SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Jan. 31, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday released a statement, saying it is studying the Boy Scouts of America’s announcement on Monday that it would accept transgender boys as Scouts.
The LDS Church’s statement was worded to suggest the Boy Scouts would not force the Church make its troops comply and accept transgender boys. It also stated that the Church is open to some kinds of change.
“The Church is studying the announcement made yesterday by Boy Scouts of America,” said a statement released by the Public Affairs Department of the LDS Church.
“Boy Scouts has assured its religious chartering organizations that, as in the past, they will be able to organize their troops in a way fully consistent with their religious beliefs. In recent years the Church has made several changes to its programs for youth, and continues to look for ways to better serve its families and young people worldwide.”
The BSA announcement comes almost two years after the scouting organization allowed openly gay troop leaders and employees to join the Boy Scouts of America. In May of 2015, The LDS Church released the following statement:
“We have noted the comments by Boy Scouts of America President Robert Gates in relation to possible policy changes in the Boy Scouts of America. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will, of course, examine any such changes very carefully to assess how they might impact our own century-long association with the BSA.”
Three months later, in August of 2015, LDS Church officials released a statement they would continue to choose Scout leaders who upheld church values, but would not at that time cut ties with the Boy Scouts of America. The LDS Church teaches that acting on homosexual urges is sinful.
