Thoughts on an Historic Election

I'm a little disappointed about Obama getting elected, although I wasn't quite enthusiastic about McCain. I don't think Obama will destroy the country though, since the SCOTUS is fairly well balanced against a secular anti-religious facial attack. If Obama can just keep his money/power hungry liberal friends from commandering huge swaths of American economy and life then he just may turn out to be a good president. For the record; Hillary was a better candidate, but after all is said and done, a black president will help bring minorities into the mainstream better and obviate the need for preferential ractial discrimination.

As for Prop 8, I thought of this quote:

“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. 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.’

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 when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.

Resistance to abortion will 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 in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also
be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness 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 which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, ’summer is nigh.’ 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, October 10, 1978

That success alone quelched any lingering ping of regret over losses sustained by the 'home team.' After all is said and done, political games are not as significant as the need for (at least a part of) society firmly rooted in the True and Good.

A good summary of the California Mormon experience can be found Here.

Some interesting legal arguments concerning Same-sex marriage and Religious liberty can be found here and here; originally published in the Harvard Journal of of Law and Public Policy.