(CNS News) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which abandoned polygamy in the 1890s, announced on Nov. 15 that it supports the pro-LGBTQ Respect for Marriage Act, which codifies “gay marriage” into federal law. The Mormon church in a statement said, “We believe this approach is the way forward.”
While the Utah-based church holds fast to God’s design of marriage – specifically and only between one man and one woman – the church voiced its support to protect gay-marriage rights and suggested such arrangements will not compromise the Biblical truth that same-sex marriage is against the Christian faith.
“The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints related to marriage between a man and a woman is well known and will remain unchanged,” the church said. “We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.”
“We believe this approach is the way forward,” said the Mormon church. “As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding.”
Patrick Mason, professor of religious studies at Utah State University, wrote in the Salt Lake Tribune that people should not be shocked by the LDS Church’s support for the bill.
“Since 1835 and especially 1890, Latter-day Saint leaders have shown a pragmatic ability to accommodate public pluralism in belief and behavior so long as the church’s basic rights to exist, define its own doctrine, control its most sacred ceremonies, and freely preach its message were protected,” said Mason.
“The church’s support for the Respect for Marriage Act is therefore not a departure from precedent, but instead the latest episode in its delicate dance with the secular state,” wrote Mason.
The Respect for Marriage Act provides statutory authority for same-sex and interracial marriages. The bill replaces the traditional definition of marriage – defined as solely between a man and a woman – and essentially codifies “gay marriage” into federal law.
In 2015, when the Supreme Court ruled (5-4) in favor of gay marriage, evangelical Christian leader Franklin Graham said on Hannity, “Our country has been slipping every year further and further away from the God of the Bible -- the foundation that our nation was built on. We’re slipping away from that. And I believe that we need to do everything we can to warn people of the consequences of sin.”
“Homosexuality is sin,” said Graham. “Same-sex marriage is a sin against God. Now, people who don’t believe in God don’t care about that, but at the same time, Sean, God is going to judge sinners, so I love them enough to warn them of the consequences of sin.”
“And I want everyone who’s listening -- I’m not here to throw stones at you because you want to marry someone of the same sex -- I just want to warn you, and I do this in love, that God will judge sin,” said Graham. “God takes sin very seriously. God cannot tolerate sin in his presence.”