A BYU senior named Cary Crall wrote a letter to BYU’s Daily Universe on latter-day saints’ support of Prop 8. The letter was expanded into a full guest editorial. The Daily Universe then retracted the editorial, saying it was offensive.  

The gist of Crall’s letter is that members should just acknowledge the truth which is that members supported Prop 8 because the prophet asked them to.  

Is this idea offensive?

Saying that members supported Prop 8 because the prophet asked them to may unintentionally portray Mormons as automatons programmed with a prime directive telling them to “follow the prophet”. In actuality, we don’t want members to follow the prophet just because they have been told to do so. We want members to follow the prophet because of spiritual conviction.

I think Crall’s statement is somewhat inaccurate and not representative of the greater membership. (Just a minor theological disagreement, really.) I would not call it offensive, however. Offensive is someone handing out literature with lies about Joseph Smith and our beliefs. Offensive is someone painting or setting fire to one of our church buildings. Offensive is hooligans marching around our temples and shouting obscenities because of our support for traditional marriage. And offensive is someone putting an envelope filled with white powder onto temple square because of our support for Prop 8.

I supported Prop 8 because of my conviction that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. That the prophet asked me to support Prop 8 only confirmed my convictions. His request was not the source of my convictions.

Care to share your thoughts on why Mormons supported Prop 8?