Mormon gay rights: A shockg speech by Jefey Holland at BYU sparks a new LGBT fight.

mormon gay 2015

A valedictorian at Brigham Young Universy me out his addrs as a ‘gay son of God.’ And his admissn met wh loud applse. An expert explas how big a change this is for the Mormon Church.

Contents:

NEW POLICY ON GAY COUPL AND THEIR CHILDREN ROILS MORMON CHURCH

A backlash is growg over l that bar children of same-sex parents om baptisms and clar members gay unns apostat subject to exmunitn. * mormon gay 2015 *

13, 2015The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats is facg a growg backlash om Mormons upset about a new policy that bars children livg wh same-sex upl om baby-namg ceremoni and baptisms and clar members gay marriag to be apostat subject to church, while standg by s new policy, issued a clarifitn on Friday, sayg that the l affected only children whose “primary rince” was wh a same-sex uple — not those who might have a gay parent livg elsewhere. Some Mormon ngregatns have quietly weled gay upl and their Bowmer/Associated PrsUntil the clarifitn on Friday, the only official explanatn the church had offered was a 10-mute viotaped terview wh D.

There is an onle petn askg artists to ncel their performanc wh the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at s Christmas were immediate objectns on Friday to the church’s clarifitn, wh some Mormons sayg that puts unfair prsure on the children of divorced parents to choose to live wh heterosexual parents over gay on if they hope to rema the church. Her father, Donald Braegger, recently me out as gay and cid to rign this year before a disciplary hearg that uld have rulted Braegger, 55, said his story was the same as that of many gay Mormons whose children would be affected by the new policy: Even though he knew as a young man that he was attracted to men, he married a woman bee his church tght that homosexualy was sful, and he was a fahful believer. After 26 years, he and his wife divorced about a year and a half his children were younger than 18, they would be barred om church membership unr the new policy if they were ridg primarily wh him and a gay partner.

MORMONS SEEK GOLN MEAN BETWEEN GAY RIGHTS AND RELIG BELIEFS

Unr the policy, the children of gay upl also will now have to wa until they are 18 and out of the home until they n seek formal admissn to the church. * mormon gay 2015 *

He rigned before he faced a disciplary hearg, he was not we handle rrectnsA versn of this article appears prt on, Sectn A, Page 14 of the New York edn wh the headle: New Rul on Gay Coupl and Their Children Roil the Mormon Church.

The new polici are an effort by the church, which has long opposed same-sex marriage, to rerce and even harn s doctral boundari for s members at a time when small but creasg numbers of Mormons are g out as gay or supportive of same-sex marriage. Sce the Supreme Court tablished a right to same-sex marriage natnwi June, Mormon lears have parted pany wh the lears of evangelil and other nservative church by affirmg that spe their relig nvictns, even people of fah opposed to gay marriage mt follow the law.

MORMON AND GAY: CHURCH SAYS YOU N BE BOTH

Mormon lears tried to stake out a middle ground the latg battle between gay rights and relig eedom on Tuday, mandg that both ias, together, be treated as a natnal prry. * mormon gay 2015 *

”Mormons, while generally socially nservative, are creasgly acceptg of gay relatnships, reflectg broar trends Amerin life that affect even members of the most tradnal fahs. A new study released this week by the Pew Rearch Center on Relign & Public Life found that 36 percent of Mormons agreed 2014 that homosexualy should be accepted by society, up om 24 percent 2007. But, the study not, Mormons ntue to be among the least acceptg of homosexualy when pared wh other relig church has lobbied agast laws legalizg same-sex unns, but has also recent years supported laws tend to protect gay people om discrimatn.

In March, lears at the church’s headquarters Salt Lake Cy helped to pass a bill known as the “Utah promise, ” which bans discrimatn agast lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr people hog and employment but protects relig stutns that do not ndone gay top Mormon official recently livered a major addrs sayg that public officials like Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Ky., clerk who went to jail after refg to issue marriage licens, mt follow the law spe their relig opposn to gay marriage.

