Are Mormons becoming more accepting of LGBTQ life?! Well, not exactly, but things are looking up a little with this recent update.
The Mormon Church is getting ready to update its genealogical database to allow the submissions of names of people in same-sex relationships, according to the Columbian.
The Mormon Church’s genealogical database, called Family Search, is used to search for genealogy, for church members to record changes such as marriage or death, and to request church services.
In April, the website released a statement saying that several of its systems will be redesigned to expand its functions. This wish to expand was initially announced in 2015, but this statement announced that it's finally being worked on and will be completed sometime in 2019.
“The goal of FamilySearch.org is to capture, store, and provide records and an accurate genealogy that represents past, present, and future families of the world,” the statement said. “To support this goal, same-sex relationships, including same-sex parents and same-sex couples, will be provided in FamilySearch Family Tree.”
It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean the Mormon church will suddenly start approving of same-sex relationships or parenting. Instead, it’s more like the Mormon Church is willing to acknowledge same-sex couples in order to have accurate records.
“No judgments are made as to the legitimacy or character of the relationships found in these public records, nor can they be,” church spokeswoman Irene Caso said in a statement. “They are simply collections of data to be assessed for their genealogical value by each researcher.”
In addition, some functions on the website will not be accessible to same-sex couples such as requests for temple sealings for ancestors.
This is just another way that the Mormon Church has tried to appeal sympathetic towards LGBTQ people while still condemning the act of homosexuality.
Again, the FamilySearch update is expected to be completed in 2019.
h/t: The Columbian
