Vote Yes on Prop 8

It's not very often that I feel like the church asks me to really sacrifice. Sure there is tithing, church callings, temple work, etc... but all this has been a part of my life since I was a child. It is "normal" and therefore I don't really consider it a sacrifice.

I have been overwhelmed and delighted in the last few months by the General Authorities call to action on Prop 8. For those of you who don't know, Prop 8 is a ballot initiative in the state of California to amend the state constitution to define marriage between man and woman. (For more info, check out www.protectmarriage.org). For the past few months members of the church have been calling voters, walking neighborhoods, and getting people registered to vote. A few weeks ago we had a fireside with Elder Ballard and he asked all the young people to "go viral" with the message to vote Yes on Prop 8. It was pretty hilarious to hear an Apostle of the Lord talking about Facebook walls, Twittering, and text messages.

Now it's the race to the finish line and I feel like it is one of the "Hitch up your wagons and move to Missouri" moments in my life. Elder Clayton of the Seventy, who is directing this effort for the church, has given the young single adults in California a specific assignment. Between all 12,000 or so of us, we are to contact 1 million voters by phone in the next 16 days before the election. That approximates out to about 16 hours of calling for each person.

I have been humbled and shocked at the responses from those around me. Some have said they'll take off work, cancel vacations, do whatever it takes to get the job done. Others have struggled and decided this is not something they are willing to participate in and that's a choice we each have to make.

It's easy when "All is Well" to say you will heed the call to go to Zion when it comes, but it's much more difficult to actually act when that time comes and it's a much different call than you thought it would be. I am grateful for the obedient spirits that surround me who inspire me to be better and increase my sacrifice and for parents who taught me that when the Prophet calls, you obey. And most importantly, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and I know I will be blessed for doing so.

If you live in California and haven't registered to vote yet, do it NOW (by Oct. 20th)! And remember to vote Yes on Prop 8 and tell all your friends to do the same.