A change in the wind

Proposition 8 in California has become such a divisive issue, not only within our church, but churches everywhere.

For example: Father Geoffrey Farrow, a Roman Catholic priest in Fresno California (and part of the family - a gay celibate), took a stand against proposition 8 in California - and has paid steep price. He was removed from his position in the church, stripped of his salary and benefits, and ordered to stay away from all church communities he had served.

Article in the LA Times: Stand against Prop. 8 costs priest dearly

He also has a blog: Father Geoff Farrow

I can't help but wonder what long term effects this divisiveness will have.

If memory serves, when I read the history of the church (many moons ago), one of the factors in Nauvoo that lead to persecution, and ultimately expulsion, was a fear of the Mormon's as a voting block (Nauvoo being one of the largest cities in Illinois, at the time). Many churches welcome the involvement of the LDS church in the fight against proposition 8; but, is it more in the spirit of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend?" Are we all going to be best buddies post November - or will they return to preaching that Mormon's are going to hell?

Make no mistake, the ability of the Mormon church to mobilize it's members into a voting block to influence an election will not go unnoticed, especially if proposition 8 passes (which is looking more likely).

Being a child of the 70's - the height of the civil rights movement - this is all feeling so familiar. It's like Deja Vu. Our society was forever changed in the 60's and 70's. Are we at the precipice of another great change?

• Are we ready for the fallout of this intense campaigning effort (on both sides)?
• Are we prepared to deal with whatever sociological forces we may have set in motion?