3 Fold Fear

So throughout today's activities, I've found myself worrying about 3 different things.

Item #1~ School. Enough said, right? I'm not exactly doing school like my brother David, attacking 18+ Credit hours per semester. But I'm still thoroughly occupied some nights with HW to the point that in consumes my entire evening. The good news is, that I really do feel like I'm a good student, and that I can still do well this semester. While my mid-term grades aren't where I'd like for them to be, I can still take action to raise them.

Item #2~ Prop 8. I don't live in California, but I really feel like what ever happens on Tuesday will have an impact on my life. I've had friends contend with me on the subject, as well as random strangers on Facebook. The saddest part is, they try to make me out to seem like a narrow minded person that is trying to steal away their rights! As I read these stories about the debate going on, it makes me so sad for the people living there. There are already schools pushing the Pro-Gay agenda, and if Prop 8 fails, it will only grow and flourish there.

Item #3~ The well being of my fellow man. I'd like to put this in parable terms. Today in my Book of Mormon class, we were talking about Jesus Christ teaching his gospel to the Nephites. My teacher made the point that the Be-attitudes come after the commandment to repent and be baptized, therefore, they are covenants to be lived by MEMBERS of the church. Christ then compares them to the wise man and the foolish man, both of whom are saints of God, but only one of which builds his life on the firm foundation.
I have friends and family, whom in recent years I have seen make the transition from wise to foolish. It breaks my heart to see one of my loved ones distributing anti-mormon literature and setting themselves firmly on the opposite side from the Lord. There is only so much I can do to encourage them to realize the errors of their ways. No one returns to the Lord because a friend lightly suggested it. These people usually only return when they are compelled to be humble, and even then sometimes its too late. I pray for them, that they may have their hearts softened.

Eagle eye

Last night we went to a $3 showing of Eagle Eye. It was the first movie we've seen in the theaters in a while. We both liked it. Plenty of car crashes and things blowing up to keep it interesting. For those of you considering seeing it, I highly recommend it if you like mysteries. It's a new twist on some older movie concepts (as well as a video game or two). From watching the ad's for it, you should know its a little 1984ish (the book not the year).

The down side, highly unbelievable. There are a couple times throughout the show that you find yourself thinking "OK, even if I did buy everything else up to this point, THAT definitely wouldn't have happened the way it did."

I'll let you judge for yourself. I'd usually post a picture with this review, but I'm not really happy with most of the ones that are out there. So I'll just leave it at that.

2 Unbelievable Prop 8 Stories

Absolutely Ridiculous,

Hayward, CA – Parents at a K-8 charter school in Hayward were shocked to learn this week the extent to which their school is promoting gay and lesbian ideals to their daughter in kindergarten.

The parents were shocked to see a poster announcing that "Coming Out Day" will be celebrated at the school this coming Thursday, October 23. The school, Faith Ringgold School of Art and Science, chose not to tell parents ahead of time, but it is in the midst of celebrating "Ally Week," a pro-homosexual push typically aimed at high school students. When one mother asked her daughter earlier this week what she was learning in kindergarten at the school, the 5-year-old replied, "We're learning to be allies." The mother also learned that her daughter's kindergarten classroom is regularly used during lunchtime for meetings of a Gay Straight Alliance club.

Later this week, the school is slated to talk about families. The parents have noticed several posters promoting families, all of which depict only homosexual families. More controversial discussions can be expected through next week, as the elementary school continues to celebrate Gay and Lesbian History Month. On November 20, the school will host TransAction Gender-Bender Read-Aloud, where students will hear adapted tales such as "Jane and the Beanstalk."

These parents are being advised by attorneys from Pacific Justice Institute. Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, "Do we need any further proof that gay activists will target children as early as possible? Opponents of traditional marriage keep telling us that Prop. 8 has nothing to do with education. In reality, they want to push the gay lifestyle on kindergartners, and we can only imagine how much worse it will be if Prop. 8 is defeated. This is not a scenario most Californians want replayed in their elementary schools."

Any other parents whose elementary-age children have been subjected to pro-homosexual propaganda should contact Pacific Justice Institute for counsel and possible representation.

If you are able to support PJI, please click here to contribute now or visit www.pji.org/getinvolved.

AND

This Tuesday October 28 at its 10am meeting, the San Diego City Council will vote on a Resolution which states that the City of San Diego officially opposes Proposition 8. This implies to other Cities and States, that you, as a citizen of San Diego, do not support Proposition 8: that you oppose traditional marriage. This Resolution by the San Diego City Council will attempt to be passed without any public polling, rather, the Resolution will be based on the unilateral opinion and decision of the San Diego City Council.

What can you do?:

TODAY!! Call or email the City Council members listed below and tell them that you support Proposition 8. Remind them that they are ELECTED officials, elected to represent the WILL of the people, and not make unilateral statements on behalf of its citizens without proper polling! Urge them to drop the City Resolution on Proposition 8 entirely and not make a statement at all regarding Proposition 8. Tell them that, with regards to Proposition 8, they do not speak for you!!

