Christmas In The Desert

We came down to Arizona this week to spend Christmas with Lauren's family. They live in Mesa, near Phoenix, and it is just lovely here. This is the Mesa Arizona Temple.

We went on a great hike just east of Mesa in the Superstition Mountains. It was spectacular!We are not harboring any dreams of a white Christmas.

A Graduation!!

Last Saturday Lauren graduated from Utah State University. We started the celebration at 12:00 am with Lauren becoming a "True Aggie." This involves kissing another True Aggie on the "A" under a full moon. As we reached the top of the "A" snow began to fall. Magical.

Unfortunately the snow continued to fall for the next twelve hours. The procession of the graduates through campus to the arena where the ceremonies are held was led by a snowplow, then the color-guard, and then followed a bunch of people wearing strange robes.Lauren and her dad.

Congrats to Lauren for all of her hard work!

Newsweek

I was very startled when I came across the cover for the latest edition of Newsweek magazine. The title of the cover story is: What the Bible Says: The Religious Case For Gay Marriage. Many of the statements were literally jaw dropping. Here are a few of my "favorite" quotes:

"The fact that homosexual couples cannot procreate has also been raised as a biblical objection, for didn't God say, "Be fruitful and multiply"? But the Bible authors could never have imagined the brave new world of international adoption and assisted reproductive technology—and besides, heterosexuals who are infertile or past the age of reproducing get married all the time."

"The marriage of Joseph and Mary is also unorthodox (to say the least), a case of an unconventional arrangement accepted by society for the common good."

"A mature view of scriptural authority requires us, as we have in the past, to move beyond literalism. The Bible was written for a world so unlike our own, it's impossible to apply its rules, at face value, to ours."

It is easy to see that the author does not believe in God, and if they do, they don't believe that God can reveal His laws and will to prophets. The author goes so far as to compare the union of homosexuals to the "unconventional" marriage of Joseph and Mary. Are they serious? The article talks about the Bible being about equality and loving everybody. That is right, but the Bible does not talk about accepting the sin. I have two very good friends that are homosexual and we are friends but I do not support their actions. This article seeks to excuse homosexuality and prove it is not a sin. If it is not a sin then it would be okay for Christians to not support (the already passed) Proposition 8. Tricky little Newsweek.
I loved that the author included this statement: "The Bible was written for a world so unlike our own..."
The Bible is still wonderfully applicable, but how wonderful is it that God can speak to prophets in our day and guide us in today's challenges. Our Bible is being written as today's prophets continue to guide us through the floods, Red Seas, and Gethsemane's of our present time.
For more information about the stance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I refer you to the church's website regarding same-sex marriage and Proposition 8 and scripture pertaining to homosexuality.