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STAND ON SACRED GROUND There is a gathering storm intensifying over America in the form of a radical, sex al stratagem, !

hich is s ccessf lly marching against traditional moral val es and standards" This storm is no! #lo!ing over the #orders of Utah" Sim ltaneo sly the sex al stratagem is marshaling its forces against rights of religion and religio s conscience across the nation$God%given, sacred rights memoriali&ed in the 'irst Amendment of the United States Constit tion" Utah at a Crossroads (n last year)s general session of the Utah *egislat re, d ring the Senate Economic Develo+ment and ,or-force Services Committee meeting, a ma.ority of the committee voted in favor of S/010$anti%discrimination legislation +roviding s+ecial rights in ho sing and em+loyment #ased on sex al orientation and gender identity" As a mem#er of the committee, ( voted against the legislation #eca se ( #elieve that homosex al activity is immoral" (n an effort to #e forthright, and to everyone)s shoc-, ( admitted that my #elief !as in fact discriminating and that discrimination !as the reason ( co ld not vote for the legislation" Every la! discriminates against someone or something" ,hen society, thro gh its government, identifies something to #e immoral, it is #y definition discriminating against that thing, act, or #ehavior #y setting it a+art as harmf l to society" To date, Utah)s government has held homosex al activity to #e immoral" (n the +ast, !hen Utah held something to #e immoral, the government has ta-en one of three actions2 it does nothing at all, sanctions it !ith little or no enforcement, or + nishes it" / t the Utah *egislat re has never s ++orted something immoral !ith s+ecial +rotections, ntil a ma.ority of the Senate Economic Develo+ment and ,or- 'orce Services Committee voted in favor of S/010"

(mmediately follo!ing the vote of the committee, the homosex al comm nity cele#rated the favora#le res lt as a historic victory in advancing societal s ++ort of homosex ality" (t +raised the ma.ority of the committee for s ++orting legislation extending s+ecial rights to them" Certainly, the vote of my colleag es on the committee !as historic, # t it !as more than that2 (, it #ro ght Utah to a crossroads" The crossroads Utah is no! facing is !hether the state government !ill contin e to hold that homosex al activity is immoral" (f it so holds, then the *egislat re sho ld re.ect any legislation that s ++orts societal acce+tance of homosex al activity, incl ding the granting of s+ecial rights" ,hen one scra+es a!ay all of the rhetoric for and against S/010, remaining is the f ndamental 4 estion2 5(s homosex al activity immoral67 All +ertinent + #lic +olicy sho ld flo! from the ans!er to this 4 estion, incl ding +olicies that !o ld create s+ecial rights of classification, of ado+tion, and of same%sex marriage" Any effort to circ mscri#e the 4 estion and ans!er from a++lying to all +ertinent + #lic +olicy is self%serving and circ mvents a +rinci+led a++roach that sho ld #e associated !ith la!ma-ing and setting standards for society" The Sexual Stratagem Over 89 fifty%years ago, the sex al stratagem commenced a conflict !ith religion and the family to redefine !hat !as once -no!n to #e moral, ma-ing it irrelevant, and !hat !as -no!n to #e immoral, ma-ing it acce+ta#le" Since then, it has re+eatedly tri m+hed over religion and the family in #attles defining morality in America" (t has nearly #ro-en the family, and religion)s c m lative losses have meant that !hat !as once nacce+ta#le sex al #ehavior has #ecome the 5ne! normal"7 No!, !hen religion ex+resses o++osition to the ne! normal, it is attac-ed ntil it retreats from the + #lic s4 are, and sadly m ch of religion has readily retreated" The sex al stratagem s+lit faith gro +s from !ithin and +itted faith traditions against each other thro gh #attles over sex al norms" These intra% and inter%religio s #attles !ea-ened many religions, res lting in their event al ca+it lation" (n the aftermath, many of the so%called mainline religions !ere
