The Latest: LDS Church president says room in faith for everyone

The Latest on the selection of a new Mormon president:

11:20 a.m.

The new president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says there’s room in the religion for everyone no matter what challenges they face and regardless if they’ve never joined or strayed from the faith.

Russell M. Nelson spoke Tuesday morning during a news conference in Salt Lake City following the widely anticipated announcement that he had been chosen to become the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nelson succeeds Thomas S. Monson, who died Jan. 2.

Asked about his approach to LGBT issues, Nelson said that God loves his children regardless of “their challenges.”

Dallin H. Oaks, one of two men chosen by Nelson to be his counselors, added that leaders have the responsibility to teach love but also commandments from God.

Oaks said: “We’ve got the love of the Lord and the law of the Lord,” Oaks said.

Nelson called doing so a “balance.”

The faith has opposed gay marriage and homosexual activity amid widespread social acceptance while trying to foster an empathetic stance toward LGBT people.

Oaks and fellow counselor Henry B. Eyring will help Nelson guide the Utah-based faith counts 16 million members worldwide.

They are both members of a governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.