Ruth Youth Proclaim International Mormon Appreciation Day!
In response to the truly despicable, bigoted advertisement, Home Invasion, produced to defeat California’s Proposition 8, the members of the Ruth Youth proclaim November 5, 2008 to be International Mormon Appreciation Day.
Whereas: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are exercising their legal first amendment free speech rights by participating in the political process, rights that are dear to all Americans of all religions.
Whereas, the advertisement was generated by an “independent” group calling itself Courage Campaign Issues Committee.
Whereas: the ad has been condemned by representatives of Catholic and Protestant Churches.
Whereas: the Protect Marriage, Yes on Proposition 8 campaign has called upon the No on 8 campaign to repudiate the ad.
Whereas: the No on Proposition 8 has been completely silent in the face of this outrageous display of anti-religious bigotry.
Whereas: the No on 8 Campaign has shown very clearly that they want the exclusive right to define what counts as discrimination and hate.
Whereas: the campaign to protect natural marriage by passing California’s Proposition 8 has been called the largest grassroots political campaign in history.
Whereas: attacks on the religious freedom of one group threaten the religious freedom of all religions.
Whereas: Ruth Youth is an international, interfaith coalition of youthful souls of all ages who support natural marriage, in law, culture, media and academia.
Whereas: we are grateful to the members of the LDS Church for their participation in the campaign to protect marriage from being radically redefined by unelected judges.
Whereas: We are proud to have been part of said campaign, and we are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the members of the LDS Church.
Therefore, be it proclaimed:
We, the members of Ruth Youth, hereby declare and proclaim November 5, 2008, to be International Mormon Appreciation Day.
We hereby express our gratitude toward and solidarity with our LDS brothers and sisters.
No matter how the election for Proposition 8 turns out, we are grateful to the courageous, dedicated, and always cheerful members of the LDS Church.
Whereas: the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are exercising their legal first amendment free speech rights by participating in the political process, rights that are dear to all Americans of all religions.
Whereas, the advertisement was generated by an “independent” group calling itself Courage Campaign Issues Committee.
Whereas: the ad has been condemned by representatives of Catholic and Protestant Churches.
Whereas: the Protect Marriage, Yes on Proposition 8 campaign has called upon the No on 8 campaign to repudiate the ad.
Whereas: the No on Proposition 8 has been completely silent in the face of this outrageous display of anti-religious bigotry.
Whereas: the No on 8 Campaign has shown very clearly that they want the exclusive right to define what counts as discrimination and hate.
Whereas: the campaign to protect natural marriage by passing California’s Proposition 8 has been called the largest grassroots political campaign in history.
Whereas: attacks on the religious freedom of one group threaten the religious freedom of all religions.
Whereas: Ruth Youth is an international, interfaith coalition of youthful souls of all ages who support natural marriage, in law, culture, media and academia.
Whereas: we are grateful to the members of the LDS Church for their participation in the campaign to protect marriage from being radically redefined by unelected judges.
Whereas: We are proud to have been part of said campaign, and we are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the members of the LDS Church.
Therefore, be it proclaimed:
We, the members of Ruth Youth, hereby declare and proclaim November 5, 2008, to be International Mormon Appreciation Day.
We hereby express our gratitude toward and solidarity with our LDS brothers and sisters.
No matter how the election for Proposition 8 turns out, we are grateful to the courageous, dedicated, and always cheerful members of the LDS Church.
Labels: gay marriage, LDS, prop 8, proposition 8, Same Sex Marriage
posted by Betsy at
2:04 PM
55 Comments:
THANK YOU for this!! You're awesome!
I would like to thank your community for fellowshipping with our Church on this proposition.
I do not believe that this fight is over with, as I believe that the liberal judges of California will over-turn the will of the people and re-instate the "rights" of gay couples to wed.
This is NOT an anti-gay issue, but it is an issue that WE THE PEOPLE have a right to worship as we will and to teach our children our own beliefs and NOT to have beliefs other then that, taught to our children in public schools.
