Mormons further isolate gays & their children

Married same-sex couples face excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under a new policy that became public this week.

Several USU students shared a photo that read, “If you’re struggling after learning about the new LDS Church policy on children of LGBTQ couples, and you need to talk to someone, please reach out”.

According to The New York Times, this decision contradicts the tolerance exuded by the church in recent days as it has publicly supported laws that ban same-sex discrimination in the workplace and other areas.

“Church handbooks are policy and procedural guides for lay leaders who must administer the Church in many varied circumstances throughout the world”, said church spokesman Eric Hawkins in an email on Friday. “But we know that children of same-sex parents are treasures of infinite worth”. Rather than acknowledge the supposedly God-forsaken passions pulsing violently beneath the saintly, shallow surfaces of so many of its members, the Church denies them entirely and expects its members to do the same – at all costs. The consequences of such an outbreak would very likely shatter the carefully-constructed veneer of the ideal Mormon family.

LDS Church officials released a video of Elder D. Todd Christofferson speaking about the new policy. The Mormon Church faced severe backlash during its fight against same-sex marriage in California in 2008. Only Latter-day Saints who meet certain requirements are allowed to enter the faith’s temples, which are considered to be more sacred than typical church buildings where everyone is welcome. This perhaps explains the softening of the church’s opposition to civil rights for LGBT Utahns-as long as they didn’t affect the church’s freedom to set anti-gay policies for its own adherents. She said the couple has been trying desperately to stay in the church despite a harsh reception to their son coming out. His parents divorced, and his dad-an active Mormon -is now in a same-sex relationship. They’ve left Mormons everywhere shaken up, he added.

Troy Williams, executive director of the gay rights group Equality Utah and a former member of the faith, said all churches have the right to welcome or exclude whomever they choose.

What this means is that a church that says it is all about strengthening the family is demanding that children turn against their parents.

“Last night was the first time I felt a glimpse of anger at this thing that I consider a part of me”, she said. If the LDS Church is true, and if its leaders earnestly believe in it, then they would do well to welcome all children into their earthly empire, lest they arrive on the other side of eternity only to find their names conspicuously absent from God’s list of preferred guests. Francisco says his gay father wants him to serve a mission, and it will be hard to disappoint him, but is looking to see if he could serve in the Peace Corps instead.