Lds 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 monitoring 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 endeavors to protect religious autonomy 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 connected to marriage between a man and a girl is well known and will remain unchanged.” Congress has now reaffirmed that our beliefs “are due proper respect.”
The new rule demonstrates that respect. The law states that it can't be used to harm religious or conscience rights for faith-based institutions. It protects the tax-exempt status of religious organizations. It protects the grants, licenses, contracts an
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 existence read in Church meetings across the United States and Canada beginning Sunday, July 5. (The Church issued this terse public statement immediately after the court's decision on June 26, )
Click to download a PDF version of the introductory letter, expression and background material.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners function to prepare the basis for General Conference.© Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
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 Brethren and Sisters:
Enclosed is a statement by the Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of t
Same-Sex Attraction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints acknowledges that same-sex attraction is a sensitive issue that requires kindness, kindness 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 surpass understand same-sex attraction from a gospel perspective.
The Church does not take a position on the generate 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 existence 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 prefer how to respond to them. With love and understanding, the Church reaches out to all God’s children, including [those with same-sex attrac
Same-Gender Attraction
The continuing public debate over same-gender marriage has prompted many questions from the news media, the general widespread and Church members in relation to the position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the marriage issue specifically and on homosexuality in general.
The following interview was conducted in with Elder Dallin H. Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church, and Elder Lance B. Wickman, a member of the Seventy. These senior Church leaders responded to questions from two members of the Church’s Public Affairs staff. The transcript of the interview appears below in order to help clarify the Church’s stand on these important, complex and sensitive issues.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS: At the outset, can you explain why this whole issue of homosexuality and same-gender marriage is vital to the Church?
ELDER OAKS: This is much bigger than just a question of whether or not society should be more tolerant of the homosexual lifestyle. Over past years we have seen unrelenting pressure from advocates of that lifestyle to accept as normal what is not normal, and to characterize those who disagree as narrow-m
.