CHURCH UPDAT OFFICIAL ‘MORMON AND GAY’ WEBSE

The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats, monly known as the Mormon church, unveiled a new webse – and new approach – to gay and lbian Mormons. * mormon gay 2015 *

The children may not be remend to serve as missnari, which is a re of passage for many Mormon the new l, a child of a same-sex uple may jo the church only after age 18 by meetg the ndns: ms “to live the teachgs and doctre of the church and specifilly disavows the practice of same-genr habatn and marriage”; not live wh a parent who is a same-sex relatnship; and receiv approval om lol church lears and the church’s First Princy — the uppermost learship of the Dehl, a gay rights advote who is straight and was exmunited earlier this year, said, “The cln of same-genr marriage as specific grounds for apostasy is surprisg only bee really pats the church to a rner, and leav them ls room to slowly fse a change over time. 27, 2015Mormon lears tried to stake out a middle ground the latg battle between gay rights and relig eedom on Tuday, mandg that both ias, together, be treated as a natnal a rare news nference at church headquarters Salt Lake Cy, lears of the Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats forcefully nmned discrimatn agast gays and vowed to support nondiscrimatn laws — like one proposed Utah — to protect people om beg nied jobs or hog bee of their sexual they also lled for the same laws, or others, to protect the rights of people who say their beliefs pel them to oppose homosexualy or to refe service to gay upl. ”The church’s announcement, an attempt to plate all sis of a divisive issue, astonished some lawmakers the halls of Utah’s Capol, who lled a watershed moment that uld renfigure the bate over gay rights their socially nservative state.

Wh the church now backg nondiscrimatn laws, a bill offerg such protectns to those who are lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr now appears more likely to pass after years of beg stalled the church had already supported such legislatn Salt Lake Cy and other lol Utah jurisdictns, but had held off endorsg statewi.

”The Mormon lears at the news nference, three of the church’s male apostl and one woman, ma clear that their church do not tend to change s doctre, which says that marriage n be only between a man and a woman, and that gay sexual relatnships are doctre “ om sacred Scripture, and we are not at liberty to change , ” said Sister Neill Marrtt, a lear church women’s church is now tryg to posn self as a champn of both gay rights and the nservative relig opposn to gay rights.

RISG NUMBERS OF YOUNG ADULT MORMONS THE US ARE GAY, LBIAN OR BISEXUAL

is an official webse om The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats. The se’s purpose is to help everyone better unrstand same-sex attractn om a gospel perspective. * mormon gay 2015 *

Gay rights advot have long mataed that nyg service to gays on the basis of relig belief is no different om the discrimatn agast blacks that was outlawed durg the civil rights Human Rights Campaign, a leadg gay rights anizatn, said the Mormon lears’ endorsement of nondiscrimatn laws may be “eply meangful” to gay Mormons and their fai, but is “eply flawed” as a matter of public policy.

THIS GAY MORMON LOVE STORY WILL BREAK YOUR HEART: WATCH

Mormon lears do not speak of a gay or lbian sexual orientatn, though they now fully acknowledge that many people 'stggle wh same-genr attractn.' * mormon gay 2015 *

Mormon lears have recent years joed Roman Catholic bishops, Southern Baptist pastors and other nservative evangelils what they have amed as a “relig liberty” mpaign to fend their eedom of Tuday’s announcement aga shows that the Mormon Church has been tryg to change s tone on homosexualy sce 2008, when faced wispread nmnatn for mobilizg members and raisg money to help pass Proposn 8 California, which outlawed same-sex 2009, the church threw s support behd a lol law Salt Lake Cy protectg gay and transgenr people om job and hog discrimatn. Conveng a rare prs nference on Tuday at church headquarters Salt Lake Cy, Mormon lears pledged to support anti-discrimatn laws for gays, lbians, bisexuals and transgenr people, as long the laws also protect the rights of relig groups. At the same time, Mormon lears have taken an creasgly civil tone towards gays and lbians recent years, and gay rights groups cheered the church for endorsg the Boy Suts’ cisn to allow gay suts 2013.

POLICY CHANG ANNOUNCED FOR MEMBERS GAY MARRIAG, CHILDREN OF LGBT PARENTS

provis misterial materials for members * mormon gay 2015 *

Jt two years ago, the church received much public praise for rcdg a 2015 policy, ntroversial among Mormons at the time, that clared the mor children of gay people uld not be baptized to or jo the church as members—at least not until they were 18 years old, and only then if they would nounce their parents’ marriage and nmn their sexualy. Given how ntent the qutn of gay rights has been among Mormons sce the church threw s whole weight behd California’s anti-gay-marriage Proposn 8 2008, the post-2019 perd has been one of wele relative quiet om the church. C., Holland’s speech was the first time I tly worried that my future kids might attend public school wh peers who would be tght about the evils of beg gay, week and week out at church.

