LDS Church Position on LGBTQ+ Relationships and Marriage

LDS Perspective

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and is central to His eternal plan for the destiny of His children. This doctrine is authoritatively declared in "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," which states that "marriage between a man and a woman is essential to His eternal plan" and that "the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." The Church maintains that sexual relations are reserved for marriage and that gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose, established by divine design. The Church distinguishes between same-sex attraction and behavior. While experiencing such feelings

Historical Perspective

The LDS Church's position on LGBTQ+ relationships has evolved through distinct policy phases while maintaining consistent theological opposition to same-sex marriage. Historically, the Church exerted significant pressure on homosexual members to enter heterosexual marriages as a therapeutic solution. A 1994 survey of 136 LDS homosexual individuals found that 36 had attempted marriage, with an average duration of nine years, yet only two remained married. This pattern persisted despite official cautions from President Gordon B. Hinckley and Elder Dallin H. Oaks that "marriage should not be viewed as a therapeutic step to solve problems such as homosexual inclinations." Organizations like Evergreen promoted conversion therapy and the notion that individuals could "transition out of homosexua