I"M TIRED OF IT!

Boy am I tired of reading each day about the protests against the church on Prop 8. Can you imagine the backlash if it had not passed and we protested against the Gay community. We would have been beat up to no end. I understand the emotions with this issue but i don't understand the hatred and threats. With comments that i read from LDS families about the church and how wrong the church is with this stand, I have to think that this is a real sign of the times and it is going to "sift the wheat from the tares" I found an article by Neal A Maxwell in 1978 that is so applicable today, this could have been given prior to this election. What a prophecy!!
"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters -- in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions (see 1 Kgs 18:21).
"President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.' (CR, Apr 1941) This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ…
"Your discipleship may see the time come when religious convictions are heavily discounted. M. J. Sobran observed, 'A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it' (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, p. 58). This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain of people's opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will soon be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened…
"Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even these, however, must leave a record so that the choices before the people are clear and let others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, that others will step forward, having been rallied to righteousness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds--a majority which was, till then, unconscious of itself.
"Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves 'summer is nigh' (Matt. 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, "Meeting the Challenges of Today", BYU Devotional, 10 Oct 1978
On a lighter note. We heard from Eric yesterday and he is doing great. Loving the MTC as we knew he would. Mom said that Francis ran into him at the Temple yesterday so that was fun for her and I know Eric loved it also. Thank you for your prayers in his behalf.
Randy

New News

Well, last Wednesday was the day we were all dreading? anticipating?...not quite sure, but it was the day Eric entered the MTC. It was definitely a bitter sweet day with lots of tears but also a lot of excitement for Eric's future two years. We started out by going to lunch to a place in Provo called Guru's. It was pretty relaxing and very tasty. Then we headed over to the MTC a little before one o' clock. Eric got his missionary tag with a "dork dot" on it. (A florescent orange sticker put on his tag to let everyone in the MTC know that he was a new missionary.) We took pictures and headed into the room for orientation. After the remarks the MTC prescidency made, which seemed to last about 30 seconds, we had to say our goodbye's. Everyone was having a hard time, but that was expected.
In the mean time, we received a letter from Eric on Saturday saying that he is doing well. He said he and his companion were meant to be together because they have the same camera, suit, and winter coat. It was pretty funny to hear that. Well, other than that we have no other new news. Have a great week and we'll keep you updated!
~Alyssa