Mormonism is now facg a world which not only the majory of outsirs, but also a signifint portn of their own membership—cludg s own universy’s faculty—seem to regnize that doctre for what is: a list of proposns phrased as irrefutable tths, issued by a group of men who grew up wh homophobia suffg every stutn their liv. The same day Holland issued his revanchist addrs to the faculty, BYU’s admistratn was openg and publicizg s new Office of Belongg, a long-sought-for refuge not only for BYU’s growg number of openly gay stunts, but also s relig and racial mori, who are reported to face wispread bias and prejudice on mp, acrdg to a report issued by an ternal Commtee on Race, Equy, and Belongg.

Still, today, the church funnels members who nfs to feelg “same-sex attractn” to support groups that enurage members to enter heterosexual marriag, wh promis that the gay feelgs will be overe after sufficient fahfulns, or at least, ath. Matt Easton has ced the wily publicized 2016 ath by suici of one of his classmat at BYU, Harry Fisher, as part of the reason for his cisn to e out as gay his valedictorian speech.

GAY MORMON

The betiful and heartbreakg love story of a gay Mormon who went on a missn to Italy 1974 and fell love wh a man named Gianni. * mormon gay 2015 *

Due to Mormon teachgs that there is no way to have romantic relatnships wh those of the same sex and be exalted the afterlife, gay Mormons face high rat of lonels, suicidaly, and prsn. In March, lears at the church’s headquarters Salt Lake Cy helped to pass a bill known as the “Utah promise, ” which protects LGBT people om discrimatn, as well as opponents of gay rights who ce relign as a basis for their church, which has exprsed fears that gay rights uld tmp relig rights, received natnal backlash after  fought gay marriage California through Proposn 8 month, Dall Oaks, a member of the LDS Church’s Twelve Apostl, said Kentucky unty clerk Kim Davis erred her cisn to cle to sign same-sex marriage licens, and he urged more balance, tolerance and civily protectg relig January 2015, Dall H. Repeatedly actg agast the church and opposg s lears n make someone an apostate and would likely affect temple privileg and membership Lake Cy, where the LDS headquarters are based, jt elected Jackie Biskupski as the cy’s first openly gay mayor this relig groups, Jehovah’s Wns and Mormons are the most opposed to same-sex marriage.

Children of parents who intify themselv as lbian, gay, bisexual, or transgenr may now be blsed as fants and baptized The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats whout First Princy approval, Print Dall H. Oaks announced Thursday morng, April 4. * mormon gay 2015 *

About 57 percent of Mormons say homosexualy should be disuraged by society, down om 68 percent new policy puts same-sex marriage to the same tegory as polygamo marriage.

Thacker, who is gay and would like to be married and have children some day, said that LGBT Mormons feel phed out of the a fifth generatn Mormon who plays piano servic, Thacker said his ward was welg to him and his partner when he began attendg servic four years ago after ne years away om the church. " "[If] homosexual sex wh marriage is wrong and heterosexual sex wh marriage is great, we're not treatg 'immoral nduct heterosexual or homosexual the same way, ' " as one person noted on Twter.

The PoX got majorly walked back — which is FANTASTIC — although I’ll pot out that if homosexual sex wh marriage is wrong and heterosexual sex wh marriage is great, we’re not treatg “immoral nduct heterosexual or homosexual the same way” — jaclyn (@j_n_foster) April 4, 2019.

* mormon gay 2015 *

I believe & look forward to more wonrful surpris the futureI know there will e a pot my life when I will stand wh my fellow Sats & be able to say that I have not been nied any blsgs now or Eterny bee I am gay. Now he and his wife Elizabeth are featured promently on “Mormon and Gay, ” discsg how they have grown together as the new materials gave them the tools for “a healthy dialogue.

