LDS Church amends LGBT policy after “revelation”

At Thursday’s First Conference Leadership Session, President Dallin H. Oaks (who’s that guy in the red tie standing to his right in photo 10 of 11?) shared information about recent changes to policies within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members.

The Church’s website states, “President Oaks has become known for his willingness to speak frankly about challenging issues, such as speaking in defense of the traditional family, telling single college students to stop hanging out and start dating, addressing threats to religious liberty, and decrying the evils of pornography.”

Here’s a recent example of that frank talk emanating from a revelation: President Dallin H. Oaks announced that children of parents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender may be baptized without First Presidency approval.  Previous to the revelation, these children had been denied baptism.

The LDS Church also changed its policy on how it categorizes members of the church who are in same-sex marriages and relationships. The church will no longer consider members in these arrangements to be “apostates,” though still considered a “serious transgression.”

The LDS Church’s new stance on LGBT issues “reflect the continuing revelation” of the church. Doctrine and Covenants Section, 42:61 states:

 If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

Oaks was clear that the Utah-based faith is not revising its doctrine on homosexuality, which teaches that having same-sex attraction is not a sin, but acting on it is.

“These changes do not represent a shift in church doctrine related to marriage or the commandments of God in regard to chastity and morality,” the newsroom statement said. “The doctrine of the plan of salvation and the importance of chastity will not change.”

Among other changes is terminology referencing the name of the church and even how church music is described. The newsroom also has a new name, so ditch the term Mormon which is no longer on the A List. Recently it was announced that missionaries can now call their families more frequently, although “it  is  not  expected  that missionaries  will  call  or video chat with their parents every week.” Previous policy limited contact to twice a year.