Anti-Gay LDS Activities     

May 11, 1999

To: Area Authority Seventies, Stake Presidents, Mission Presidents, Bishops, Branch Presidents, and all Church members in California (to be read in the priesthood and Relief Society meetings of each ward and branch by a member of the stake presidency or high council on May 23 or May 30, 1999)

Dear Brethren and Sisters:

On March 7, 2000, Californians will vote to affirm that the union of one man and one woman is the only form of marriage that will be legally recognized in California.

This traditional marriage initiative provides a clear and significant moral choice. The Church's position on this issue is unequivocal. On February 1, 1994, the First Presidency wrote to all priesthood leaders:

"The principles of the gospel and the sacred responsibilities given us require that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints oppose any efforts to give legal authorization to marriages between persons of the same gender."

Therefore, we ask you to do all you can by donating your means and time to assure a successful vote. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and is essential to His eternal plan. It is imperative for us to give our best effort to preserve what our Father in Heaven has put in place.

A broad-based coalition is being formed to work for passage of the traditional marriage initiative. As details about the coalition become available, we will provide you with information on how you might become involved. We thank you for your attention to this vital matter and pray the Lord's richest blessings to be with you.

Sincerely yours,

NORTH AMERICA WEST AREA PRESIDENCY

John B. Dickson

John M. Madsen

Cecil 0. Samuelson

Q: What is DOMA?

A: The purpose of the Defense of Marriage Initiative, to be voted on in March 2000, is to prevent California from having to recognize (homosexual marriages) entered into in other states.

The Defense of Marriage Initiative in California adds just 14 words to the Family Code of California:

Q: What is the history of DOMA?

A: In 1976, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a measure stating that California will only grant marriage licenses to a man and a woman. However, marriages contracted outside of California would likely be recognized in this state. This created a need to clarify California law because there may be states that might rule in favor of gay and lesbian marriages. Without DOMA in place, same-sex marriages contracted in other states would likely be recognized by California.

Hence, California supporters of traditional marriage gathered over 650,000 signatures of registered voters to place the Defense of Marriage Act Initiative on the California March 2000, primary ballot.

In September 1996, President Clinton signed HR 3396, the federal version of the Defense of Marriage Act, which bound the federal government to recognize marriage as being between a man and a woman. However, the federal law allows each individual state to decide on its own whether to permit or prohibit same-sex marriage. As of May 1999, 31 states have passed their own DOMAs, but not California.

Most recently, in 1998, voters in Hawaii and Alaska overwhelmingly passed Defense of Marriage ballot measures.

Q: Why is DOMA necessary?

A. DOMA is necessary first, because voters in California should decide an issue as important as the fixture of marriage, not legislators or judges in other states bent on transforming society, and changing the legal definition of marriage to conform to same-gender lifestyles.

Second, California is a political pacesetter. A defeat of this simple Initiative would strongly embolden nationally those who want to change marriage laws.

Third, strong voter support of DOMA would signal the legislature to consider more critically bills such as those now being introduced in Sacramento.

Q: What is the present status of DOMA?

A. There is a powerful and active gay lobby in California. Their numbers include several high profile elected officials and wealthy, prominent celebrities. This helps them successfully communicate their anti-family message and raise money for political activities. These opponents of traditional marriage know the importance of their gaining a secure foothold in California. They have vowed to spend between $10 million and $20 million to defeat the DOMA initiative.

Early research indicates that Californians are tolerant of different lifestyles. Significantly, however, voters do draw a distinction between tolerating different lifestyles and openly promoting same-sex marriage.

Q: What happens if DOMA fails in California?

A: The dangers associated with recognition of same-gender marriages are obvious. They include:

· the potential of encouraging adoption of children by homosexual parents and homosexual foster homes
· pro-homosexual curriculum in public schools
· taxpayer-funded marriage benefits for gay couples
· potential withdrawal of tax-exempt status for organizations such as Boy Scouts and churches if they refuse to hire homosexuals
· civil penalties for churches who refuse to perform gay marriages

All of this would tear at the fabric of traditional marriages, which for centuries have been the fundamental unit of society. To recognize any form of marriage other than that which God has ordained would be another significant step toward destruction of the family.

If the Initiative fails, then the gay-lesbian activists will argue that California had an opportunity to reject recognition of same-gender marriages, and implicitly ratified the policy of requiring recognition of all same-gender marriages performed in other states.

The issue is not political. It is moral. The Initiative is not intended to attack or punish others. It is intended to defend traditional families against any form of dilution, compromise, or imitation.

The chance to safeguard permanently the institution of marriage can succeed, in California, and across America, if everyone who believes in the traditional family does their part. With your help, we can win.