Dennis received a phone call from the bishop the Tuesday night. He wanted to discuss with him an urgent matter. They needed to call a person to organize 20 members from our ward that may be used to call people in California to educate them about Proposition 8. I volunteered to be that person (the bishop's wife is helping me). I have learned a lot so far and wanted to include some of the issues on my blog. I have put up the text of a handout I prepared to give to volunteers. I will include the websites that volunteers are asked to study.

The First Presidency and the Twelve have asked the saints in the Idaho Area to participate in a vigorous and united calling effort to assist the people of California to pass Proposition 8 to preserve traditional marriage.

Because the outcome of California’s Proposition 8 regarding traditional marriage will have a major impact on the whole nation, the Brethren have asked us to recruit volunteers who will phone California voters and request their Yes vote on this critical issue.

Elder Hammond said, "...this thought has persisted: If the minute men army is organized and trained, the Lord will use all or a portion of it however he chooses and the call to do so comes from the prophet of the Lord."

Our efforts will supplement what the members in California are already doing. They are organized by stakes and wards, and within each ward by zip codes. Some zip codes have lots of member volunteers and are doing well, while others are stretched thin, which is why our California brothers and sisters need our help.

Gary Lawrence who heads the Proposition 8 grass roots effort in California said, "When I heard Idaho was going to help us, I felt like the cavalry had arrived."

And Elder Hammond said, " This is Idaho and we can offer the Lord a great army who are enlisted till this particular conflict is over."

I copied the following from this website: http://www.whatisprop8.com/

Six consequences if Prop 8 fails:
Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage.

The California Education Code already requires that health education classes instruct children about marriage.

Therefore, unless Proposition 8 passes, children will be taught that marriage between any two adults is of the same worth, regardless of gender. There will be serious clashes between the secular school system and the right of parents to teach their children their own values and beliefs.

Churches may be sued over their tax exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public.

Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father. Catholic Charities in Boston already closed its doors in Massachusetts because courts legalized same-sex marriage there.

Religions that sponsor private schools with married student housing may be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits.

Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages may be sued for hate speech and risk government fines. It already happened in Canada, a country that legalized gay marriage. A recent California court held that municipal employees may not say: "traditional marriage," or "family values" because, after the same-sex marriage case, it is "hate speech."

It will cost you money. This change in the definition of marriage will bring a cascade of lawsuits, including some already lost (e.g., photographers cannot now refuse to photograph gay marriages; doctors cannot now refuse to perform artificial insemination of gays even given other willing doctors). Even if courts eventually find in favor of a defender of traditional marriage (highly improbable given today's activist judges), think of the money – your money – that will be spent on such legal battles.

Be sure to watch this touching video:

http://www.whatisprop8.com/Catholic-Church/Catholic-Viewpoints/

http://www.protectmarriage.com/
Click on "First Yes on 8 TV Ad" to see the ad that has been running in California.

I am inviting the people I call to fast and pray, even if they cannot volunteer their time. That is something we all can do. I love the thought of the army. We can be a mighty force for good!