Photo Credit: Scott Jarvie
According to a report by KUTV news, the LDS church has clarified to its leaders that being in a same-sex marriage is considered a form of apostasy by revising the definition of “apostasy” in the church’s handbook.
A church spokesperson from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed to KUTV that the updated definition of apostasy was indeed accurate and will be published in Handbook #1 as it is commonly known, which is used as a guide for administering in the church.
Below is the updated definition posted on image-sharing website Imgur and was later confirmed by the spokesperson of the church.
“Church handbooks are policy and procedural guides for lay leaders who must administer the Church in many varied circumstances throughout the world. The Church has long been on record as opposing same-sex marriages,” wrote LDS Church spokesman Eric Hawkins in a statement to 2News Thursday afternoon. “While it respects the law of the land, and acknowledges the right of others to think and act differently, it does not perform or accept same-sex marriage within its membership.”