We love our gay brothers and sisters!! We just would like them to respect the Christian belief that marriage is between a man and a woman.
Shepardess
[who formerally use to live in San Bernardino]
Thank you so much for showing your support to the members of the LDS church. I'm an LDS youth, and it really means alot to me that you are willing to help us take a stand on what we believe, even if it is sometimes hard.
Thanks again. It's good to know that there are others out there with the same values we have!
-A fan from Michigan
Thanks for your kind words and support. I cried when I read this!
Boyd Anderson
MN
Thank you for your fellowship and support in seeing marriage and religious rights protected! The fight is not over and as a member of the LDS faith, I am honored to fight along side you.
"... Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent... "
Together we can continue to accomplish His work.
There is not much more I can add to what has already been said, so I will simply say THANK-YOU!
Andie~
Thank you so much for the article and appreciation, we are truly grateful.
Thank you for your support. I'm glad we can stand side by side on this issue.
Thank you so much from the bottom of an LDS heart. We are proud to stand beside you.
Dear Friends in California!!
It's nice to feel so connected. Even though we are in Arizona we heard about your Mormon Appreciation Day and we are touched very deeply -- that you would care enough to proclaim a day, that you would show such respect and courage in support of your LDS friends and that you value the family as we do. My faith has been strengthened and my appreciation for my Christian friends (which was already great)is even greater. Thank you is not enough, but please accept our heartfelt love and gratitude.
A Youth Leader in AZ
I sit here with tears streaming down my face. They are tears of gratitude that your group would care enough to defend the LDS
church. My words can not express the extreme gratitude and love I feel towards you that you would be so kind and thoughtful. Wow!! You are awesome!!
My husband and I are parents of 9 children. Our oldest son just got back from a two year mission and our second son has been a missionary for 10 months. We worship together as a family and have always tried to be Christ-like people. We have spent much time and sacrificed money to help pass Propositon 8. The opposition made such a vicious personal attack. The fact that you not only disagreed with them BUT came out and said something...(here I am crying again)....
This may seem a bit corny but this song comes to mind:
" I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms and keep it company
I'd like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills "Ah, peace throughout the land""
You taught through example on this one!!!
A million THANK YOU's doesn't seem to be enough. What a truly
Christian thing to do. I hope that all members of the LDS church live up to your gracious kindness. May God bless you.
Temecula
Thank you. My heart is full and I'm touched by this gesture. We are with you in this cause!
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I am thankful to you for taking the sting out of the vicious attack against our missionaries on YouTube. Seeing it had caused tears but seeing your proclamation brought tears of joy.
Our missionaries have been there for every disaster to offer help to everyone, not just members of our church. They do not deserve to be characterized as they were. For me, after spending much time and money and working side by side with other Christian brothers and sisters the You Tube piece was disheartening but not unexpected. Thank you all for your willingness to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. We will need to work together from here on out as I agree that this is not the end of this issue. With brotherly love to all of you and to all our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. If they will only create their own title for their kind of union it would be accepted and bring unity to us all again.
Phyllis Lee
CA
Thank you for your appreciation and commitment to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Latter Day Saints and other courageous Christians. Today, the world is a better place!
The Fairchild Family
Thank you so much for your Christlike example of love and support! Your action was truly a light in the darkness and is very much appreciated. I will be sharing your message with many others.
God bless you!
just wanted to write and say Thank You for proclaiming November 5th Mormon Appreciation Day in response to the "Home Invasion" ad recently aired. I'm a Mormon and reading this proclamation made me cry! I'd like to say thank you for the support and for the kindness showed. Sometimes we feel, as only one voter or one person, we don't really make much difference. This proclamation made a difference to me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely,
Shawn Larkin
I consider myself a tough guy, but when I read this I about balled my eyes out. This appreciation for my church means more than you can ever imagine. If feals sometimes that in our day that the rift between our church and our christian brothers has been growing wider, but this shows that our core values are still the same and if we band together we can make a difference. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for this and your defense in our behalf.