As public opn – and scientific unrstandg – on sexualy has shifted wh remarkable speed, many nomatns, cludg Mormon lears, have had to grapple wh a difficult qutn: How do they mata tradnal doctre that homosexual acts are sful, while acceptg and misterg to gay and lbian Mormons who scerely wish to rema part of their church? Fulmer, who self-intifi as a gay Mormon and is featured on the new webse, said the new materials “give a steppg stone to have more open munitn about this and to te others on how to help and how to rpond to somebody who is gay.

Trevor Johnson, a gay man who was raised Mormon but rigned his membership after gettg engaged, said, “When I first me out, the most damagg thg was feelg like people didn’t believe me that I was attracted to men. Keetch both say they have bee more ted on homosexualy through their volvement producg the materials — a two-year procs which volved the church learship, LGBT advocy groups and mental health profsnals.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* MORMON GAY 2015

The Washgton Post</tle><path d="M39.2 32v36.6c4.7-2.8 7-6.8 8.7-12.1l1.2.6c-1.1 13.2-10.3 26-24.3 26S0 72.6 0 55.8C0 43 7.7 35.1 18.7 28.2a16.11 16.11 0 00-4.4-.6c-7.2 0-11.4 4.9-11.4 9.9H1.5a14.77 14.77 0 01-.1-2.1c0-9.3 5.5-19.7 16.9-19.7 7.3 0 12.9 6.7 21.4 6.7 4.3 0 6.7-1.6 8.4-5.3h1.2c-.1 6.5-2 12.8-10.1 14.9zm-19-3.3C15.1 34 10.1 39.6 10.1 50.9c0 6.2 1.9 12.4 6.6 16.4l3.1-1.7V40.3L16.6 42l-1-1.6 15-8.4c-3.8-.8-6.9-2.3-10.4-3.3zm17.1 3.7a17 17 0 01-2.3.1 17.52 17.52 0 01-4-.4v29.5l-12.8 7a15.57 15.57 0 009.9 3 22.58 22.58 0 009.2-2zm44 9.2v34.3c0 9.6-8.51 16.11-18 18l-.6-1c4.7-2.3 7.8-6.41 7.8-11.41V45.7l-4.9-4.5-2.6 2.6v27.1l3 2.8v.4l-8.1 8.61-9.3-8.51v-.4l3.6-3.8V25.8l10.6-11.3.2.1v26.6l8.7-9.2 8.7 7.9 2.7-2.6 1.31 1.3zM97.91 62v4.5l9 7.1 7-7.3 1.3 1.3L101 82.8 88.21 72.6l-2.8 2.8-1.2-1.3 3.1-3.2V45.8l18.9-13.8 10.5 16.3zm.2-22.6l-.2.1v20.1l8.7-6.4zM180 82.71l-13.9-12-10.6 12-14.4-12.41V50.7h-2.8a3.89 3.89 0 00-4.1 3.5h-1a15.87 15.87 0 01-.5-3.8c0-2.6 1.1-9.4 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3.8l.1-.09zm6.41-19.6a9.78 9.78 0 01-6.91 2.3 8.92 8.92 0 01-6.3-2.9l-.2.1v14.6h3.8l9.7-14zm22.9 43.41l-8.8-6.91-2.71 2.7-1.3-1.29 3.1-3.21V39.4H671l-.2-.2 3.5-5.2h2.5v-6.7L687.41 16l.2.2V34h8l.2.2-3.5 5.2h-4.7v30.3l4.8 3.7 3.3-3.4 1.3 1.4z"></path></svg><span class="alic gray font-xxxxs font--body">Democracy Di Darkns</span></div></div><hear class="w-100" data-qa="ma-full"><div class="hi-for-prt"></div><div class="mt-lg"><div data-qa="kicker" class="wpds-c-eyomNc wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-PJLV-jYXVnY-lor-black wpds-c-PJLV-mlvxn-size-lg"><a href=" class="PJLV PJLV-ieDwgbC-css">Acts of Fah</a></div></div><div class="w-100" style="max-width:1000px"><h1 class="font--headle offblack headle mb-sm" data-ttid="headle" data-qa="headle" id="ma-ntent"><span data-qa="headle-text">Mormon Church to exclu children of same-sex upl om gettg blsed and baptized until they are 18</span></h1></div><div class="flex prt-byle prt-mt-none"><div class="byle-wrapper flex-lumn flex"><div class="PJLV PJLV-ihSmMVC-css"><div class="mb-xxs" style="gap:0.5rem" data-qa="thor-byle"><span class="wpds-c-PJLV"><div class="flex ems-center" data-qa="thor-byle"><div class="mr-sm flex lh-0"><div class="wpds-c-iTcer"><img src=" alt="" class="wpds-c-dgBqAZ"/></div></div><span class="left"><div class="flex"><div class="dib font-xxs" data-qa="name-wh-optnal-lk" data-cy="name-wh-optnal-lk"><span data-qa="attributn-text" class="wpds-c-cNdzuP">By <!-- --> </span><a data-qa="thor-name" href=" rel="thor" class="wpds-c-cNdzuP wpds-c-cNdzuP-ejzZdU-isLk-te">Sarah Pulliam Bailey</a></div></div></span></div></span></div></div><div data-ttid="timtamp" class="wpds-c-kgabfe wpds-c-kgabfe-ikrKXLV-css"><span data-ttid="display-date" class="wpds-c-iKQyrV">November 6, 2015 at 4:22 p.m. EST</span></div></div></div></hear></div><article class="grid-article mb-xxl-ns" data-qa="ma"><div data-ttid="le-art" data-qa="le-art"><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:0.5620608899297423;--aspect-width:1;filter:blur(5px);transn:filter .1s"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark ml-gutter mr-gutter" data-qa="vio-ptn">Elr D. Christofferson explas why children of same-sex upl will not be