Joshua Valentine Posted April 5, 2019 Posted April 5, 2019 (edited) As noted, the original thread about the LGBT Policy Reversal is too crowded for effective discussion of all aspects of this issue. So here I offer a place to discuss the meaning of the announcement based on its own statements (until official conference presentations and Handbook 1 statements are made available). This is obviously long, but details and specifics are useful for useful discussion. The most relevant part of the announcement says: Quote 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. In other words: 1) Same-gender marriage no longer ¨apostasy¨ in handbook. 2) Same-gender marriage is considered ¨serious transgression¨. 3) In Church discipline, same-gender marriage will not be treated as apostasy. 4) Instead of same-gender marriage being treated as apostasy in church discipline, immoral conduct in all sexual relationships will be treated the same way in church discipline. This seems to obviously indicate a few things: Same-gender marriage will not get you disciplined/excommunicated as an ¨apostate¨. Same-gender marriage is a serious transgression (that merits church discipline like any other serious transgression). Immoral conduct in any sexual relationship will be disciplined. This means, simply, that same-gender marriage will not get you disciplined as an apostate but will still get you disciplined for the immoral conduct that it is as a serious transgression. Some other points to consider: Without a Handbook 1 available to know what ¨serious transgression" officially calls for, the church´s Church Disciplinary Council page at https://www.lds.org/topics/church-disciplinary-councils?lang=eng says (emphasis mine): Quote Bishops and branch presidents and stake, mission, and district presidents have a responsibility to help members overcome transgression through repentance. The most serious transgressions often require formal Church discipline. Formal Church discipline may include restriction of Church membership privileges or loss of Church membership. The announcement says that same-gender marriage is ¨serious transgression¨ so it will require formal Church discipline. Formal Church discipline includes membership privilege restriction and even loss of membership. So, just based on this information it seems: Same-gender married members will not be disciplined as ¨apostates¨ but will be disciplined for their ¨serious transgression¨. Such discipline will be formal Such discipline will include membership privilege restriction and up to loss of membership. But certain declarations of how positive this announcement is would seem to be out of place if this is what is meant by the change. All of the statements made in the announcement relating to the LGBT policy change follow (with my emphasis and numbering for discussion): Quote President Dallin H. Oaks instructed that the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility — even when we disagree. God has promised all blessings to those who strive to keep His commandments(1), and we have a duty to “bear one another’s burdens that they may be light” (Mosiah 18:8)(2). While we cannot change the Lord’s doctrine, we want our members and our policies to be considerate of those struggling with the challenges of mortality(3). In his remarks, President Oaks shared information about changes to recent Church policies related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members. (More information on that announcement is included below.) ... Details shared by President Oaks 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 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. The very positive policies announced this morning should help affected families(4). In addition, our members’ efforts to show more understanding, compassion and love should increase respect and understanding among all people of goodwill. We want to reduce the hate and contention so common today. We are optimistic that a majority of people — whatever their beliefs and orientations — long for better understanding and less contentious communications. That is surely our desire, and we seek the help of our members and others to attain it. These new policies are being sent to priesthood leaders worldwide and will be included in online updates to our Church handbook for leaders. These changes do not represent a shift in Church doctrine related to marriage or the commandments of God in regard to chastity and morality(4). The doctrine of the plan of salvation and the importance of chastity will not change(5). These policy changes come after an extended period of counseling with our brethren in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and after fervent, united prayer to understand the will of the Lord on these matters. In summary: = that ¨all blessings¨ are promised to all who ¨strive to keep [God´s] commandments¨ = that we have a duty to bear one another´s burdens = that doctrine is not changing but policy is changing in order to be ¨considerate of those struggling with the challenges of mortality¨. = these policy changes should ¨help¨ affected families. = no change to doctrine on marriage and no change to commandments on chastity and morality = plan of salvation doctrine and importance of chastity will not change Seems to mean: If you strive to keep commandments (and the commandment to marry opposite-gender has not changed (5)) then you are promised ¨all blessing¨ (including membership in LDS Church and all its benefits) We should bear each other's burdens, but this positive statement is tied to 1) Another positive statement about being considerate Another positive statement about helping affected families But if there is no change to chastity AND morality (and one is supposed to marry the opposite sex) then discipline is still called for (to the seeming contradiction of 2, 3, and 4) Reinforces 5) On its face the announcement seems to simply take away ¨apostate¨ discipline but leave ¨chastity” and ¨morality¨ and ¨serious transgression¨ discipline which would include up to AND including ¨loss of membership¨. This is the logic of the announcement as far as policy. However, statements of ¨these very positive policies¨ being comforting would seem to be contradicted by this meaning. So what version of these policy and doctrine statements would be compatible with the ¨very positive¨ statements of comfort? If all immoral conduct in either sexual relationship is to be treated ¨the same¨ in any meaningful way and if this policy change is to give any positive comfort to families, then it can only mean that not only will same-gender marriages not be considered ¨apostasy¨ and worthy of loss of membership, but they will not be grounds for official church discipline in themselves, but only if immorality in the sexual relationship is done - adultery, pornography, etc. The original thread showed how this would be an impressive change and somewhat suspect. However - If you still end up losing membership for simply the fact of same-gender marriage, whether it is called ¨apostasy¨ or not, then there is no positive announcement here and no comfort to affected families. However, there are still the statements of ¨serious transgression¨ and no change to ¨morality¨ and ¨chastity¨. So that seems to at least leave the door wide open for the ¨privileges of membership¨ to be ¨restricted¨. Loss of membership due to apostasy may be gone, but restriction of privileges due to immorality seems well in play. This seems reasonable for membership and leadership policy, however, how exactly willful ¨immorality¨ can be accepted even of ¨restricted¨ members seems difficult in practice. Lastly, I tend to criticize the LDS leadership for their lack of clarity, but what else can we make of this announcement? What is even the point of such an unclear statement? Is it to get people who were affected or against the policy to be more interested in the upcoming Conference? Is it meant to keep things vague, while they hammer out the details? Whatever the case may be this statement is unacceptably unclear. Edited April 5, 2019 by Joshua Valentine
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