LDS Church releases video explaining recent changes regarding children of same-sex couples
Friday night the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an interview with Elder Todd D. Christofferson a member of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The interview explains the reasoning for recent changes to the church’s leadership handbook and reaffirms the church’s position on same-sex marriage.
Thursday the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed to Local News 8 and KIDK Eyewitness news a new policy regarding children who live in a same-sex house hold.
Under the new policy children living with same-sex parents whether they are married or cohabiting can not receive a name and a blessing as a baby or be baptized as a child.
The new policy is included in the latest update of the church’s leadership handbook.
Church spokesman Eric Hawkins sent us the following statement about the changes.
“Church handbooks are policy and procedural guides for lay leaders who must administer the Church in many varied circumstances throughout the world. The Church has long been on record as opposing same-sex marriages. While it respects the law of the land, and acknowledges the right of others to think and act differently, it does not perform or accept same-sex marriage within its membership.”
The update to the handbook also adds being in a same-sex relationship to the church’s definition of being an apostate.
Bellow is part of the updated handbook showing the changes, and what someone can do if they want to become a member of the church once they’ve reached legal age.
Handbook 1, number 6.7.2 has been updated as follows (addition is in bold):
When a Disciplinary Council May Be Necessary
Serious Transgression
. . . It includes (but is not limited to) attempted murder, forcible rape, sexual abuse, spouse abuse, intentional serious physical injury of others, adultery, fornication, homosexual relations(especially sexual cohabitation),deliberate abandonment of family responsibilities, . . .
Handbook 1, number 6.7.3 has been updated as follows (addition is in bold):
When a Disciplinary Council is Mandatory
Apostasy
As used here, apostasy refers to members who:
1. Repeatedly act in clear, open, and deliberate public opposition to the Church or its leaders.
2. Persist in teaching as Church doctrine information that is not Church doctrine after they have been corrected by their bishop or a higher authority.
3. Continue to follow the teachings of apostate sects (such as those that advocate plural marriage) after being corrected by their bishop or a higher authority.
4. Are in a same-gender marriage.
5. Formally join another church and advocate its teachings.
A new section in Handbook 1, 16.13 has been added as follows:
Children of a Parent Living in a Same-Gender Relationship
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.
A natural or adopted child of a parent living in a same-gender relationship, whether the couple is married or cohabiting, may be baptized and confirmed, ordained, or recommended for missionary service only as follows:
A mission president or a stake president may request approval from the Office of the First Presidency to baptize and confirm, ordain, or recommend missionary service for a child of a parent who has lived or is living in a same-gender relationship when he is satisfied by personal interviews that both of the following requirements are met:
1. The child accepts and is committed to live the teachings and doctrine of the Church, and specifically disavows the practice of same-gender cohabitation and marriage.
2. The child is of legal age and does not live with a parent who has lived or currently lives in a same-gender cohabitation relationship or marriage.