baptized by the Mormon church until they are 18 years old. (Vio: The Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats)</div></figptn></figure></div></div><div class="grid-body"><div class="wpds-c-PJLV wpds-c-PJLV-hSmMVC-isLuf2-false"><div class="wpds-c-jUMcim wpds-c-jUMcim-ibVGacg-css hi-for-prt mb-sm"><div class="PJLV PJLV-ieDMgMI-css flex ems-center" nfig="[object Object]" data-qa="article-actns"><div class="wpds-c-mfMEg"><div class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-hnjNCH wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-nsy-pact wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutle-te wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-futx-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv"><div class="dib poter" data-qa="gift-share"><div aria-label="Gift this story" aria-ntrols="gift-share" aria-owns="gift-share" id="gift-share-ntrol" class="" aria-haspopup="te" aria-expand="false" role="button" tabx="0"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" class="wpds-c-dJBvpf wpds-c-PJLV" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><path d="M10.73 5h.14a1.75 1.75 0 0 0 1-2.25 1.83 1.83 0 0 0-.51-.75 1.72 1.72 0 0 0-1.48-.35 1.76 1.76 0 0 0-1.2.94L8 3.93l-.68-1.4A1.76 1.76 0 0 0 4 3.59 1.74 1.74 0 0 0 5.13 5H2v4h1v5h10V9h1V5ZM9.58 3a.77.77 0 0 1 .51-.4h.17a.73.73 0 0 1 .47.17.72.72 0 0 1 .27.71.72.72 0 0 1-.48.58l-1.77.66ZM5 3.43a.72.72 0 0 1 .27-.71.73.73 0 0 1 .47-.17h.17a.77.77 0 0 1 .51.4l.83 1.7L5.48 4A.74.74 0 0 1 5 3.43ZM3 6h4.5v2H3Zm1 3h3.5v4H4Zm4.5 4V9H12v4ZM13 8H8.5V6H13Z" data-name="Path 10"></path></svg></div></div><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Gift<!-- --> <span class="PJLV PJLV-ikqOWxF-css">Article</span></span></div></div><div class="dib poter" data-qa="wpds-tooltip-ntrol"><div aria-ntrols="actns-tooltip" aria-owns="actns-tooltip" id="actns-tooltip-ntrol" class="" aria-haspopup="te" aria-expand="false"><div class="wpds-c-mfMEg"><div class="wpds-c-kSOqLF wpds-c-hnjNCH wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-nsy-pact wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutle-te wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-in-left wpds-c-kSOqLF-futx-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv"><div tabx="0" aria-label="Share" class="PJLV PJLV-ietWzJw-css"><svg xmlns=" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="currentColor" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img" class="wpds-c-dJBvpf wpds-c-dJBvpf-iPJLV-css "><path d="M14 14H2V7h1v6h10V7h1Zm-5.5-2h-1V3h1Z"></path><path d="M10.29 5.71 11 5 8 2l-.71.71L5 5l.71.71L8 3.42l2.29 2.29z"></path></svg></div><span aria-hidn="te" class="wpds-c-fBEbFG">Share</span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="teaser-ntent grid-center"><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Children livg a same-sex hoehold may not be blsed as babi or baptized until they are 18, the Mormon Church clared  a new policy. Once they reach 18, children may disavow the practice of same-sex habatn or marriage and stop livg wh the hoehold and requt to jo the church.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="db dn-ns mr-neg-gutter ml-neg-gutter mb-md hi-for-prt" data-qa="subscribe-promo"><div data-orientatn="horizontal" role="separator" class="wpds-c-dbVHzF wpds-c-dbVHzF-hDkAcj-variant-flt"></div><a class="pt-sm pb-sm flex ems-center bold font-xxxs font-xxs-ns jtify-center" href=" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="lor:#166dfc;borr:none"><svg class="ntent-box" width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns=" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>Wp</tle><path d="M11.055 8.728l-1.018-1.019-.782.782v6.292l1.782 1.564.018-.019v-7.6zm-4.11.236L5.674 7.71l-.836.855v6.237l1.545 1.327.564-.636V8.964zm2.656 9.074l-2.528-2.182-1.927 2.182-2.619-2.255v-3.564h-.509c-.454 0-.672.273-.745.636H1.09a2.89 2.89 0 0 1-.091-.69c0-.473.2-1.71 1.527-1.71V7.691c0-1.073-.709-1.127-.709-2.054 0-1.037.982-2 2.782-2.637l.164.145c-.6.291-1.09.655-1.09 1.437 0 1.2 1.163.89 1.163 2.782v.727l2.127-2.236 2.237 2.2 2.109-2.2 2.036 2v6.728l-3.745 3.455zm11.108-9.625l-1.073-.982-.964 1.018v6.6c.855.11 1.491.4 2.019.964l.018-.018V8.413zm-2.382.418l-.528.545v10.237l.528.492V8.83zm1.49 9.055c-.308-.382-.69-.709-1.145-.836v3.782l-.036.018-1-.927-2.11 1.945-.036-.018V16.96c-.636.145-1.327.545-1.854 1.2l-.146-.091c.127-1.4.818-2.436 2-2.837v-3.545h-.382c-.527 0-.89.363-.963.763h-.219c-.054-.145-.127-.381-.127-.836 0-.891.6-1.564 1.582-1.564h.11V8.085l-.655-.582-.51.51-.254-.237 2.018-2.073 1.71 1.564V9.05l.527-.564v-2.09h.345v1.727l2.273-2.419L23 7.576v7.91l-3.182 2.4z" fill-le="evenodd"></path></svg><span class="mr-xs ml-xs gray-darkt flex ems-center">Get the full experience.