Church releases statement on Respect for Marriage Act

The statement reaffirms the Church’s desire to preserve religious freedom and the rights of LGBTQ individuals

15 Nov 2022, 3:15 p.m. MST

A silhueta de um pedestre de manhã cedo é vista com o nascer do sol enquanto caminha pelo National Mall e passa pelo prédio do Capitólio dos EUA em Washington na segunda-feira, 7 de novembro de 2022. — An early morning pedestrian is silhouetted against sunrise as he walks through the U.S. Flags on the National Mall and past the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington Monday, Nov. 7, 2022. J. David Ake, Associated Press

The Church released a statement on ChurchofJesusChrist.org Tuesday, Nov. 15, on the defense and maintenance of religious freedom by governments and the preservation of rights of LGBTQ individuals.

“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.

“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. 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.”