Dear Missionaries,
Last Wednesday, I received notice from the Church regarding
Ordinances for Children of a Parent Living in a Same-Gender Relationship that
we all need to be aware of.
"A natural or adopted child of a parent living in a
same-gender relationship, whether the couple is married or cohabiting, may not
receive a name and a blessing.
A natural or adopted child of a parent living in a same-gender
relationship, whether the couple is married or cohabiting, may be baptized and
confirmed, ordained, or recommended for missionary service only as follows:
A mission president or a stake
president may request approval from the Office of the First Presidency to
baptize and confirm, ordain, or recommend missionary service for a child of a
parent who has lived or is living in a same-gender relationship when he is
satisfied by personal interviews that both of the following requirements are
met:
1. The child accepts and is
committed to live the teachings and doctrine of the Church, and
specifically disavows the practice of same-gender
cohabitation and marriage.
2. The child is of legal age and
does not live with a parent who has lived or currently lives in a same-gender
cohabitation relationship or marriage.
There may be some members or non-members who will not understand
why this is so. Please take the time to read The Family: A Proclamation
to the World this week. Study it. Pray about it. We will have
the opportunity to discuss this in the next couple of weeks. If you have
personal concerns or questions regarding this, please let me know in your
letters.
I know that this bold move is of the Lord to protect the family
as ordained of God. I am so grateful for the blessings of life that
Sister Felix and I have received as being an eternal family. I have a
testimony that we are led by a prophet of God who with the full support of the
other 14 prophets, seers and revelators of the First Presidency and Quorum of
the 12 Apostles has shared with the world is the Lord's will. This is the
Lord's work and we are blessed to be serving together at this time.
With charity and love of all,
President Felix
No comments:
Post a Comment