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relegated to the sideline, left sal ting the sex al stratagem" They have ado+ted its +ro+aganda as their ne! doctrine, ca sing the desertion of many of their mem#ers !ho ref se to #e colla#orators against their traditional faith and moral standards" : st as c nningly, the sex al stratagem ca+t red one of the t!o ma.or +olitical +arties, com+elling it to #attle against the other over sex al norms, !hile sim ltaneo sly infiltrating and s #verting the remaining ma.or +olitical +arty" The sa#otage of the +olitical +arties forced the realignment of those religions left defending traditional morality, red cing their +olitical alliances to . st !ith only the most morally vigilant" /eca se each ne! generation of la!ma-ers and . dges ada+ts to the moral environment it inherits, s ally s cc m#ing f rther to the sex al stratagem, the legislative and . dicial s ccessors thro gh time often cannot see the corrosive im+acts of the contin al com+romising of moral la!s" ,hile some may #e !ell% meaning, their mis+laced tolerance is often res+onsi#le for the ex+anding immorality in o r society" Striving to com+ensate for the inevita#le destr ctive res lts of h manity;s short%term vision, religion stands on sacred gro nd as a g ardian over timeless, moral la!s" As long as religion is tr e to its mission #y defending these moral la!s, then it !ill remain relevant and can hel+ g ide society on a sec re co rse thro gh the generations of time" Compassion for Persons, not Powers D ring a rally last s mmer in s ++ort of traditional marriage organi&ed at the Utah State Ca+itol, a +ro+onent of same%sex marriage held a sign in +rotest that read2 5Close yo r #i#les and o+en yo r hearts"7 This statement highlights the tension #et!een religion +rotecting moral standards in society and those see-ing tolerance and com+assion for activities that heretofore !ere considered immoral" Certainly, all of s sho ld #e com+assionate in o r +ersonal interaction !ith others, es+ecially !ith those !ho are different from s" Even more, !e sho ld
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n rse the !o nds of those in. red" ( am +ersonally resol te a#o t this" ,e have an o#ligation to s ccor those !ho s ffer, and demonstrate 5malice to!ard none and charity for all"7 (ndeed, as the A+ostle =a l declared2 5'or !e !restle not against flesh and #lood, # t against +rinci+alities, against +o!ers, against the r lers of the dar-ness of this !orld, against s+irit al !ic-edness in high +laces7 >E+hesians 1230?" O r #attle then is not against the sex al +references of individ als@ it is against corr +t +rinci+alities, +o!ers, and r lers of dar-ness" Therefore, if a moral society is to #e +reserved, !e m st organi&e and +etition all #ranches of government and other leaders and r lers to +rotect the moral !ell%#eing of the many" To do other!ise !ill ltimately harm many more than !o ld #e hel+ed" ,hat good is tolerance for the fe! if the !hole of society is sc ttled6 Tainted Tolerance 'or exam+le, #eca se immorality has #een tolerated, !e no! have the highest divorce rates ever, !ith vast n m#ers of children #eing victimi&ed #eca se of it@ A3 +ercentB of American children are #orn o t of !edloc-, and it)s even !orse among #/lac- children at C0 +ercentB and among Dis+anic children at 8< +ercentB@ millions of #a#ies have #een a#orted@ generations of children are s!allo!ed + #y +overty and !elfare de+endency !ith all of its attendant conse4 ences@ and o r +risons are overflo!ing" (f this is not shoc-ing eno gh, . st !ait, !e have yet to ex+erience the c lmination of o r morally com+romised society$com+romised in the name of toleration" The . dicial, tainted tolerance of o r generation increasingly assails attem+ts to +hold moral standards in the la!, !herein it has re+eatedly r led that s ch attem+ts are ex+ressions of 5anim s7 against individ als or classes of individ als" (n other !ords, the . diciary has acc sed the +eo+le)s re+resentatives trying to +reserve morality in the la! on their #ehalf as #eing hostile to!ards others and therefore acting in an nconstit tional manner@ >>Romer v" Evans E>3FF1G?, *a!erence v" Texas E>099<G?, United States v" ,indsor E>093<G??"
