SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 4, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced a major change for the children of parents who are gay, bisexual or transgender.
The children of LGBT parents were previously banned from baptism before reaching adulthood, and from blessings as infants. A new announcement changes that.
It also removes the title of “apostate” from LGBT members, while still classifying their sexual conduct as “immoral.”
“At the direction of the First Presidency, President Oaks shared 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,” a statement published on the Church newsroom site says.
“A nonmember parent or parents (including LGBT parents) can request that their baby be blessed by a worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holder. These parents need to understand that congregation members will contact them periodically, and that when the child who has been blessed reaches 8 years of age, a Church member will contact them and propose that the child be baptized.
“Previously, our Handbook characterized same-gender marriage by a member as apostasy. While we still consider such a marriage to be a serious transgression, it will not be treated as apostasy for purposes of Church discipline.
“Instead, the immoral conduct in heterosexual or homosexual relationships will be treated in the same way.”
“These changes do not represent a shift in Church doctrine related to marriage or the commandments of God in regard to chastity and morality. The doctrine of the plan of salvation and the importance of chastity will not change.”
Oaks announced the changes Thursday morning during the leadership session of the church’s 189th Annual General Conference.
To read the statement in full, click here.
