That's all I have to say about that!!!

Well to start out this blog I need to begin by saying I love this country.

I take seriously the voting process and I believe in never going to vote until I have studied the issues and candidates in depth. I am a registered Republican but will still listen to both side before I make my choice, I never vote straight down a party line. I don't have to agree with a persons way of life or their religious views to vote for a person. I do look at a number of other things before I make my choice. For the 1st time in my life I voted for a Democrat for President of the United States. My reasons run deep and I wasn't all that crazy about either candidate.

I received an email this week from someone that blasted me for voting for President-elect Obama. Telling me all the bad things about him that we have already heard through the course of the election and this comment that really set me off "He has ties to so many people that are of questionable morals and backgrounds that I can't believe that you can stand for the things that he does and be a member of the church." So here is my response to her and wanted you to know about it.


I’m disappointed in the way you reacted to my request to not forward me any more political emails. I totally expected you to respect the fact that I had a difference of opinion than you. I respect your choice. I have heard all of this before and took it all into consideration before I cast my vote. I don’t need to defend my choice to anyone only to say that to gage whether that makes me a good member of the church or not was quite disheartening. Last I checked there have been many Apostles who were Democrats (which I’m not by the way) including Pres. Faust whom I consider to be one of my favorite apostles of all time. One of the articles of faith says "We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men this same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may". I attended the Temple yesterday since I had been feeling upset by your comments. As the prayer was said the officiator said the most humble and sincere prayer for President Elect Obama. He prayed for his health, for him to do well, and to be inspired by the Father as the leader of this great country of ours. As he said those words the spirit whispered peace to my soul, the peace only our Savior can give. Our Father in Heaven is the grand designer and will be there to bless us, "Come what may" (Elder Worthlin’s talk at conference).

I also went back and found the exact words that John McCain gave the other night and I applaud him and admire him for his gracious, heartfelt remarks:
"I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited. Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that. It is natural tonight to feel some disappointment, but tomorrow we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again."

True Disciples of Christ seek for unity not division. This whole episode has hurt my feelings. But, I thank my Heavenly Father for allowing/trusting me to make my own choices and decisions and loving me in spite of them.
I thank Him for blessing me with true friends that love me and treat me kindly even when they think I make bad choices. True friends respect your choice and agree to disagree when need be. It is our relationships in
this life that matter the most and there is no salvation in any of the parties as I quoted before from Elder Dallin H. Oaks. I will not discuss this topic further as Forrest Gump says "That’s all I have to say about that".


Diane




Those who govern their thoughts and actions solely by principles of liberalism or conservatism or intellectualism cannot be expected to agree with all of the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As for me I find some wisdom in liberalism, some wisdom in conservatism, and much truth in intellectualism - but I find no salvation in any of them."
Elder Dallin H. Oaks