war on religion

Fight For Freedom Friday...on Saturday. I started to write this yesterday...oh and by the way, you know, I am so glad I am writing about this stuff. It is history as I am seeing it. I want the generations that follow me to know this about me: I was concerned, I saw detrimental steps in American History unfold before my eyes and that I fought for the founding principles of this country the best way I could.

I want your feedback and your thoughts...and tell me what you thought of Elder Oaks Devotional talk, "Religious Freedom". (link provided below)

....ok, Although I am quick to debate politics, I still believe the majority of us are missing the point- including me most of the time. Our fight for freedom in this country needs to start with GOD. Start with THE FAMILY. Start with teaching the FAMILY about GOD and about our precious freedom of RELIGION.

The real war that is destroying our country and it's freedoms is the Adversary's influence on us to subtly forget about God and subtly annihilate the family unit.

We can't solve the world's problems without God.

So maybe the 'fight for freedom' should be over God, morals, religion, and virtue rather than policies and politicians.

But when a politician stands firm on God-less policies, we must speak up and armour up.

Now the real question we must ask? What are God-less policies?

A couple weeks ago President Obama spoke at a Human Rights Campaign Dinner. His speech at this event is found HERE at the White House website. I really fear the words of this speech, although they sounded nice and comforting to the gay and lesbian community, they were ultimately wrong and God-less.

President Obama said,

"You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman. (Applause.) You will see a nation that's valuing and cherishing these families as we build a more perfect union -- a union in which gay Americans are an important part. I am committed to these goals. And my administration will continue fighting to achieve them.

There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors, even loved ones -- good and decent people -- who hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; who would deny you the rights most Americans take for granted. And that's painful and it's heartbreaking. (Applause.) And yet you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make, and by the power of the example that you set in your own lives -- as parents and friends, as PTA members and church members, as advocates and leaders in your communities. And you're making a difference.
Are we a nation that can transcend old attitudes and worn divides?
I've required all agencies in the federal government to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Transgender) families as the current law allows. And I've called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act.

That's the promise we're called to fulfill. (Applause.) Day by day, law by law, changing mind by mind, that is the promise we are fulfilling."

"law by law"?

I believe gay couples should have the same tax benefits as anyone else. They should have the same rights as me and you- But I don't think they should get married only because the word "marriage" means a religious and/or legal union between a man and a woman. That is the definition. So it's like holding up a gallon of milk and calling it peanut butter.

What does President Obama's speech have anything to do with religious freedom?

Three days after the Human Rights Campaign Dinner, Elder Oaks, an apostle of the Lord, spoke to the world about religious freedoms and how they are in jeopardy. Read the talk HERE.

Elder Oaks said,

"The greatest infringements of religious freedom occur when the exercise of religion collides with other powerful forces in society. Among the most threatening collisions in the United States today are (1) the rising strength of those who seek to silence religious voices in public debates, and (2) perceived conflicts between religious freedom and the popular appeal of newly alleged civil rights... I invite your careful attention to what I say on these subjects, because I am describing conditions you will face and challenges you must confront.

During my lifetime I have seen a significant deterioration in the respect accorded to religion in our public life, and I believe that the vitality of religious freedom is in danger of being weakened accordingly.

Religious belief is obviously protected against government action. The practice of that belief must have some limits, as I suggested earlier. But unless the guarantee of free exercise of religion gives a religious actor greater protection against government prohibitions than are already guaranteed to all actors by other provisions of the constitution (like freedom of speech), what is the special value of religious freedom? "

When President Obama pushes for gay rights laws we must pay attention to the bigger picture. (everything progressives push, we need to pay attention to- always the bigger picture, the long term outcome.)

Elder Oaks continues with this:

"Religious freedom needs defending against the claims of newly asserted human rights. The so-called “Yogyakarta Principles,” published by an international human rights group, call for governments to assure that all persons have the right to practice their religious beliefs regardless of sexual orientation or identity.[xiv] This apparently proposes that governments require church practices and their doctrines to ignore gender differences. Any such effort to have governments invade religion to override religious doctrines or practices should be resisted by all believers. At the same time, all who conduct such resistance should frame their advocacy and their personal relations so that they are never seen as being doctrinaire opponents of the very real civil rights (such as free speech) of their adversaries or any other disadvantaged group."

Can you imagine the day when Government decides to override the Freedom of Religion by interpreting our sacred doctrines and forcing religions to accept homosexuality as a way to protect so called "civil rights"? If any right is being violated during the whole Prop 8 ordeal, it was the first Right, the First Amendment: Freedom of Religion.

President Hinckley wrote in his book "Standing for Something":

"In too many ways, we have substituted human sophistry for the wisdom of the Almighty."