Thank you!!! I am LDS and deeply appreciate the outreach of support from fellow Christians!
Thank-you for your support!! Our LDS family has been so touched by the support and brotherhood of all of the other Christian churches in our community as we fought side by side to help Proposition 8 pass. It is truly a miracle and we have seen the hand of God in all aspects of the passing of this proposition. We are disheartened by religious bigots, but our resolve grows stronger with the persecution. Thank you again!! You are wonderful. ~An LDS fan
Thank you so much for this, it was very hurtful to see those ads but seeing these kind words of support has made it quite a bit more tolerable.
thank you again!
Thank you for showing appreciation to our LDS church. It was really a lot of work but it made me a a stronger person in doing it.
I am so grateful that it passed.
In the midst of this battle on street corners of California, in call centers, in conversations with our friends and neighbors I found great strength from the support I received from like minded people. People who still hold dear the traditional, natural values of home, family, marriage, honesty, and integrity. I am grateful for the way this solidified us and brought us close in purpose and heart! Thank your for you kind words of support. It truly overwhelmed me. I know the fight is not over by any means, but good people standing together can accomplish great things and support Gods purposes. May God bless us all as we continue to fight for marriage and families the world over!
Linda
As LDS members in Orange County, thank you so much for giving such a gracious thumbs up to our church and for our efforts.
The Solesbee Family
Thank you for doing this!! It truly means so much that someone has stood up for the LDS Church being attacked for supporting a cause they believe in. We are grateful for wonderful, decent people like you!
Thank you so much for this kindness. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints I have felt grateful and honored to stand, work, fast, and pray with other Christian's from many denominations. I felt the great power in the Inter-denominational Fast that so many participated in, and excitement for that opportunity. I know the fight is not over, and I'm thankful to know that we have friends, as we stand together in the cause of righteousness. With God on our side, miracles can be accomplished--and they were with the passing of Prop. 8.
We have fought the good fight and we have come off victorious. Let those that revile us kick against the pricks in vain. I will not give them another thought but I will relish in a newfound brotherhood with our fellow Christians. Thank you for your love and support.
Sherida - proud to be "Mormon"
Thank you for extending such compassion and reminding us of all that is good and human after our faith was so outrageously slandered by this ad.
We are all on an errand which will not be quieted by the opposition's reviling, no matter how hateful. It is so important that we stand together to uplift and encourage in the fight for right. Thank you.
Megan
Thank you for your words of support for the efforts of the LDS church on behalf of Prop 8. We appreciate it.
Thanks for working along side us and many other people who also want marriage defined as between a man and a woman.
What a kind, thoughtful gesture. Thank you! It's so refreshing and affirming to feel a joint sense of purpose with so many people of so many faiths, who are willing to stand and defend what we all hold most dear.
Thank you, and may God bless you!
Thank you very much for this kind gesture and for standing together, shoulder to shoulder, on this important issue.
I was very touched by this proclamation and wanted to say THANK YOU for such a genuine recognition of the efforts of so many. I only wish there were something more I could do to individually thank everyone everywhere that joined together in these enormous grassroot efforts to help protect marriage and uphold high moral standards. The unity and kindness shown by all is astounding.
Thank you so very much for your kind words toward the LDS Church, of which I am a member. I am so grateful for the active cooperation from Christian ministers and their congregations in bringing this to pass. Your support for us and repudiation of that nasty attack ad warms my heart.
Vic
Your coalition is the shame of california.
Thank you for showing your support to my church, the LDS church. We appreciate it more than you know!
Thank you so much for this! It means a lot. And thank you so much for all the work you did to help with this important campaign!
Thank you for this wonderful gesture!
