decision.

Should you feel to pass this on to those you love I would encourage you to do so. Our fasts and prayers will make a difference and at this time, more than any other in our lifetime, our country is in need of the Lord's guidance.



Also we got another email this week sent to BJ (son-in-law) from his dad. This shows how heated this issue has become:

Prop. 8 Persecution begins @ Oakland Temple


Makes some of the talks in Gen. Conf. quite Prophetic don't you think?

We received this e mail from a temple ordinance worker and thought that we would pass it on to let you know how ugly Prop 8, against gay marriages, is getting to be in California.

Dear family and friends,

I had a very disturbing experience yesterday that I would like to share with those of you that live outside of California (or outside of the San Francisco Bay Area).

This weekend we have stake conference. Our stake conference always begins with a stake temple session on Friday or Thursday night. Early Friday morning I received a call from the second counselor in our bishopric to let me know that there would be numerous protesters outside the temple, and to remind everyone to stay calm and to drive carefully. The beautiful Oakland Temple is located right across the bay from San Francisco, very close to the city of Berkeley. Apparently the opposition to
proposition 8, the amendment that seeks to make marriage in CA between a man and a woman again, has realized the deep involvement of the church and begun to protest right outside of the temple and harass temple patrons.

The fastest way to get to the temple from our house is to take the 680 freeway, but the exit is a bit tricky. The off ramp is extremely short and straight uphill. You then make an almost blind left turn, an immediate right and another left into the parking lot. As we approached the off ramp, I realized there would be trouble. There
was a backup onto the freeway from cars stalled on the off ramp. As we moved forward inches at a time, we realized this was due to a large group of loud protesters who were standing on both sides of the street, yelling, screaming and waving signs. When we got to the top of the off ramp, ready to make our turn, one protester jumped out right in front of our car.

It took my husband all his self control to carefully maneuver around him to the left and proceed to the temple. I tried not to listen to all they were shouting at us, but I was shaking as I got to the temple front door.

Several of the sisters, especially the ones driving on their own, were crying (which made me snap out of it and go into RS President mode to comfort them). Later, as I was sitting in the perfect quiet of the chapel, I couldn't help but think of Lehi's dream, and the people who mocked the Saints from the big spacious building but
"we heeded them not." It was a truly surreal experience, I'd never thought that I would have to go through an angry crowd to get to the temple. As we left late at night, the protesters had dispersed, temple security (who all looked very large and Tongan) stood by the gates. I never saw a single police man.

Please pray for those of us in California fighting for prop 8--it's getting kind of scary out here!