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SALT LAKE CITY — It’s a countdown to general conference for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints amid a policy change and growing anticipation for new announcements from the faith’s leader, President Russell M. Nelson.
“It’s exciting,” Brian Lingam, a Latter-day Saint, said. “I hear a lot of talk about changes that might happen.”
Other church members are still trying to catch their breath after several adjustments to the church’s organizations, home teaching program and the length of Sunday services.
“Hoping not too many changes,” University of Utah student and church member Genesis Moreno said, “because I’m still trying to catch up from all the changes that have been going on.”
Adding to the anticipation for Latter-day Saints was Thursday’s announcement that children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender may now be blessed as infants and later baptized as church members.
“Oh wow. Excellent,” church member Julia Kwiatkowski said after hearing the news. “I really — that just really touched me. So glad that’s happened.”
For some, the policy change is too little, too late. Still, it has received praise from church members and critics alike.
“I’m just grateful,” Moreno said. “I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
For now, the focus turns to this weekend, when the fairly calm and quiet area around Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City will be crawling with members from across the globe.
“Never been to Utah. Never been to Salt Lake,” church member Jason Moore said. Moore just finished driving 21 hours from Texas to be in Utah for the church's general conference. “I decided I needed to get out here and see it in person and just feel the experience.”
Related:
Church to allow baptisms, blessings for children of LGBT parents
Children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender may now be blessed as infants and later baptized as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to updates announced Thursday to November 2015 church policies intended at the time to maintain family harmony but perceived as painful among some supporters of the LGBT community.“I’m just really looking forward to seeing the prophet for the first time,” said Kwiatkowski, who traveled from northern California to be in Utah. “I’ve never been to conference before so just the whole energy and everything of it, I’m really looking forward to.”
There are plenty of rumors swirling about what announcements may be coming from President Nelson, but the church would not comment on rumors. So church members will just have to wait and see.
