Follow the Prophet?

How do members of the Church know when to follow the council of the Prophet?  The reason I ask is that the 1st Presidency had a letter read on Sunday, June 29, 2008, in Sacrament Meeting in Church units in the State of California.  There are many on the Internet who believes that this is a “political issue” and as a result, the Church shouldn’t be talking about this issue.

Dear Brethern and Sisters:

Preserving Traditional Marriage and Strengthening Families

In March 2000 California voters overwhelmingly approved a state law proving that “Only marriage between a man and woman is valid or recognized in California.”  The California Supreme Court recently reversed this vote of the people.  On Noveber 4, 2008, Californians will vote on a proposed amendment to teh California state constitution that will now restore teh March 2000 definition of marriage approved by the voters.

The Church’s teaching and position on this moral issue are unequivocal.  Marriage between a man and a woman is ordaned of God, and the formation of families is central to the Creator’s plan for His children.  Children are entitled to be born within this bond of marriage.

A broad-based coalition of churches and other organizations placed the proposed amendment on the ballot.  The Curch will participate with this coalition in seeking its passage.  Local Church leaders will provide information about how you may become involved in this important cause.

We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman.  Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage.

Sincerely yours,

The First Presidency

A “member” of the Church in California wrote:

“It’s a disappointing letter and hurtful to some people who would like their gay friends and family members to have the chance to marry.  So this week my friends will be wearing rainbow ribbons to church to quietly show our support for our gay friends. I’ll be out of town (in Hawaii – yay!), but I’m sad I won’t be there to wear a rainbow ribbon with them. This afternoon Brooke and I are going to make a bunch of rainbow ribbons to distribute to interested people. If you want one, let us know.”

The way I see it, either a person believes that Thomas S. Monson, his counselors and the Quorum of the 12 Apostles are Prophets, Seers, and Revelators, or they don’t.  Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 says “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

In response to some comments, the author of the blog that I linked to earlier in this post wrote “Good grief.  Being Mormon doesn’t mean you have to agree with every policy and political stand the Church leadership takes.”  It doesn’t?  Well, that brings me back to the question that I posed at the begining of this entry.  How do members of the Church know when to follow the council of the Prophet?  Doctrine and Covenants 58:26,29 came to mind “For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward…  But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned. ”

What do you guys think?