This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I was tempted to lead into this series of links with the old saw, "Presented without comment."

Except the act of presenting them is a comment.

And, as of about 2 p.m. Friday, the Tribune story has more than 4,000 comments.

— New Mormon policy makes apostates of married same-sex couples, bars children from rites — Jennifer Dobner | The Salt Lake Tribune

"Mormons who enter into same-sex unions will be considered apostates under new church policies, and their children will be barred from blessing and baptism rituals without the permission of the faith's highest leaders.

"The policies are part of 'Handbook 1,' a guide for lay leaders of the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The changes were leaked to the public via social media Thursday.

"Blogger and podcaster John Dehlin, who was excommunicated from the LDS Church earlier this year for apostasy, posted the documents on Facebook, triggering strong, sometimes angry responses — including 'outrageous,' 'repulsive' and 'anti-family' — from people in and out of the church. Dehlin, of Logan, called the policies 'harmful' and stunning, given recent efforts by the LDS Church to build bridges with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. ..."

— Tell the Tribune: What do Mormons think about the LDS Church's new policy on same-sex couples and their children? — The Salt Lake Tribune/Utah Public Radio

— Mass Resignation from Mormonism Event — via Facebook

Saturday, Nov. 14, 1 p.m., City Creek Park

— Mormons becoming even more Republican, more accepting of gays, sweeping religious study shows — Peggy Fletcher Stack | The Salt Lake Tribune [Nov. 2]

— Decision to Ban Children of Same-Sex Couples From Getting Baptized — Cathy Free | People magazine

" ... The move will marginalize children and set them up to be outcasts in the community, says Weston Clark, 36, a former Mormon from Salt Lake City who is now a stay-at-home dad to Xander, 5, and Zoe, 1, and is married to Brandon Mark, an attorney.

" 'I want to be able to be a good and civil neighbor to the LDS community,' Clark tells PEOPLE, 'but it is becoming increasingly difficult when we have to constantly defend our own children from hatred and marginalization. Their ongoing bullying begs us to fight back. Not doing so shows us to be the poor parents the LDS Church believes us to be, while standing up for our children against their harmful bigotry proves us to be the amazing parents we are'...."

— U.S. Public Becoming Less Religious — Pew Research Center

— Are Religious Children More Selfish? — Rachel E. Gross | Slate

— Mormon Rule Changes Aimed at Gays Send Advocates Reeling — AP | New York Times

" ... the revisions triggered a wave of anger, confusion and sadness for a growing faction of LGBT-supportive Mormons who had been buoyed in recent years by church leaders' calls for more compassion and understanding for LGBT members. ..."

— Mormon Church to Declare Gay People—and Their Children—Apostates — June Thomas | Slate

" ... As a gentile, it isn't my place to criticize Mormon doctrine. But as a human, it's hard to understand why any denomination would feel the need to use its spiritual influence to encourage children to reject their parents."

— Mormon Church makes same-sex couples apostates, excludes children from blessings and baptism — The Washington Post

— The Mormon church just took another step to exclude LGBT people — Nidhi Prakash | Fusion