This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
While the LDS Church battles against marriage equality, its smaller cousin, the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized LDS Church), North American Conference, and other national conferences, have voted that our priesthood members may perform same-sex marriages in states or countries where it is legal, and that sexual orientation will no longer be a barrier to ordination.
Also, we began ordaining women in 1986. Today, Becky Savage is a counselor to the president, and five of the 12 Apostles are women. We recognize that LGBT equality is not yet possible in some cultures, and allow national conferences to set their own rules. But our leadership has been patiently and lovingly moving us away from discrimination and toward embracing "unity within diversity" as a fundamental value.
We encourage the LDS leadership to choose likewise. It is the loving and Jesus-like thing to do.
Bob Mesle
Lamoni, Iowa