Source: Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News
On the 39th anniversary of New York City's Stonewall Riots, which arguably launched the gay rights movement, their church is asking California Mormons to support a proposed constitutional amendment that would recognize only marriages between a man and a woman.

The statement signed by from the top leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) urges California church members to "do all you can" to support a constitutional amendment to recognize only marriages between a man and a woman.

"Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and the formation of families is central to the Creator's plan for his children," the statement says.

The church leaders -- LDS President Thomas S. Monson and his counselors -- call their church's teachings on the subject "unequivocal."

"We are disappointed," said Dave Melson, assistant executive director of Affirmation, a support and advocacy group for Mormon gays, lesbians and their families that has about 2,000 members.

"We had hoped the church would back off and stay on the sidelines of this one."

California law deals only with civil marriage. It does not affect religious rites or institutions.

The statement says the LDS church will participate with a "broad-based coalition of churches and other organizations" to promote the amendment, which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.

Church spokesman Scott Trotter confirmed the authenticity of the statement for Salt Lake Tribune, but declined to comment further. It was published Saturday on the Internet.

According to Salt Lake City's Deseret News, a newspaper owned by the Mormon church, the statement from the First Presidency of the LDS church is scheduled to be read to local California congregations.

"This initiative will hurt so many people," said Olin Thomas, Affirmation's executive director. "Without [gay] marriage, a couple who have been together 30 years could be torn apart at the doorway to the emergency room."

Affirmation's Melson and Thomas will meet with Fred Riley of LDS Family Services and Harold Brown of LDS Social Services on Aug. 11 to discuss the church's political and religious approach to homosexuality.

The LDS Church has been involved in several campaigns to support what it calls "traditional marriage."

In 1998 the church spent $1.1 million to defeat proposals in Hawaii and Alaska, Salt Lake Tribune reports. At the same time, LDS leaders in California urged members to support Proposition 22, a law that defining marriage as between a man and a woman that was struck down as unconstitutional by the May 15 California Supreme Court decision.

In 2006, the LDS church joined a national religious coalition to push an amendment to the US Constitution that would define marriage as between a man and a woman.

The church has issued two previous statements in support of a constitutional amendment on marriage, reports Salt Lake Tribune. Its position is laid out in a 1994 document, "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."

Full article: LDS Church backs proposed California 'one man-one woman' marriage amendment | Salt Lake Tribune
LDS Church officials urge California members to support marriage amendment | Deseret News