Thank you

Do you know what it means? We say it all the time.

I lived in Venezuela for two years and became fluent in Spanish. One of the great blessings of learning another language is that it enhances your understanding of...life. Scriptures have new meaning when you read them in a different language. (whether it's English, Spanish...or by the Spirit)

Thank you comes directly from the German word, danke; or dank u in Dutch. But knowing the phrase "thank you" in Spanish brings a much deeper understanding.

We all know thank you in Spanish is gracias. But have you ever thought of its meaning?

Gracia come from the Latin word gratus. Do you know the English word that is derived from gratus?

Grace.

Although not commonly used, grace and thank you really are interchangeable in the English language. i.e.: "saying grace" means to give a prayer of thanks. The most common form of gracia is the plural form gracias, meaning thank you if you take the casual translation. But a more direct translation exudes an entirely different meaning. Just like the word adios. While the casual translation is goodbye, the direct translation is to God.

Other words that are derived from the same Latin root of gratus are: agree, congratulate, gratitude, and gratis.

Grace. I love the Thanksgiving season a little more now. Saying thank you is just a small way to share a little grace with someone...just one more way we can be like Jesus and be an example of His life. For He is the One that showed forth Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound.

Thank you. Thank you.

To Tom:

I'm surprised I let myself get so emotionally charged. It's unlike me. :) Ok, not that unlike me. But I do generally keep myself in check. I didn't think I'd get emotionally involved with Proposition 8. Just goes to show Satan has a hand in both sides of the debate. After this post, I'm backing down...but I must express my personal opinion...without emotion. I can do that because part of my opinion is based on fact.

But first, I let this slip in a comment I made on a recent online news article:

To Tom:
Then I want my marriage to my dog recognized so I can get a tax break and have a legal document proving my undying love to him...er, her. Heck (for the Mormon editor), does it even matter anymore? Why stop here? Let's legalize the marriage of 50 women to one man...or 50 men to one woman. Why not legalize the marriage of my 7 year old sister to the 49 year old man down the street? Why not legalize a brother and sister getting married? Why stop at same-sex marriages when there is SO MUCH more?
Peace.

Ok, that was my emotional part. Now to the factual portion of my opinion.

Marriage is an institution ordained by God. It is His law. And no man has the right...let me rephrase that...no man has the authority to override the laws of God. You can question, you can oppose, you can fight against God...but consider the state of our fallen brother, the morning star, even Lucifer.

Marriage is defined by God. It is not a right. It is not a privilege. It is a commandment. The first commandment to Adam and Eve was to multiply and replenish the earth. That can only be fulfilled through the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. God sets the rules. It is His law.

Two men or two women can love each other. They can live together. They can even be married...they have been doing so for years. Proposition 8 doesn't change any of that. It does not discriminate nor does it take agency (the freedom to choose) away from any individual. It simply declares that marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman. It doesn't eliminate anyone's "right."

I'm not saying there is an easy solution. I don't know what government's involvement should or should not be. I do not understand the appropriate "legal" response to this issue. But I do know God's interpretation of marriage. His prophets have made it clear to me.

In 1995, it was stated: We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children. It goes on to declare: We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

This isn't just a "gay-rights" issue. It's about protecting the sanctity of the family. And those who currently have families are held to a higher standard...so I'm certainly not condemning those who have a same-sex partner. I have dear friends who are open and honest about their same-gender sexual preference. I respect them as individuals and love them as I do any other friend. I don't treat them differently...I don't talk behind their back...I am open and honest as well. And I'm supportive. We all need a little more of that.

I am standing for what I know to be true. Marriage is ordained of God...He sets the standards and I am striving to abide by them. Proposition 8 aside, that is where I stand.