Please do not hesitate, your call and/or email is urgently needed, please do this now!!

We must all bond together in one loud voice to ensure this Resolution is not passed.

Please forward this to at least ten people asking them to do the same.

Mayor Jerry Sanders:
Email: JerrySanders@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6330
Fax: (619) 236-7228

District 1 / City Council President Scott Peters
E-mail: scottpeters@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6611
From North County (858) 484-3808
Fax: (619) 236-6999
Chief of Staff email: mpintar@sandiego.gov

District 2 Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
E-mail: kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6622
Fax: (619) 236-6996
Chief of Staff: johnrivera@sandiego.gov

District 3 Councilmember Toni Atkins
E-mail: toniatkins@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6633
Fax: (619) 595-1481
Chief of Staff: dzprice@sandiego.gov

District 4 Councilmember Tony Young
E-mail: anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov
Phone: (619) 236-6644
Fax: (619) 236-7273
Chief of Staff: jslack@sandiego.gov

District 5 Councilmember Brian Maienschein
E-mail: bmaienschein@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6655
From North County: (858) 673-5304
Fax: (619) 238-0915
Chief of Staff: lwitmondt@sandiego.gov

District 6 Councilmember Donna Frye
E-mail: donnafrye@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6616
Fax: (619) 236-7329
Chief of Staff: shadley@sandiego.gov

District 7 Council President Pro Tem Jim Madaffer
E-mail: jmadaffer@sandiego.gov
Phone: (619) 236-6677
Fax: (619) 238-1360
Chief of Staff: afaucett@sandiego.gov
Consultant to Rules Committee: elowe@sandiego.gov

District 8 Councilmember Ben Hueso
E-mail: benhueso@sandiego.gov
Telephone: (619) 236-6688
Fax: (619) 231-7918

TELL THESE PEOPLE TO RUN SAN DIEGO...NOT TELL SAN DIEGO TO VOTE FOR GAY MARRIAGE.

UPDATE:

The San Diego City Council has been flooded with so many phone calls complaining about their pending resolution opposing Prop. 8, the California Marriage Amendment, that they are now trying to sabatoge our event. THEY HAVE MOVED THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO MONDAY, OCTOBER, 27, 2008 at 2PM. This is clearly an attempt to stop our big turnout on Tuesday.

Preserving Marriage

I felt impressed to share this with you all about a week and a half ago, but for some reason or another decided against it. But after tonight, I realize that I should have and so here I am.

I'm not a very political person. I find myself having little to say in political discussions, partially because I consider myself a good listener, and I will probably just end up agreeing or disagreeing with whatever is being discussed. But lately I've been feeling very strongly about a subject going on in the political world, that I feel a necessity for us to take part in. Proposition 8 in California.

There has been quite a bit of talk about the whole gay marriage topic for a few years now. But it wasn't until recently that our Prophets and Apostles have urged us to take serious action. Yes, SERIOUS ACTION. Like, if you aren't doing something about it, then you've missed the boat on the message your Heavenly Father was trying to get across to you.

Tonight we attended the Broadcast that was specifically for Members of the Church in California. We were invited, since we are in an area where there is a high concentration of Young single and Young married members. The official reason for the Broadcast was to address members of the Church and educate them about the situation currently going in California with Proposition 8, and what it means for the future.

However, Elder Ballard and Elder Cook also spoke directly to Cindy and I in urging us to spread the word through the means of Electronic Media. Lets just say that while Elder Ballard asked us to "Write on our walls" he knew that even though he didn't 100% understand what he was saying, that we would get the point and act on it.

My family, Jesus Christ and his church want all of us to get behind this movement. Whether you are resident of California or not. Whether you can donate 1 hour a week or 10. He wants us all to be actively engaged in this effort. I will probably Blog again within the next couple weeks about what the consequences are for our World wide church if this law doesn't pass in California. (Thank you to Craig for identifying that correction for me)

It's pretty late, so I'm gonna get off my soapbox. But if any of you want to join me in this effort, feel free to contact me. You can get more information at http://www.preservingmarriage.org/

General Conference

Its been a while since we've blogged. So I'm gonna go ahead and share with you all some of my thoughts on the recent conference.
1st of all. I see that everyone is filling their new shoes just fine since the reorganization of the first presidency. That is including, but not limited to, Elder Quentin L. Cook.
My favorite talks were during priesthood session, where President Uchtdorf taught us about "lifting where we stand." There is something about knowing that at any given time, we are able to do something that will make a difference in the world, even if we feel like we could so much more than the menial tasks assigned to us, or in contrast, if we are feeling like the calling is too big of a burden to bear, we can always "lift where we stand." I also appreciated the opening where Elder Scott had a Priesthood interview with every Male in attendance.
I always appreciate general conference time, but this was the first one where it was just me and the wife. We enjoyed being together all weekend. We almost always spend our entire weekend together anyway, but this one seemed somehow special.