The Sacramento Bee has an article today about the “sacrifices” that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have made so that they can take away the right to marry from same-sex couples.
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Rick and Pam Patterson gave $50,000. He drives a 10-year-old Honda Civic to his job at Intel. She is a stay-at home mom who makes most of the family meals and bakes her own bread. The couple, who have five sons between the ages of 3 and 12, live in a comfortable but modest three-bedroom home in Folsom.
David and Susan Nielson gave $35,000. The couple will forgo a vacation for the next two years and make other sacrifices to pay for their donation, he said.
Yes, they are faithful members of their church. And while the couples deny that they were pressured to contribute, both couples did so after the June 29 letter came out from the First Presidency and the church leadership requesting that Mormons “do what you can”.
However, this sacrifice seems not to have extended to the leaders actually contributing from their own personal funds. A search of the contribution database listing all contributors of $100 or more yields:
• President and Prophet Thomas Monson – $0.00
• 1st Counselor Henry Eyring – $0.00
• 2nd Counselor Dieter Uchtdorf – $0.00
• Apostle Boyd Packer – $0.00
• Apostle L. Tom Perry – $0.00
• Apostle Russell Nelson – $0.00
• Apostle Dallin Oaks – $0.00
• Apostle M. Russell Ballard – $0.00
• Apostle Joseph Wirthlin – $0.00
• Apostle Richard Scott – $0.00
• Apostle Robert D. Hales – $0.00
• Apostle Jeffery Holland – $0.00
• Apostle David Bednar – $0.00
• Apostle Quentin Cook – $0.00
• Apostle C. Todd Christofferson – $0.00
Perhaps “our best efforts” means something different to the leaders than it does to the followers. & perhaps you should ask your fellow “followers” if it matters to them that their “leaders” aren’t acting in the way they’re asking of there followers. Blech.
So people, seriously – rally your followers and let’s stop this. Go to www.eqca.org to donate whatever you can. & if you’re not in a place to donate cash, you can also sign up to make phone calls to CA residents – just like “the church” is doing.
It’s unbelievable to me. I feel ashamed, like a family member of mine has done something to someone else. I’m not Mormon….but my whole fucking family is and I’ll be DAMNED if J’s sister isn’t in CA. on the phone calling other residents.
They wouldn’t donate any of their own money. HELLOOOOOO…separation of church and state sister. They wouldn’t cross that line.
By: KJandthekids on October 15, 2008
at 12:49 pm
I just donated and (I hope this is ok with you) I will copy and paste your posting onto my blog.
By: Casey on October 15, 2008
at 11:24 pm
CRAZY, but definitely not surprising! The power these fanatical religeous leaders have over people is really frightening!
By: amy on October 15, 2008
at 11:28 pm
Leader: “Here. Drink this punch. I made it myself.”
“I’m all sugared-out, so I’ll just have the water…..”
I, too, am going to copy your info and put in my own blog. If you mind, please let me know.
By: Kaye on October 16, 2008
at 2:14 am
I just don’t understand why the church is so dang threatened by this. Why do the have to get so defensive? Why can’t they just live their own lives the way they want and let us do the same? I really would like to talk with the first presidency. I think they are scared because they have lost lots of mambers to our gay community, and they can’t have their numbers dwindle like that!
By: merr on October 16, 2008
at 2:35 am
I was in Sacramento this past weekend, with my LDS mom and dad. As I read the front page article and vocalized the comments so many of you have uttered over the past little while, I found that my opinion fell on very closed minded ears of my dad. My mom was disgusted that if they wanted to do something in the name of “sacrifice” why was it published on the front page of the news paper, “shouldn’t it have been between them and God?”. My Dad was disgusted that “our kind” could be “trying to re-define the one thing that is closest to being God-like”. We had a debate, his close mindedness didn’t allow for much discussion, but we did talk. My biggest fear is that the sheep will follow the wolves blindly into slaughter. These are people I love. When did our freedom to practice religion, freedom to free speech, and freedom to choose our own way of life become that of someone else to choose? I just don’t get it.
By: Heidi on October 16, 2008
at 2:54 am
So disgusting. Again, with al lthe horrible plights in the world, THIS is what they spend their money on? Just disgusting.
By: jbeeky on October 16, 2008
at 9:13 am
delurking to say I cannot understand! I am actually ashamed. I am mormon albeit not active and I don’t understand how going from one prophet to another can change the way the morman religion treats such an issue.. I firmly believe our former prophet tried to teach tolerance and acceptance among people an I have not seen such thing sings with the new presidency. I am truley dissapointed.
By: melanie on October 16, 2008
at 1:22 pm
I came upon your blog in search for additional information about this couple. It is ironic to me that they are critizied and riduculed for standing for something they believe in. However, if they stood for something that was more politically correct, then they would have been made heros and publically applauded. They happen to stand and firmly believe in traditional christian values and because they do, they are considered disgusting, horrible people.
Here is my problem. I don’t want to debate the issue of whether same-sex marriage or gays & lesbians are right or wrong. We each have our own opinion and are entitled to it. We can agree to disagree. However, marriage has always been defined as a union between a man and a wife.
Marriage is timeless and has been upheld by basic christian principals for centuries. Supporters of this prop are not targeting a certain group or trying to determine rights. This is a simple issue of ensuring the sacredness of marriage between a man and wife.
If you had a firm core of values and standards based upon principles that are centuries old and someone demanded that you change those standards to meet THEIR needs, how would you feel?
I respect this family for having the courage to stand so strongly for something that they believe to be worth fighting for. Do they not have the right to do so?
Last thought, it is important to be respectful and considerate of others, to remember the basic principles that we once learned in kindegarten, however there also comes a time when there is too much gray. Too many people making up the rules to fit their needs. Some may choose to live by standards and values, and others may choose to be politically correct. The issues we face today are not gray, it is black and white/right and wrong. You can show someone kindness and consideration and tolerance, but still disagree with the choices that they make.
By: littlelady on October 27, 2008
at 11:35 pm