<span class="ml-xs subs-theme blue">Choose your plan</span></span><svg class="ntent-box" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" xmlns=" style="fill:#166dfc" aria-hidn="te" focable="false" role="img"><tle>ArrowRight</tle><path d="M7.664 1.25l6 6a1 1 0 010 1.414l-6 6L6.25 13.25 10.499 9H2V7h8.585L6.25 2.664 7.664 1.25z" fill-le="nonzero"></path></svg></a><div data-orientatn="horizontal" role="separator" class="wpds-c-dbVHzF wpds-c-dbVHzF-hDkAcj-variant-flt"></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The policy chang, which also state that those a same-sex marriage are to be nsired apostat, set off nfn and turmoil among many Mormons after the policy was leaked onle. The chang the handbook for lol church lears for the Church of J Christ of Latter-day Sats were nfirmed Thursday by church spokman Eric Hawks.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Church handbooks are policy and procral guis for lay lears who mt admister the church many varied circumstanc throughout the world,” Hawks said a statement. “The church has long been on rerd as opposg same-sex marriag. While rpects the law of the land, and acknowledg the right of others to thk and act differently, do not perform or accept same-sex marriage wh s membership.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-image" class="hi-for-prt"><div style="m-height:358px"></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The LDS Church, popularly known as the Mormon Church, teach that marriage is an stutn created by God for one man and one woman. For Mormons, one mt be married to achieve the fullns of salvatn.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The church, which has wrtled wh evolvg laws on same-sex marriage and worked out a polil promise wh LGBT lears Utah, set off turmoil among Mormons about s new polici, pecially the policy on children of same-sex upl.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“I don’t see as revolutnary, but very nsistent wh other church polici on marriag that are outsi the Mormon pale, like polygamy,” said Ardis E. Parshall, a historian on Mormonism. “That do not lsen the pa for iends and fai volved, though, so ’s tremendoly signifint.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Before Thursday’s change, the church’s policy was that same-sex marriage might require disciple and was ually left up to lol lears. Now that same-sex marriage is legal throughout the untry, the church cid to intify those a same-sex marriage as apostat, or people who renounce their fah.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">If someone is believed to be actg an apostate way, triggers a disciplary uncil, which n have different out, om unselg to potential loss of membership.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Mormon children are normally blsed as fants and baptized around age 8, an act that Mormons believe is a venant wh God and sential to salvatn.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The policy change on children of same-sex upl has been pecially troublg to many Mormons, said Steve Evans, a ntributor to the popular Mormon blog By Common Consent.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“People who support the church up and down have trouble wh this,” Evans said. “It looks like you’re punishg children for the acts of their parents. I don’t thk they are punishg children, but I’m really torn about .”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Infants who are blsed are unted as “children of rerd” but are not officially members until they’re nfirmed, which happens at baptism. Baptism is the sacrament that mak other sacraments possible; ’s necsary before marriage n be formalized, for stance.