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Four Mormon Groups Release Joint Statement, Worry about Religious Freedom
Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons Signs the Statement

16 October 2009

Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, along with three other Mormon advocacy groups, released a joint statement today disagreeing with the views of one of their leading Apostles. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) gave a speech earlier this week stating that the free exercise of religion is threatened by "the newly alleged 'civil right' of same-gender couples to enjoy the privileges of marriage." He also compared the protests held near LDS buildings following the passage of Proposition 8 in California to the intimidation of Southern blacks during the civil rights movement.

Citing their own faith as the motivation behind their opposition, members of these four groups worry their Church's involvement in political campaigns to restrict or remove the rights of LGBT individuals may actually harm the free exercise of religion. "We have always been taught that it is not 'just to mingle religious influence with civil government'" said Cheryl Nunn, the executive director of the Foundation for Reconciliation/LDSapology.org. She continued, "How can I face my friends in other faiths if I stand by and do nothing?" Other groups signing the statement are Mormons for Marriage, Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons, and the LDS Safe Space Coalition.

The groups are also gathering signatures of support from Clergy of other faiths and have already had several clergy from different faith groups agree to sign the statement.

The groups have requested that Elder Dallin H. Oaks accept their statement in person at a petition delivery via Handcart that the Foundation for Reconciliation/LDSapology has organized on November 4, 2009, the anniversary of the passage of Proposition 8 in California. The event is meant to highlight the fact that it is their Mormon faith and heritage that has motivated their stance on these issues. "The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that 48% of Mormons would prefer their church stay out of politics, and 24% of Mormons feel homosexuality should be accepted by society" said Peter Danzig, the Foundation's Communications Director.

The full text of their statement and the letter of support for clergy of other faiths to sign are included below. Clergy or other individuals who wish to sign in support may do so by emailing ForReligiousFreedom

gmail.com.

Statement

To Elder Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

We agree with your recent statement that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) "must insist on our constitutional right and duty to exercise our religion, to vote our consciences on public issues, and to participate in elections and debates in the public square and the halls of justice." It is precisely this duty which motivates us to write this joint statement urging you to reconsider the role of the LDS church in funding any public campaign to limit the freedom of other religions to practice in accordance with their beliefs.

Support of policies that seek to force the morality of our belief system on others who believe differently and strip existing rights from individuals and religions is contrary to core doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as outlined in the Articles of Faith: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all [people] the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may," and the Doctrine and Covenants: "We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government …" (Doctrine and Covenants 134:9). Our prophets, scriptures, and the history of our own people warn us of the destructive force caused by such actions. We are dismayed at the dilemma of choosing between our allegiance to leaders of the LDS Church such as yourself and the doctrine of the LDS church on this matter. We are also dismayed at the necessity of defending our friends in other faiths from attacks supported by our own church with money we thought had been consecrated for the work of God.

Mormons for Marriage
Foundation for Reconciliation/LDSapology.org
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons
LDS Safe Space Coalition

We have invited leaders in other faith communities to sign the following statement of support.

As leaders in our own faith communities we applaud the teachings of the LDS faith described above. Many religions in our country and throughout the world believe in marriage unions and traditions that are not exactly the same as those held by Elder Oaks. Many religions believe that unions between any two consenting adults are sacred and of value to a stable society, and believe passionately in the necessity of allowing all such unions the same legal recognition, rights and responsibilities. We respectfully suggest that the cause of religious freedom is best served in our pluralistic society by not seeking to impose the definitions of one religion on other groups of people, but by preserving every religion's freedom to practice their beliefs in a society based upon mutual respect.

CONTACTS:

Foundation for Reconciliation/LDSapology.org
www.LDSapology.org
Peter Danzig, Communications Director, 801-865-9029

Mormons for Marriage
www.mormonsformarriage.com

Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons
www.affirmation.org

LDS Safe Space Coalition
www.ldssafespace.org