A surprise story [EDITED after emailed]

I'm still doing the restaurant story, but this one jumped into my life, ahead of the restaurant one this week. Enjoy!

Protests have been deemed just a nuisance to LDS members in L.A.
BY APRIL LARSEN

Since proposition eight passed in California, protesters in Los Angeles have been putting forth an ongoing effort to get under the skin of the LDS Church. They might be discouraged to discover they aren't much more than an itch on its back.

In an email Sunday, the president of the LDS Los Angeles Mission, Spencer T. Blackburn, said the hate, anger, and opposition have been very strong, but he still called it simply a "bumpy ride."

He detailed the protest activity around the temple.

"Last Thursday afternoon and evening we had 1,000+ protesters outside the front of the temple, along the sidewalk on Santa Monica Blvd. with very hateful signs and banners and lots of yelling," he said. "With them, though, we also had 300-400 riot police, shoulder-to-shoulder, blocking their potential of going over the walls or through the gates."

He said Sunday there were a couple dozen protesters outside of the Westwood chapel.

Los Angeles native and member of the LDS Church, Ben Archibeque, said the protesters were taking pictures of the church. (Maybe it was all just a misunderstanding; maybe they were just paparazzi trying to get a shot of famous patrons to the Westwood LDS chapel, Larry King's family, or Robert "Dr. 90210" Rey. He is very popular right now.)

Archibeque said, "It's crazy out here. Lots of protesting." Asked if it's ever scary, he said, "Naw, just annoying."

Blackburn said the Westwood chapel groupies didn't disrupt the services.

He said, "It is more of a distraction than anything else."

He credited a deeper source to be influencing the protesters, and he's not surprised by the opposition.

He said, "You can certainly see Satan's hand in all of this, but that is to be expected."

Although rumors said missionary proselytizing was put on hold until further notice, Blackburn said he has had to limit the missionaries' activity only in areas like Hollywood, West Hollywood, and Echo Park, during afternoons and evenings. He said the hold is only during the times when the protesting is more prevalent.

As a people united by faith, members of the LDS Church are assured all is in the hands of someone greater than the world. There is great confidence in the Church because members believe a supreme being will protect them as long as they emulate Jesus Christ and do the will of God.

Archibeque said, "Can't let them get us angry."

Members of the LDS Church are known to conduct themselves with a sense of particular security due to the belief that the Church is the final earthly organization of God's true and complete church, established and run by God's own hand.

Members of the LDS Church may consider opposition to be part of their heritage, as the church has received persecution throughout its history. In the 1800s, members of the young church were tormented in their settlements in the eastern states and eventually migrated to Utah territory.

A well-known LDS hymn from the era, "Come, Come Ye Saints," penned by William Clayton in 1846, states, "Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right. Why should we think to earn a great reward if we now shun the fight? Gird up your loins; fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake; And soon we'll have this tale to tell. All is well. All is well."