Mormons to resign in Utah to protest church’s stance on gay marriage

Under the new rules, issued last week, children living with gay parents are barred from being baptized until they’re 18.

The clarification said the policy applies only to children whose “primary residence” is with a couple living in a same-gender marriage.

Mormon officials also said children who have already been baptized or given priesthood duties – a common action for young Mormon boys – will not have those rescinded.

One longtime member of the church, who has watched closely the debate about the place of gay Mormons, said the policy announcement was more dramatic than the huge controversy that broke out in the late 2000s after the church led the fight for Proposition 8, a California ballot measure banning gay marriage.

Swallow said that they want to give hope to Latter-day Saints considering leaving the religion. More than 500 people are expected at the protest Saturday in Salt Lake City.

Christofferson says in the video that the church felt it was necessary to clarify the church’s policy on the issue of gay marriage after the United States supreme court decision on the issue.

The changes grew out of questions senior church leaders were getting from local leaders around the world, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in a videotaped statement released on Friday. They are welcome to attend Church meetings and participate in Church activities. The change notes that biological or adopted children of parents in a same-sex relationship can not by baptized, serve as missionaries or, if male, ordained into the priesthood. Decisions about any future ordinances for such children should be made by local leaders with their prime consideration being the preparation and best interests of the child.

The Mama Dragons’ response ends with the following lines: “We know our Savior loves and accepts our children exactly as he created them and that he desires for them to have love and companionship”.

Lori Davis, an active LDS member whose 16-year-old son is gay, said for her the new policy clarifications do not change anything, she stills finds the rules to be devastating for her family. At Sunday worship services, people discussed the changes, with many offering their condolences to families of gay Mormons. It does not, in other words, apply to children who have one gay parent and may not live with them full time. There will be 4-5 testimonials speakers at the park while people who need to get their letters together & then the letters will be deposited in a mailbox near the church office.

The Mormon church this year announced support for US laws protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in housing and employment. They are saying: ‘This doesn’t feel right.