A Policy Change to Protect


In the year 2015, many milestones were met, and throughout the year, many things were accomplished, invented, and improved. Among our brothers and sisters in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender) community a particular milestone was reached. Gay marriage was legalized all throughout the United States in June of 2015 as ruled by the Supreme Court. Some considered this legalization progression, and others considered it retrogression. After gay marriage was deemed constitutional, some members in the Church showed their true colors of dissatisfaction to the LGBT community after a policy was created for gay members of the church. Due to the policy change, the children of LGBT individuals, at the age of 18, must disavow the practice of same-sex cohabitation, marriage, and must stop living in such a household to meet the church’s new requirements to qualify for baptism and join the church. As a result, some members now discriminate against LGBT members of the church, even to the extent that most now feel unwanted in a church some may once have considered another home. Not only are the adults affected, but the children of these individuals are feeling undeserved pressure, and many have already taken their own lives. Despite the happiness and joy the LGBT members were experiencing as a member of the church before the change, the officials of the church saw a need for the change among its members in the church by temporarily denying those members from going to the temple and receiving the priesthood until the proper age is met. With the church claiming this as an act of protection, one is left to decipher what truly inspired the church to take action, which problem in the church was being addressed, and how a member should react to the change. For before gay marriage was legalized, some LGBT members of the church may have felt welcomed in the church, but, as history has shown, some members always seemed to take  initiative against the LGBT community.

There have been other times where the church has created policies to protect. During civil war times, slavery was quite the issue. There were mixed opinions about it. Many members of the church then actually disapproved that black men receive the same ordinances and blessings as a white man. As an act of protection, black people were temporarily denied the priesthood and entrance to the temple, as many members were still racist and quirky.  It was popular belief at the time that the reason black men were black, was because they were cursed from the time of Cain. Modern day revelation in 1978 has disproved this rumor, and our brethren who were once on a prejudice policy, gained access to the rights and privileges of holding the priesthood in the church. This didn’t stop some members from the church from discrimination, some people will stay racist, as some will stay homophobic.

It’s true that the church has a long, resentful history with people of the LGBT community. There was a time where the church considered homosexuality a mental illness that could be cured. In fact, in 1965 the leader of the church at the time said, “[w]e know such a disease is curable” (Wikipedia) The church even went so far as to create pamphlets to help church leaders assist gay members with their treatment. The church did this all as a way to “help and uplift.” Sometimes even the leaders of the church differ in opinion, and that’s okay. We too will differ in opinion, but what’s important is that we focus on uplifting one another, because whatever discourages does not come from god.

In 2008, the church actually took a stance against the political development of gay marriage through proposition 8. In turn this hurt the church’s reputation. To make up for it, LDS officials worked with gay rights advocates on a political compromise. This was a bill known as the “Utah compromise”, which was passed in March 2015 issuing protection for LGBT people from discrimination, since the church has such an influence in Utah politically. But just because the church has one opinion doesn’t mean that if has to be yours. We should all follow our own hearts and decide what truly is right for ourselves with the help of the holy spirit.

In 2015, before same-sex marriage was legalized across the nation, an LDS apostle said that Mormons who support gay marriage would not lose their temple privileges or church memberships. However, Elder D. Todd Christofferson told KUTV in Salt Lake City that Mormons would only be disciplined for “supporting organizations that promote opposition or positions in opposition to the Church’s.” ("DeseretNews.com", 2015) In other words a member of this church is free to be nice to LGBT people, but cannot support their lifestyle with organizations. Doing so could qualify a member for church disciplinary action. Crossing this line to further support our fellow brothers and sisters could be considered what the church deems sinful and worthy of disfellowship. As you can see, there are no consequences for loving our LGBT brethren, after all, the gospel is built on love.

Prophets have already revealed that we should accept gay people and love them for who they are. “In 1999, Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the church, officially welcomed gay people in the church, and in an interview affirmed them as ‘good people’: ‘Now we have gays in the church. Good people. We take no action against such people—provided they don't become involved in transgression, sexual transgression. If they do, we do with them exactly what we'd do with heterosexuals who transgress.” (Kimball, 1999) Our fellow brethren started to become more accepted among this Christian church. The LGBT members of the church had to live a life without sexual transgression, and many LGBT members were satisfied under those conditions. We as members should respect that since we all sin differently and have our own kinds of challenges.

The doctrine of Christ teaches us heavily that we are to love one another, but ever since the policy change, the children of LGBT people have worn a “scarlet letter” every Sunday to church and many have been bullied, that is, if they’re still going. 32 of the LGBT Mormon youth in Utah alone have already taken their own lives since the policy was changed because of this “pre-judgement”. As a response to these suicides, the church sent spokesman Dale Jones, who says some very interesting things that we should all take into consideration, “Every soul is precious to God and to the church and the loss of life to suicide is heartbreaking," church spokesman Dale Jones said. "Those who are attracted to others of the same sex face particular challenges and pressures in this regard, both inside and outside the church. We mourn with their families and friends when they feel life no longer offers hope. The church has repeatedly stated that those who feel same-sex attraction and yet choose to live the commandments of God can live fulfilling lives as worthy members of the church. We want all to enjoy the blessings and safety offered by embracing the teachings of Jesus Christ and living the principles of His gospel." (DeseretNews.com, 2016)  Our leaders again reinstate that LGBT members are welcome among us and that we need to treat them so. This applies to the children of LGBT people as well. We don’t know if we’re truly responsible for the suicides that have happened, but we definitely can help brighten and change the lives of those who we know are being affected by it.

Be thou humble, even as a child. The scriptures and church leaders have long taught about the simplicity of the gospel, that the gospel is so simple a child could understand it. In the Ensign from October 2012, we are told “Our feelings of separation from God will diminish as we become more childlike before Him. That is not easy in a world where the opinions of other human beings can have such an effect on our motives.” ("Where Is the Pavilion? - By President Henry B. Eyring") We shouldn’t let the opinions of the world affect our ability to love one another. Children are the perfect example of this because of their friendly nature. Children play with children, whether they be black, Asian, gay, straight, or paraplegic. It makes no difference to them because they are full of Christ-like love. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Children are the perfect example of how we should accept others, so let us follow their example as we are instructed to. “But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.” ("Jeremiah 7")

    Discrimination in the church needs to end. Ever since the policy change, some members have been treating the children and teens of LGBT people like apostates. If the church believes that “men (children) will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam’s (their parents’ or anyone else’s) transgression”, then let’s treat them as such. Just as with every other child, the children of LGBT couples are not born into sin. As they grow older, all children will sin and make mistakes, regardless of their parents. Satan doesn't only go after the children of LGBT couples, and they should be treated equally. It’s not our place to judge, but God’s. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7) If you’re one of few who will heed the call to protect and uplift, I encourage you to speak up against discrimination and unfair treatment. Your voice will be heard and together our voices can bring change. You will be blessed for following the example of Christ.