He attacks the Prophet for decrying the ways of the world. However, the ways of the world and the ways of the gospel are not compatible. What is wrong will always be wrong no matter how popular the behavior is and what is right will always be right no matter how few live the principles.

If Mr. Burns cared to read his Bible, he would quickly see that homosexuality is condemned in both the Old and the New Testaments as an abomination before God. I don’t know why, but if the Savior is intelligent enough to create the heaves and the Earth, he clearly has a good reason and we will learn what it is when we meet him on the other side.

I know people who identify as gay and I support their right to live as the please. I support their right to employment and to live where they choose. However, while the government accepts same-sex marriage, those marriages cannot ever be solemnized in a Latter-day Saint Temple or meeting house. There are people who demand the separation of church and state and the same principle applies here. The state can do as it wishes and the church can do likewise.

Mr. Burns claims that many millennial and Gen-z members prefer to embrace the ways of the world. If so, that is their folly.

Finally, Mr. Burns, the church never marginalizes anyone. All are free to worship where, how, who or what they may. If someone is not happy with our teachings, they are free to go elsewhere. In his final paragraph he challenges LDS leaders and members to … move toward a more inclusive and unifying perspective of their relationship with broader culture and society.

No way, Mr. Burns. The ways of the world are to be avoided.

As a final thought, I have spent much of my life around non-LDS church members and always was thankful for their friendship. I never acted “exclusion” and accepted others as equals. I also encouraged my children to accept others as long as they respected our beliefs as well. I know there are those who ostracize family members for “coming out” but such conduct takes place in many other churches as well.

I believe Mr. Burns needs to take his criticism elsewhere. It is not applicable here.

Neil Mitchell, Provo