Official Declaration 3: Marriage for All
To Whom It May Concern:
On Saturday April 6th, 2041, at the 211th Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the following was presented by President Ulisses Soares, First Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church:
In January of this year, the First Presidency announced that a revelation had been received by President Gerrit W. Gong extending temple sealings to all worthy couples in the church.
President Gong has asked that I inform today’s conference that this transcendent revelation has been discussed, reviewed, and unanimously confirmed by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The revelation has likewise been presented to all other General Authorities, who universally sustained the revelation.
President Gong has also asked that I read the following letter, after which, the revelation will be presented to the body of the church for a sustaining vote.
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January 16th, 2041
To the children of God upon the Earth and in the Heavens:
Among the first truths God taught Adam after his creation in the garden was that “it is not good for man to be alone”. As I have reflected on the power and simplicity of this basic truth and on the innumerable blessings afforded me within my celestial marriage the thoughts of my mind became intensely focused upon our brothers and sisters to whom these blessings have not be available as result of their God given sexual orientation.
The longstanding counsel and policy that these children of God remain celibate outside of the institution of marriage brought great trouble into my heart and soul insomuch that I became increasingly moved by the Holy Spirit to inquire of the Lord whether the time has come when marriages between any two committed Latter-day Saints may be solemnized in the temple.
While engaged in fasting and prayer within the walls of the Salt Lake Temple, and after much study of both ancient and modern scripture, the living Christ, by whom this church is lead, provided clear revelation that such a time has come.
It is an eternal truth that families are the fundamental building block of human society on both sides of the veil. For many generations biological and cultural realities confined the component parts of a family to a man and woman who married and often brought forth children.
Through the inspiration of loving Heavenly Parents incredible progress has been made in both the biological capacity and the societal acceptance for families of myriad configurations across the world. No longer are we constrained by long held traditions of who can and cannot form and function as family.
By expanding the new and everlasting covenant of marriage to any two worthy individuals the Lord has greatly expanded the capacity of His children to aid Him in His mission “to bring to pass the immorality and eternal life of all men”.
As we welcome our gay brothers and sisters into the sealing rooms of our temples we allow the plan of salvation to reach further into our communities, advance deeper into our hearts, and spread farther across the eternities.
We invite all members of the church and anyone within the sound of our voice to ponder in your hearts the comprehensive love of our Savior and the expansiveness of His gospel, and then to seek your own confirmation that this is the mind and will of the Lord in these His Latter Days.
We declare with exuberance and humility that our Heavenly Parents love all of Their children profoundly, completely, and perfectly. It is Their sincerest desire that each one of Their children who are so desirous be able to enjoy the blessings of eternal companionship.
May God be thanked for this wonderful gift and may we all do our best to affirm the blessing and sanctity of marriage for all our brothers and sisters.
With love and devotion,
Gerrit W. Gong
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With recognition of Gerrit W. Gong as the prophet, seer, and revelator, and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is proposed that we as a solemn assembly of that church accept this revelation as the word and will of the Lord.
All in favor please signify by raising your right hand. Any opposed by the same sign.
The vote to sustain the foregoing motion was unanimous in the affirmative.
Salt Lake City, Utah
April 6, 2041
