“New Mormon edict on gays is a ‘policy,’ experts note, and LDS policies ‘come and go’”
by Peggy Fletcher Stack
Salt Lake Tribune, Nov. 11, 2015

In early November the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a new policy addressing the place of children of same-sex couples in the church. The new policy declared children of gay couples could not receive important Mormon rituals. Even conservative Latter-day Saints were shocked by the announcement. Commenting on the new procedure for the Salt Lake Tribune, Patrick Mason, Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University, commented on how policies are adopted by the church, “”Mormonism has a set of theological principles, which crystallize into particular doctrines, then are implemented and enforced through a series of policies.” A policy “becomes the administrative fleshing out of the church’s doctrines.” Nonetheless, Mason explained that church policies “come and go” stressing that Mormons can disagree with certain policies and still remain faithful members.

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