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but can someone help me unpack this?
http://en.fairmormon.org/Latter-day_..._Proposition_8
First, it's obvious that this isn't an official publication or position of the LDS church. Let's go ahead and get that out of the way. So, leaving aside the obvious disagreements we can raise about "official" LDS policy, can we focus on the point-of-view put forth by this article and how it fits into the larger framework of apologetics?
My questions:
It really seems to be splitting hairs to suggest that a prophet asking something is different from a commandment. This paragraph implies to me that something is a "commandment" only when no agency is involved. Am I reading this point-of-view correctly?
According to the article, can someone be a faithful LDS and still oppose Prop. 8? I'm thinking specifically of LDS Temple-Recommendation questions based on "sustaining" LDS leadership and affiliations with groups whose teachings/practices are contrary to those accepted by the LDS church.
http://en.fairmormon.org/Latter-day_..._Proposition_8
Were Church members told how to vote and commanded to work for passage of Proposition 8?
Church members were not told how to vote on Proposition 8. As stated in the letter and the satellite broadcast, members were asked to “do all you can to support” the passage of Proposition 8. There was no commandment for members to work on the campaign. Support was organized at a local level and volunteers' experiences varied according to area, need and campaign leaders. Members were asked to support Proposition 8 ("We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment..."), but not commanded. While prophets may ask people to do some things, the actual “doing” is left to the individual and their agency. It is their choice to determine whether to do what the prophet asks and how much to actually do. Church leaders are aware that members within the church come from different backgrounds, have different life experiences, and different ideologies. To make an ultimatum on this issue would unnecessarily alienate people.
Church members were not told how to vote on Proposition 8. As stated in the letter and the satellite broadcast, members were asked to “do all you can to support” the passage of Proposition 8. There was no commandment for members to work on the campaign. Support was organized at a local level and volunteers' experiences varied according to area, need and campaign leaders. Members were asked to support Proposition 8 ("We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment..."), but not commanded. While prophets may ask people to do some things, the actual “doing” is left to the individual and their agency. It is their choice to determine whether to do what the prophet asks and how much to actually do. Church leaders are aware that members within the church come from different backgrounds, have different life experiences, and different ideologies. To make an ultimatum on this issue would unnecessarily alienate people.
My questions:
It really seems to be splitting hairs to suggest that a prophet asking something is different from a commandment. This paragraph implies to me that something is a "commandment" only when no agency is involved. Am I reading this point-of-view correctly?
According to the article, can someone be a faithful LDS and still oppose Prop. 8? I'm thinking specifically of LDS Temple-Recommendation questions based on "sustaining" LDS leadership and affiliations with groups whose teachings/practices are contrary to those accepted by the LDS church.
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