Another mormon has quit her job due to intimidation by the prop-8 mob in California. (link)
Part of me wishes she wouldn’t have quit, that she would’ve stood her ground and denounced the denouncers, that she would’ve played the game out until they physically assaulted her or did something equally detestable.
The other part sees that she doesn’t care for herself, that she prayed for what is best for them, meaning her employees, customers, and persecuters. I feel sorry that she was the one straw that poked out of the bundle, the one they chose to pick on. But I don’t feel sorry for her because she chose to do what she thought was best, what she thought the Savior would do. In fact, I am rather proud of her that she chose to turn her cheek and not quarrel with her enemies.
We don’t live in a land anymore where religious diversity is tolerated. I don’t think we ever really had true religious freedom, but we have been closer at some times than others. Today, if my church doesn’t teach what the homosexual community finds acceptable, if I disagree in any way with them, then they are going to use the same tactics that were used a hundred and seventy years ago to drive the mormons out of New York, Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois. I’m familiar with these tactics, and I’m familiar with the correct way to respond. May the law be imposed upon any who broke it, and may the people of my church reach out in pure love to her enemies.
While I am not the judge, I am responsible for clarifying a few points of doctrine, and that doctrine is that we cannot live contrary to the laws of God and expect to be happy. Happiness only comes by living your life in accordance to the principles that God has laid down, not so much defining them but clarifying them for us, so many centuries ago.
One of those principles is sexual purity. This will never change. Violate the laws of chastity and have your heart broken. Keep them and find true and everlasting love.
Another is repentance.
As Paul preached, the law is our schoolmaster that brings us to Christ. Why? Because the harder we try to keep the law, the more we understand that we will always fall short due to our fallen natures. And those natures can only be reborn through Christ. And so as we pursue the law, we come to understand the need for Christ, and begin to turn our lives to him.
And rather than buckle to pressure by calling evil good, I will live my life according to that message, that same was Sister Christoffersen has, regardless of the consequences.
I don’t think Sister Christoffersen is going to be the last victim of the anti-Prop-8 rage in the homosexual community. She certainly wasn’t the first. Let those who are persecuted be examples for us, so that we can learn to live a life of faith, valuing our religion more than anything else in the world.
