Mormon Church Changes L.G.B.T. Policy, but Those Who Left Say This Isn’t Enough

The news Thursday that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will now allow children of same-sex couples to be baptized led to a robust discussion on our site among church members, long known as Mormons, and those who grew up in the church but have since left.

Some inside the church praised the decision, which reversed a former policy, and the ability of its leaders to evolve their thinking on social issues.

But dozens more readers who were raised in the church but had left it over its positions on L.G.B.T. issues said the announcement wasn’t enough to bring them back. Some said it felt like the change was little more than a publicity effort aimed at finding new paying members.

Here is a selection of their responses, which have been lightly edited for clarity.

A positive step forward

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I support this change and am happy to hear of it. I know many people struggled with the prior policy and although I think it came from a desire to avoid placing young children in conflict with their parents on doctrinal matters, this is probably a better, more flexible way forward.


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