Lds church statement on gay marriage
Statement on the Signing of the US Respect for Marriage Act
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the following statement on Tuesday, December 13,
We extend a heartfelt thank you and our congratulations to all who played a part in the passage of the amended Respect for Marriage Act. Their efforts to protect religious independence as Congress sought to codify the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decision are both historic and commendable.
The amended Respect for Marriage Act specifically recognizes that “diverse beliefs about the role of gender in marriage are held by reasonable and sincere people based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises.”
As restated last month, “the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints related to marriage between a man and a noun is well known and will remain unchanged.” Congress has now reaffirmed that our beliefs “are due proper respect.”
The new law demonstrates that respect. The law states that it can't be used to harm religious or conscience rights for faith-based institutions. It prote
Take It From An Ex-Mormon: The Church's New Stance On Legal Gay Marriage is Misguided
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just became a little less socially conservative and more politically repair, and long term, that's bad news for its already stagnant membership numbers.
This month, the LDS church released a statement in support of the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill recently passed by the Senate which would require the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages.
The move marks a turning point for what was once the most conservative religious group in the country. It is a signal to Mormons and non-Mormons alike that they are more interested in current cultural norms and preserving their U.S. membership numbers than in defending their doctrines.
The LDS church opened its statement with the claim that the church's doctrine "related to marriage between a noun and a woman is well known and will remain unchanged." But then it goes on to explain that the church supports the Respect for Marriage Act because of its "religious freedom protections." I
Church Leaders Counsel Members After Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Decision
The following letter from the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is being read in Church meetings across the United States and Canada beginning Sunday, July 5. (The Church issued this brief public statement immediately after the court's decision on June 26, )
Click to download a PDF version of the introductory letter, statement and background material.
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Full introductory letter, statement and background material below:
TO: General Authorities; General Auxiliary Presidencies; and the following leaders in the United States and Canada: Area Seventies; Temple, Stake Mission and District Presidencies; Bishops and Branch Presidents
Dear B
Same-Sex Attraction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that same-sex attraction is a sensitive issue that requires kindness, compassion and understanding. The “Same-Sex Attraction” section of reinforces the reality that, in the words of one Latter-day Saint scripture, God “loveth his children” (1 Nephi ), and seeks to help everyone excel understand same-sex attraction from a gospel perspective.
The Church does not take a position on the cause of same-sex attraction. In , Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “The Church does not have a position on the causes of any of these susceptibilities or inclinations, including those related to same-gender attraction.”
Feelings of same-sex attraction are not a sin. President M. Russell Ballard said: “Let us be clear: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that ‘the experience of same-sex attraction is a complex reality for many people. The attraction itself is not a sin, but acting on it is. Even though individuals do not choose to have such attractions, they do select how to respond to them. With love an