In our ward on Sunday, there were specific, assigned meetings with priesthood groups and the Relief Society. Our bishop led the meeting with the Melchizedek Priesthood. The meeting, which had been preceded by an earlier meeting of local ecclesiastical leaders with an LDS regional representative, (which is one step below the rank of LDS leaders who speak at LDS conferences) dealt with gay and lesbian issues. The most significant news that our bishop related to us was that the church acknowledges that there are “some” people who are born with same-gender attraction.
This is a significant admission. Also, previous stances of the church were re-stated, which is that openly gay persons who are chaste and living their covenants are qualified to enter LDS temples. The church’s position, that marriage should be between a man and a woman, was also re-affirmed, as well as its opposition to same-sex sexual relations. There was an earnest plea for compassion and more understanding toward the challenges and struggles that lesbian and gay members deal with.
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