Cheri
8-)
Thank you so much for your support of Proposition 8 and another big thanks for being as horrified as we were about that vicious YouTube video. It warmed my heart and made my day to see your support! Onward Christian Soldiers!!!!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I can feel your genuine love for us all. It is most definitely returned!
-Diana in Fremont
What sweet and wonderful support you have shown us with this proclamation. Our fight is not over yet, but we will win the victory!! I live in southern calif. and today the opposition is planning to riot at our temple in Los Angeles. They are also planning to disrupt our church meetings and there have been many treats against our members for standing up for our morals and standards. We need to be strong and vigilant. We have the Lord on our side and he will always prevail!!!
Thank you again!!!
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I want to personally thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. We have been used to discrimination and have had a very long history of it in the United States. It gladdens the heart to see other faiths strengthen their brothers and sisters in their belief and commitments to a moral and higher cause.
I have had great pleasure these past few weeks getting to know my
sisters and brothers in other faiths and cultures working for Prop. 8. I know it has been mutual the love and kinship we of all faiths have felt as we together held our arms high holding signs, posting papers on doorsteps, meeting in the rain to plan as well as the celebrating the final moments of victory late last night. I thank God that he provided us this opportunity to unite.
Thank you once again,
Celeste
Thank you so much for understanding what free speech is! And as an ex-Californian and a Mormon, I really appreciate your support for a group of Christians just trying to follow Heavenly Father's will!
Thank you so much. It's so nice to hear something positive. Hurray for marriage!
Thank you so much for doing this. It is great to have such amazing friends, whatever religion they are. Thank you!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I have felt so picked on today, with the protests at our temple and everything. I am deeply touched that you are willing to stand up for us. (Hold on while I wipe my tears of gratitude away) We are usually so unpopular with everyone. I hope that we can stand strong, united, and defend the sanctity of marriage together, no matter what our faith is!
Thank you so much :)
Thank you for your support! We will continue to stand by you to defend basic moral values and the freedom to teach our children these values.
Thank you!
Its nice to feel so united. Thanks so much!
Just want to echo what's been said. As a member of the LDS Church I too am crying as I write. All of us who worship our Savior Jesus Christ need to stand together as the fight for right intensifies in these last days. We love you and are so grateful for your gesture and expression of support and unity as brothers and sisters in Christ!
Thank you Ruth Youth! Together we can make a difference!
The only thing that will allow evil to overcome good, is that good men and women do nothing. We bonded on this important issue, and we need to stay in touch for others that will follow.
Thank you for acknowledging the LDS participation in Prop 8. We are part of the community and welcome others than feel the same way.
Mike
Thank You for your kindness towards the LDS people. Thanks to everyone who stood up for Proposition 8 and similar legislation in other states. Traditional families are fundamental to the well-being of society--may we continue to stand together.
I only wanted to add my gratitude to all the others! This truly was a bright spot in a rather dark week for me and my family (as we have endured personal persecution relating to our "public" donation). It is an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with so many wonderful people of great faith!! And I am humbled by your love and act of kindness--you can never know just how much this means.
God bless you!!
After the barrage of completely misleading and negative media about the LDS church, I'd like to add my thanks to your organization and it's support and defense in this all important issue.
Why is it that society has come to a point that if a person chooses to protect the sanctity of marriage as it has been defined since the beginning of time we are all bigots, intolerant, narrow-minded and homophobics. It's the same name-calling tactics used on the playgrounds in elementary school. It must be very inconvenient for them to believe that we can actually love homosexuals, but want to reserve the definition of marriage to be what it has always been between one man and one woman. This has nothing to do with their "rights",and it certainly has nothing to do with loving or hating anybody, it has to do with the definition and sanctity of marriage.
Thank you for your joint efforts and support in protecting marriage and for defending those persons of the LDS faith.
May God bless your continued efforts!
Darcey
I had goose bumps and such a warm feeling of appreciation fill my heart as I read your wonderful letter. Thank you for standing in support with our LDS Church. Your comments are truly appreciated. Thanks again.
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