A basic Doctrine of the Gospel is our Father in Heaven’s commitment to Free Agency. He will never via conversion therapy, brainwashing or in any other domineering manner force us to discard our freedom to decide for ourselves issues of personal identity, feelings, actions and our “Eternal Destiny.” He will offer truth and loving persuasion, but never force the human mind (Hymn #240, “Know this that every Soul is Free”). Our Father in Heaven expects the same of his children. The only exception is when the Lord dictates the only path to preserve freedom to personally choose our beliefs is to meet forceful efforts to enslave with force to defend freedom to choose. This does not mean burning down the courthouse because one does not like a judge’s decision nor the church because one does not agree with the pastor’s preaching.

Consider the possibilities promised in Romans 8: 16-17: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” As Christ is “heir to all the Father has,” that is also our possible inheritance. To follow or not follow the path our Father in Heaven outlined, which only through Christ can lead to this inheritance, is our free, God-protected choice. That God will allow all of us to personally exercise our free agency and choose our own desired goals, rather than force us to be what He hopes we will be, is Doctrine.

Keith also seems to confuse the difference in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints between policies/traditions/practices and Official Doctrine.

Traditions, practices and policies are both formally and informally developed. They can and do change for a wide variety of reasons. These variable elements can be and are in some cases abused and mistakenly advanced as Doctrinal beliefs when they are not.

Doctrine represents Eternal Truths that do not change. Doctrine is announced by unanimous consent of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, usually sustained by a vote of church membership and either codified as scripture or proclamation clearly stated as official doctrine. As historically modeled and recorded in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, there is ongoing Revelation regarding additional Eternal Truths, Doctrines or specific directives provided when needed as we are led by our Father in Heaven “line upon line and precept upon precept” as new challenges arise.

As with all faiths, some Latter-day Saints meet the expectations of Doctrine and Practices as taught; some do not. Some of us place private interpretations either exorbitantly expansive or ridiculously restrictive. In truth, we all fall short.

Some Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Doctrines related to this issue:

• Doctrine states members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are to be fair, polite, loving, kind and respectful of all mankind who are literally our brothers and sisters, regardless of race, color, creed, personal sexual preferences, political beliefs, etc. This is partially stated in the 11th Article of Faith: “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” If group 1 does not believe or agree with any set of beliefs in group 2, they should not seek to force group 2 to change what they accept as Divine. Reciprocity demands group 2 should not try to force group 1 to change their beliefs. Elucidating discussion is welcome. Coercion is not.
• The nature of our Father and Mother in Heaven as parents of our Spirits is Doctrine.
• Our Heavenly Parents’ love all of their Children fully and completely, no matter how they identify sexually or any other way, is Doctrine.
• Our Heavenly Parents’ and our Savior’s constant love for us, even when we are weak, disobedient, make mistakes or are outright rebellious, is Doctrine.
• That our Heavenly Parents and our Savior, just like most Earthly parents, want us, their children, to reach their full potential but will not force us to do so, is Doctrine.
• Doctrine is Our Father in Heaven established commandments with attendant blessings that come only from obedience to those commandments, which create a “narrow path and strait gate,” not a meandering 10-lane freeway with a massive gaping gate to accommodate everyone’s opinion and approach.
• It is Doctrine that no man or group of men can change rules which are divinely directed, no matter their level of sincere concern. What is decreed in Heaven has often been decried on Earth as there is often a significant difference between eternal and mortal perspectives.
• That everyone will have the opportunity to experience Exaltation and return to the presence of their Heavenly Parents and live with their Earthly Family if they choose is Doctrine.
• It is Doctrine that those who experience the Highest Level of Exaltation will have the opportunity to do everything our Heavenly Parents do.
• There is no Doctrine but many opinions as to exactly how this will be implemented. However, the promise is: Everyone will end up where they sincerely desire to be, doing what they truly desire to do, associating with those whom they honestly desire to associate, close to those where they sincerely feel most comfortable. This is the epitome of Free Agency.

Some non-Doctrinal traditions, policies and practices implemented at times by some Church education officials, leaders, and members are addressed below.

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints members’, educators’, leaders’ etc. “practices” addressing individuals with LGBTQ2S+ identity and orientations have changed as science, knowledge and understanding have increased, not due to societal pressure. Regarding this issue, as with virtually all human conditions and behaviors from the need for surgical sanitation to Newton’s Law of Gravity, erroneous theories, disproven mores and assumptions regarding causality and attendant “curative” practices have been discarded as accurate cognizance increased. None of the practices mentioned by Burns regarding intervention in gender identity were ever Doctrine.
• There is no Doctrine as to why individuals on Earth identify with any sexual identity or orientation different than their assigned birth identity or how this will be addressed in the eternities.
• Burns apparently does not know or just disregards the terms Mormon and Mormonism are nicknames which the Church respectfully requests not be used.

Any conclusions or actions advanced around any element that is not “Official Revealed Doctrine” is just opinion and should be carefully considered as such.

In the end and through the eternities, all items we do not fully or even partially understand in this mortal state, including issues surrounding gender roles, disabilities, unfairness of birth circumstance, etc. will be completely understood on an individual basis. All concerns will be addressed. All who have ever lived in this mortal state will recognize, accept and rejoice in the just and benevolent way things are sorted out. The Lord has promised all things will work for our good as described in Romans 8:28.

Brother Burns, I hope this helps you understand that is the way it is in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Grant Protzman, Ed.D., is a longtime gospel doctrine teacher in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.