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The new policy says that once natural or adopted children livg a same-sex hoehold reach 18, they may disavow the practice of same-sex habatn or marriage and stop livg wh the hoehold. If the dividual follows those two l, they may requt approval to be baptized, nfirmed, ordaed to the church prithood and remend for missnary service wh the permissn of the fah’s hight lears, the First Princy.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The LDS Church has been polilly active on issu related to same-sex marriage and relig liberty. The church and s alli <a href=">worked on a polil promise</a> wh gay rights advot Utah earlier this year. In March, lears at the church’s headquarters Salt Lake Cy helped to pass a bill known as the “Utah promise,” which protects LGBT people om discrimatn, as well as opponents of gay rights who ce relign as a basis for their beliefs.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The church, which has exprsed fears that gay rights uld tmp relig rights, received natnal backlash after  fought gay marriage California through Proposn 8 2008.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Last month, <a href=">Dall Oaks, a member of the LDS Church’s Twelve Apostl</a>, said Kentucky unty clerk Kim Davis erred her cisn to cle to sign same-sex marriage licens, and he urged more balance, tolerance and civily protectg relig eedom.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div data-qa="article-vio" data-ttid="article-vio" class=""><div><figure class="mb-md mr-to-ns ml-to-ns hi-for-prt ml-neg-gutter mr-neg-gutter"><div class="w-100 aspect-ctom" style="background-posn:center;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-lor:rgb(245, 245, 245);background-image:url();background-size:nta;--aspect-height:0.5625;--aspect-width:1"></div><figptn><div class="mt-xs mr-to-ns ml-to-ns left font--subhead font-xxxs gray-dark ml-gutter mr-gutter" data-qa="vio-ptn">In January 2015, Dall H. Oaks, a member of the send-hight erng body of the Mormon Church, exprsed support of some LGBT rights. (Vio: Mormon Newsroom/YouTube)</div></figptn></figure></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">”Ever sce Proposn 8, there have been attempts by the church to reach out, to formulate relatnships wh LGBT Amerins,” said Matthew Bowman, a historian and thor of “The Mormon People.” “This policy seems to be a step away om that.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Earlier this year, an LDS apostle said that Mormons who support gay marriage would not lose their temple privileg or church memberships. Elr D. Todd Christofferson told KUTV Salt Lake Cy that Mormons would be trouble only for “supportg anizatns that promote opposn or posns opposn to the church’s.” Backg marriage equaly on social media s, cludg on Facebook or Twter, “is not an anized effort to attack our effort.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“Our approach all of this, as [founr of the LDS Church] Joseph Smh said, is persuasn,” he said. “You n’t e the prithood and the thory of the church to dictate. You n’t pel, you n’t erce. It has to be persuasn, gentlens and love unfeigned, as the words the scripture.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The new policy do not mean Mormons who support same-sex relatnships, eher Mormon or otherwise, would be grounds for church disciple. It do mean, however, a shift for children of same-sex upl sce they mt disavow their parents’ practice and stop livg wh their hoehold. Repeatedly actg agast the church and opposg s lears n make someone an apostate and would likely affect temple privileg and membership stat.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Salt Lake Cy, where the LDS headquarters are based, jt elected Jackie Biskupski as the cy’s first openly gay mayor this week.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As relig groups, Jehovah’s Wns and Mormons are the most opposed to same-sex marriage. About 70 percent of Mormons oppose same-sex marriage while 26 percent favor , acrdg to the Pew Rearch’s 2014 Landspe Study. About 57 percent of Mormons say homosexualy should be disuraged by society, down om 68 percent 2007.