The statement concluded with a reminder to maintain civil discourse on this divisive issue, which is a message we have heard numerous times, both specifically about the gay marriage issue and also in general.

You can read more about the Church’s position on gay marriage in the following articles:

The Divine Institution of Marriage

Same-sex Marriage and Proposition 8 (includes a list of links to videos and articles that explain more of the Church’s position, and also includes a link to the coalition that worked to organize people to pass Proposition 8 (the coalition is not affiliated with the Church))

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The Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Music and the Spoken Word program was voted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.  Enjoy some clips from the program on the Radio Hall of Fame website.

You can listen to the program on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Time.

The post Noteworthy (US) News: Prop 8 Overturned; Mormon Tabernacle Choir “Music and the Spoken Word” Inducted into Radio Hall of Fame appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., president of the U.S. Council of Bishops for the Catholic Church, gave a forum address this past week at Brigham Young University, one of the universities owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See the following stories for more information:

Cardinal George Addresses Religious Freedom in Speech at BYU (Contains an audio link.)

LDS, Catholics must defend religious freedom, cardinal says at BYU

Cardinal: Catholics, Mormons must defend religious freedom together

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Elder Dallin H. Oaks addressed an audience yesterday at Harvard University, discussing basic Mormon beliefs. He also talks about how higher education contributes to the lack of understanding about religion.

Transcript of Elder Oaks’ talk follows: “Fundamental Premises of our Faith”

Read news stories below:

Don’t Marginalize Religion, Elder Oaks Says to Harvard Law Students

Apostle Addresses Harvard Audience on Mormon Faith

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See these articles for summaries of other talks recently given:

Gay marriage battled endangering religious voices, LDS leader says

Religious Liberty is being challenged worldwide

The post The tension between secularism and religion; Protecting religious liberty appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

The statement that was read as part of the announcement of the Church’s choice on this matter included the following explanations regarding this decision:

In drafting these ordinances, the city has granted common-sense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations, for example, in their hiring of people whose lives are in harmony with their tenets, or when providing housing for their university students and others that preserve religious requirements.

The Church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage.

The Church has taken a firm stand on upholding the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman and is devoted to also protecting religious rights, as Elder Dallin H. Oaks recently explained. But this effort to work together with city leaders in Salt Lake a illustrates, as Michael Otterson (managing director for Church Public Affairs) explained, that we “belong to a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree – in fact, especially when we disagree” (emphasis in original).

For more information on the Church’s position regarding same-sex marriage, see this statement, issued during the time when Proposition 8 was on the ballot in California, USA. You can also see some videos and other information that the Church provided during that time here.

The post Noteworthy News: LDS Church Backs Nondiscrimination Ordinance appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

However, there are also those who recognize that Mormons, just like any other group or individual, have the right to speak out and get involved on issues that are important to them. You can read some statements of those who have offered there support here.

We here at The Mormon Women Website* wanted to express appreciation to those who have offered their support. We encourage people to remember that clearly it is not just Mormons who have felt strongly about and gotten involved in defending traditional marriage.

We also fully support what our leaders have recently said about the need for civility and respect on both sides of this issue. While we realize that there are those who have exhibited hateful or unkind behavior toward gays, any such behavior is not representative of what we believe (or what we are taught) is appropriate.

We do understand that some will view the Church’s position on Prop 8 as hateful behavior in and of itself. We hope that in time, people can come to see, as they study more about our beliefs and read more from our leaders and their teachings, that hate has never been the motivation for those of us who have supported efforts to protect traditional marriage.

If you would like to understand more of why the Church felt so strongly about this issue, you can find links to resources here. You can view videos on a website the Church created for Proposition 8 here.

*We remind you that while we strive to keep our content consistent with the doctrine and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this site is not officially affiliated with the Church. For more information about the Church, visit mormon.org. You can also find more official commentary, press releases, and other information at the Church’s Newsroom site.

The post “Measured Voices Provide Reason, Support Amidst Proposition 8 Reaction” to Mormons appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Read one woman’s experience taking a stand for the issue: “I Hope You Know We’re Not Haters”.

The post One Mormon Women’s Experience Holding Signs for Prop 8 in California appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.