The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, or Mormon) have reversed a Church “policy” that was implemented just three and a half years earlier. The original policy made on November 3, 2015, stated how “a natural or adopted child of a parent living in a same-gender relationship, whether the couple is married or cohabiting, may not receive a name and a blessing.” In addition, the baptism of “a child of a parent who has lived or is living in a same-gender relationship” was allowed only if the child was legally an adult (18) and committed to the teaching of the Church while not living “with a parent who has lived or currently lives in a same gender cohabitation relationship or marriage.”

That decision resulted in loud protests by some members, including more than a thousand who claimed that they resigned their membership following that decision because they felt children were pawns in the Church’s stance against homosexuality.

Reversing that policy, Dallin H. Oaks, the first counselor in the Church’s top leadership called the First Presidency, explained on an LDS Church website on April 4, 2019, that, “effective immediately, children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender may be baptized without First Presidency approval if the custodial parents give permission for the baptism and understand both the doctrine that a baptized child will be taught and the covenants he or she will be expected to make.” In addition, “babies of non-member parents or parents (including LGBTQ parents) can request their baby” to receive an official blessing.

This Postmodern Realities episode is a conversation with JOURNAL author author Eric Johnson about his Christian Research Journal online exclusive feature article “God’s Directive or Political Adjustment? Change Made to Controversial LDS ‘Policy’ for LGBTQ Members.”
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Other articles and Postmodern Realities podcasts featuring this author

God’s Directive or Political Adjustment? Change Made to Controversial LDS “Policy” for LGBTQ Members

Episode 129 God’s Directive or Political Adjustment? Change Made to Controversial LDS “Policy” for LGBTQ Members

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