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As yo !ell -no!, this tainted tolerance has s+read into Utah thro gh a single federal . dge)s r ling that overt rned Utah)s Constit tional Amendment <, defining marriage as only #et!een a man and !omen" This one . dge overt rned a constit tional +rovision that over t!o%thirds0H< of the *egislat re and over 19 +ercentB of the voting + #lic s ++orted" This federal . dge a thori&ed same%sex marriages to #e +erformed in o r state, demonstrating disdain for the !ill of the +eo+le of Utah" 'ort nately, the United States S +reme Co rt stayed his r ling +ending the a++eals co rt)s revie! I a" A stay that he co ld have self%im+osed # t !o ld not" (n contrast to this federal . dge and others of this generation, the 'o nding 'athers, !ho esta#lished the constit tional a thority for the . diciary in the first +lace, often declared the im+ortance of morality in the la! as necessary for a free re+ #lic to end re thro gh the ages" Undergirding that, they +roclaimed that the free exercise of religion !as essential to the +rom lgation of the morality needed to s stain the Re+ #lic" Th s, they +resciently added the 'irst Amendment to the United States Constit tion, declaring religion)s f ndamental rights and fo ndational freedoms" (n so doing, they f lly antici+ated that religion and +eo+le of religio s conscience !o ld se these rights and freedoms to f lfill an im+ortant role in sec ring the f t re of the Re+ #lic #y advancing morality thro gho t society" They ex+ected s cceeding generations to honor the God%given religio s rights and freedoms they memoriali&ed in the Constit tion for that + r+ose" /en.amin 'ran-lin declared, 5*a!s !itho t morals are in vain"7 :ohn Adams +roclaimed, 5(t is religion and morality alone !hich can esta#lish the +rinci+les +on !hich freedom can sec rely stand" The only fo ndation of a free constit tion is + re virt e"7 De f rther stated2 5O r Constit tion !as made only for a moral and religio s +eo+le" (t is !holly inade4 ate to the government of any other"7

George ,ashington +rono nced in his fare!ell address in 3CF1 that2 5Of all the dis+ositions and ha#its !hich to lead to +olitical +ros+erity, religion and morality are indis+ensa#le s ++orts" (n vain !o ld that man claim the tri# te of +atriotism, !ho sho ld la#or to s #vert these great +illars of h man ha++iness, these firmest +ro+s of the d ties of men and citi&ens " " " reason and ex+erience #oth for#id s to ex+ect that national morality can +revail in excl sion of religio s +rinci+les"7 The Battle Oover First ights! ,arring against the 'o nding 'athers)s clear intent, the sex al stratagem is no! cons+iring to s ++lant the 5'irst Rights,7 sec red #y the 'o nders to +rotect yo r religion and religio s conscience !ith ne!, so%called 5sex al civil rights"7 =roscri+tive +ro+aganda is #eing disseminated to +ers ade yo that yo r religio s rights exercised o tside of faith sanct aries sho ld #e ne trali&ed and !hen confronted #y the ne! sex al civil rights, religio s rights sho ld #e s #ordinated in American society" Today, there are n mero s co rt cases #eing ad. dicated to determine !hether religion, its affiliated organi&ations and +eo+le of religio s conscience !ill #e forced to choose #et!een their ed cational, medical, charita#le and # sinesses activities and their freedom of religion and conscience" (s this yo r America$an America !here yo have to choose #et!een yo r livelihood and yo r religio s conscience6 Does it seem right or fair that yo sho ld have to give + yo r religio s rights and freedoms for someone else)s sex al activities6 ,ell, the sex al stratagem is trying to ma-e s re that yo do" To reinforce its attac-s on religio s li#erties, the sex al stratagem is recr iting and conscri+ting officials at every level of government, in +olitical +arties, and in # siness, media and %religio s organi&ations" Assem#led together !ith ne! conscri+ts, the sex al stratagem is no! arrayed to assa lt the 5'o nding 'reedoms7 of religion and religio s conscience" The sex al stratagem demands that religion and those of religio s conscience forsa-e their scri+t res, s rrender their o!n constit tional rights
