Hawaii leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraging members to urge state lawmakers to exempt the church from any potential obligation tied to the proposed marriage equity bill.
LDS spokesman Owen H. Matsunaga, also president of the Mililani Stake, said members have expressed concern that the proposed legislation could "redefine marriage." The bill is slated to be considered in a special legislative session set for Oct. 28.
Matsunaga told the Star-Advertiser in an email, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken a consistent position on the importance of traditional marriage as well as the necessity of protecting religious freedoms when they are in danger of being diminished."
Matsunaga continued, "Local stake presidents in Hawaii (of which I am one) had a letter read in local Priesthood and Relief Society meetings recently, encouraging our members to prayerfully study these issues and to consider contacting their elected officials as private citizens and have their voices be heard as the debate moves forward."
Dated Sept. 14, the letter was jointly written by local leaders.
The push for marriage equity in the state increased following a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in June that enabled legally married gay couples to receive federal benefits. Currently, same-sex couples in Hawaii can enter into civil unions and receive the same rights and benefits as marriage under state law but are not entitled to federal benefits.
In the LDS letter, sent to 15 stakes or districts in Hawaii, the church leaders said: "Whether or not you favor the proposed change, we hope that you will urge your elected representatives to include in any such legislation a strong exemption for people and organizations of faith. Such an exemption should:
» Protect religious organizations and officials from being required to support or perform same-sex marriages or from having to host same-sex marriages or celebrations in their facilities; and
» Protect individuals and small businesses from being required to assist in promoting or celebrating same-sex marriages.
"This is an important issue. As your stake presidency, we urge every family to discuss this issue together and then respond as you feel appropriate."
The letter also suggested that members consider donating their time or resources to one of the community organizations involved in the issue, and to review an article, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," and other Mormon publications at lds.org.
The article contains the proclamation read by the late LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1995 in Salt Lake City, which reads, "We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife."
