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By Nick Einbender
People will always trump policy and the spirit of Christ is not found in a blanket policy that isolates people from the blessing that Christ’s Gospel offers freely to us all. His simple invitation to “Come Follow Me” was never accompanied by footnotes, disclaimers, addendums, policies, or attachments.
The new policy and clarification seem to assume that very few gay or lesbian Mormon couples have a desire to raise their children in the Church. Yes, many have left activity because they felt excluded, were disciplined, or were treated insensitively by members and church leaders. Yet, there remain a significant number of gay and lesbian Mormons who are same-sex partnered, married or planning to marry, who also have or hope to have children, and had planned on raising them in the Church.
Creemos que nuestro salvador Jesucristo nos ministra individualmente. A pesar de que nuestra experiencia y revelación personal puede en ocasiones diferir de las políticas actuales de la iglesia, hemos visto los frutos del espíritu en nuestras vidas incluyendo el amor, el gozo, la fe y la familia.
‘For I am persuaded , that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present , nor things to come ,nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Read the reactions of various parents to the Church’s changes to the handbook.
Nós reafirmamos a divindade e dignidade de todos os filhos e filhas de Deus e todas as famílias e o potencial que cada uma delas tem para amar e se apoiar neste mundo e no próximo. Nós permanecemos na solidariedade com todos as crianças, indivíduos e famílias que foram empurradas para longe, e lamentamos com aqueles profundamente magoados por esta política.
We reaffirm the divinity and dignity of all God’s children and all families and the potential that each of them has to fully love and support one another through this world and the next. We stand in solidarity with all those children, individuals, and families being pushed away, and we mourn with those deeply harmed by this policy.
Please join us on Sunday, November 8 for a worldwide prayer, fast, and vigil that is being organized in response to the change in the LDS Church Handbook of Instruction that requests disciplinary councils be formed when same-sex couples marry and that prevents children of LGBT parents from obtaining LDS ordinances. Please click link to learn more and find the locations of the vigils around the world that will be held tomorrow evening.
Join us this Tuesday, November 10, 2016 at 7 p.m. MT. Many in our community are hurting and looking for mutual support to navigate the emotions they are feeling due to the changes to the LDS Church Handbook of Instructions. Judy Finch, Affirmation Board Member and Licensed Therapist will be facilitating the call.
This article provides links to the various article and news videos featuring Affirmation Leadership Team and Board member reactions to the Church’s changes to the Handbook of Instruction.