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The new policy puts same-sex marriage to the same tegory as polygamo marriage. In 1890, the print of the church renounced polygamy, and the church began a major effort to stamp out polygamy begng 1904 and persistg until the 1930s.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">In s polici, the church has differentiated self om fundamentalists, an timated 20,000 to 60,000 people, Bowman said.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">There has been spicn that fundamentalist groups will try to proselytize and ga accs to temple worship, he said.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“That’s why the policy is so strgent,” Bowman said. “The marriag are seen as illegimate and disptive to the work of the church and gag salvatn.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">Randall Thacker, who is print of a group lled Affirmatn – LGBT Mormons, Fai & Friends and is based D.C., said the policy me as a shock to many Mormons. Thacker, who is gay and would like to be married and have children some day, said that LGBT Mormons feel phed out of the church.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb db dn-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-mobile"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-sm pt-sm pb-sm" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">As a fifth generatn Mormon who plays piano servic, Thacker said his ward was welg to him and his partner when he began attendg servic four years ago after ne years away om the church. He said that over the last five years, he saw lol lears who were willg to overlook those a same-sex relatnship.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“That gave a lot of people a lot of hope that thgs would change at a grassroots level,” he said. “Now they’ve drawn a le the sand very clearly.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="cb dn db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-ttid="article-body-ad-sktop"><div aria-hidn="te" class="hi-for-prt relative flex jtify-center ntent-box ems-center b bh mb-md mt-none pt-lg pb-lg" style="m-height:250px;borr-top-lor:;borr-bottom-lor:"><div class="center absolute w-100 borr-box" style="top:"><div class="dib gray-dark pl-xs pr-xs font-sans-serif light font-xxxxs lh-md" style="--primary-borr-lor:"></div></div><div data-ttid="placeholr-box" class="w-100 h-100 absolute flex flex-lumn jtify-center borr-box bg-offwhe" style="width:300px;height:250px"><div class="flex flex-lumn jtify-center font-sans-serif center font-xxs light gray-dark lh-md"><div>Advertisement</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">He said ’s unlikely he would brg his children to church.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">“As Mormons, we are pro-fay and I fd hard to see how this liv up to that value,” he said. “It jt rais a big qutn for me as to would I want to ntue to engage wh an anizatn that outright ni certa sential ordanc, such as baptism to my children.”</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null">The chang to the LDS handbook, which were first published onle by John Dehl, a gay rights activist who was exmunited om the church earlier this year, are below. Hawks sent the same chang to the Washgton Post. The chang were not officially announced on the LDS webse, as the handbook where the policy chang were ma is for lol lears and not members.</p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><a href=" style="text-ratn: unrle;" tle="View Chang to LDS Handbook 1 Document 2 Revised 11-3-15 %28003%29 on Scribd">Chang to LDS Handbook 1 Document 2 Revised 11-3-15 %28003%29</a></p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="wpds-c-gdKvqu raw-html overriStyl" data-qa="raw-html"><div><div class="flex-embed"><iame data-aspect-rat="unfed" data-to-height="false" ameborr="0" height="600" scrollg="no" src=" width="100%"></iame></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><em>(This story has been updated several tim to clu addnal terviews.)</em></p></div><div class="article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-ttid="drop-p-letter" data-el="text" class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overriStyl font-py" dir="null"><strong>Want more stori about fah? 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