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and retreat from the + #lic s4 are" Religion may a++ease the sex al stratagem, as it has too often in the +ast, or it can fight for faith, family and freedom, sec ring the moral !ell%#eing of society as ex+ected #y the 'o nders !hen they drafted the 'irst Amendment" ,hat religion chooses to do !ill in large meas re determine !hether o r Re+ #lic can long end re" At the time !hen the Re+ #lic !as the most v lnera#le, A#raham *incoln said, 5America !ill never #e destroyed from the o tside" (f !e falter and lose o r freedoms, it !ill #e #eca se !e destroyed o rselves"7 Since the sex al stratagem earlier inca+acitated m ch of religion and its +olitical alliances, and no! is reinforced !ith ne! recr its and conscri+ts, religion is v lnera#le to attac-s +on its most critical, s rvival interest$ religio s li#erty" (ts only ho+e is for those in s ++ort of faith, family and freedom to #ecome allies in sacrifice for the freedom of religion and religio s conscience" 'reedom of religion and conscience has never #een free" (t al!ays has and al!ays !ill re4 ire a nited sacrifice" The 'o nding 'athers called Americans together in sacrifice to forge a nation !ith the faith and freedom necessary to ina g rate the greatest re+ #lic ever" =atriots rallied for revol tionary +rinci+les, incl ding that a re+ #lic cannot end re nless it is # ilt +on the fo ndation of a virt o s society, !hich cannot exist !itho t the faith of a religio sly free +eo+le" O r 'o nders !ere !ell a!are that earlier re+ #lics failed #eca se of lost virt e and so +roclaimed" (t is no s r+rise then, that /en.amin 'ran-lin, !hen as-ed !hat -ind of government had #een esta#lished for America, res+onded #y saying2 5A re+ #lic, if yo can -ee+ it"7 Protecting Faith, Famil" and Freedom Today, +eo+le of faith, family and freedom are needed again to hel+ 5-ee+7 o r Re+ #lic #y defending o r religio s li#erties" A#sent that defense, those li#erties !ill #e lost" And, as :ohn Adams !arned2 5*i#erty, once lost, is lost foreverJ7 And let me add that li#erties lost can only #e regained thro gh revol tion"
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*adies and gentlemen, do not allo! the loss of religio s li#erty to #e the inevita#le inheritance yo +ass onto yo r children and their children #eca se yo !o ld not sacrifice for their freedoms of religion and religio s conscience $freedoms necessary for them to sec re a virt o s, free and end ring re+ #lic" A++easement !ill only res lt in f rther o tla!ing of traditional val es and morality and the inesca+a#le loss of religio s freedom" (nstead, !hat is needed in o r day are men and !omen !ith the co rage of conscience" They alone !ill +reserve o r Re+ #lic as they have in the +ast" No! is the time to .oin those vigilant men and !omen standing + to safeg ard the greatest Re+ #lic on Eearth" No! is the time to stand + for faith, family and freedom" No! is the time to have co rage in the face of criticism and condemnation" No! is the time to stand against the sex al stratagem)s self%ind lging cry for tolerance, strategi&ed to scra+ moral la!s advanced thro gh time to shield o r society" No! is the time to stand against same%sex marriage, determined to degrade the inviola#ility of traditional marriage and the family" And most rgently, no! is the time to stand against sex al civil rights in the form of non% discrimination legislation cons+iring to cons me rights of religion and conscience" ( rge yo to .oin those standing on sacred gro nd once consecrated #y the s+ilt #lood of o r for#earers, !ho fo ght and died to sec re a land of li#erty$a land hallo!ed #y their sacrifice" /e co nted among those so dedicated, offering + yo r time, talents and treas re for the faithf l ca se of +reserving the Re+ #lic" Come + and stand on the high gro nd and don)t loo- #ac-" And then in the co rse of time, it !ill #e -no!n, 5+eradvent re,7 ho! many remain morally vigilant in Utah, as !as long ago li-e!ise acco nted for in the t!in cities of Sodom and Gomorrah"
Prepared by Stuart C. Reid K

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