page_title: List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality
section_title: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
hierarchical_section_title: List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality / Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
caption_attribution_description: English: An LGBT pride flag in front of the Salt Lake City Mormon temple
context_page_description: This is a list of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality. The issue of homosexuality and Christianity is a subject of ongoing theological debate within and between Christian denominations and this list seeks to summarise the various official positions. Within denominations, many members may hold somewhat differing views on and even differing definitions of homosexuality.
context_section_description: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) makes it clear that experiencing feelings of same-sex attraction is neither a choice,nor a sin, nor the fault of the individual and that celibate LGBT members can have a good standing in the Church. LGBT Latter-day Saints are expected to obey the same law of chastity as heterosexual members, including not intentionally arousing sexual feelings and not participating in sexual acts outside of a legal and lawful marriage between one man and one woman. The Church considers engaging in same-sex sexual activity a sin, even if the same-sex relationship is recognized as a legal marriage or other legal union by civil authorities.
  In 2007, the Church produced "God Loveth His Children", a pamphlet whose stated purpose is to help LGBT members; and in December 2012, launched a web site titled Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction at MormonsAndGays.org "in an effort to encourage understanding and civil conversation about same-sex attraction." This website was later renamed MormonAndGay.org to reflect "the reality that a person doesn’t need to choose between these two identities — one can, in fact, be gay and live faithful to the teachings of Christ."
  Leaders of the LDS Church have encouraged all to reach out to LGB persons with love and understanding, which has sparked some criticism and a small protest from some more conservative churches. However, the Church actively opposes the extension of the traditional definition of marriage to also include same-sex couples. In November 2015 a policy was released classifying couples in same-sex marriages as apostates and banning the children of same-sex couples from being baptized until turning 18 and disavowing their parents relationship. This policy brought criticism to the LDS faith. The church revised its policy again on April 4, 2019, stating that couples in legal same-sex unions would no longer be considered apostate, and that "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.” However, it also stated that it still considers homosexuality to be a "serious transgression," to be treated in the same way as "immoral conduct" in heterosexual relationships
caption: An LGBT Pride flag in front of the iconic LDS temple.
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