Hmmm, this from a church that in some sects believe in polygamy?
Gay rights legislation in Salt Lake City receives its first ever endorsement by the Mormon church.
__________________________________________
AHHHHHHHHH yes...
That deprtavity called polygamy cant be far off...
The slippery slope back to D&C 132...
Polygamy = godhood = mormon narvarna...
This is such a shocker to me.
And sad too.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsStatement Given to Salt Lake City Council on Nondiscrimination Ordinances
SALT LAKE CITY 10 November 2009 The following statement representing the position of the Church’s leadership, was read by Michael Otterson, managing director of Church Public Affairs, as part of a public comment period discussing the ordinances at a Salt Lake City Council meeting 10 November 2009:
Good evening.
My name is Michael Otterson, and I am here tonight officially representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The nondiscrimination ordinances being reviewed by the city council concern important questions for the people of this community.
Like most of America, our community in Salt Lake City is comprised of citizens of different faiths and values, different races and cultures, different political views and divergent demographics. Across America and around the world, diverse communities such as ours are wrestling with complex social and moral questions. People often feel strongly about such issues. Sometimes they feel so strongly that the ways in which they relate to one another seem to strain the fabric of our society, especially where the interests of one group seem to collide with the interests of another.
The issues before you tonight are the right of people to have a roof over their heads and the right to work without being discriminated against. But, importantly, the ordinances also attempt to balance vital issues of religious freedom. In essence, the Church agrees with the approach which Mayor Becker is taking on this matter.
In drafting these ordinances, the city has granted common-sense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations, for example, in their hiring of people whose lives are in harmony with their tenets, or when providing housing for their university students and others that preserve religious requirements.
The Church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage. They are also entirely consistent with the Church’s *prior position on these matters. The Church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman.
I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree – in fact, especially when we disagree. The Church’s past statements are on the public record for all to see. In these comments and in our actions, we try to follow what Jesus Christ taught. Our language will always be respectful and acknowledge those who differ, but will also be clear on matters that we feel are of great consequence to our society. Thank you.
*The Divine Institution of Marriage
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-divine-institution-of-marriage