We don’t condemn gays —Latter-Day Saints

Public affairs specialist of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints, Elder Bruce Louthan, says the church is against homophobia targeting gays and lesbians although it does not support homosexual acts.

Louthan, who is based in Zambia, said this last week when he addressed journalists during a media orientation workshop held in Blantyre.

He said his church is against homosexuality, but would not judge and condemn those practising it as doing so is a sin before God.

“We don’t condemn such people, we only help them realise the will of God for them. Thus, when we have members who are confirmed gays and lesbians, as a church we only guide them to the love and will of God because those people know homosexuality is a sin, but are doing it because of their own reasons,” said Louthan.

During the orientation, the church unveiled a number of development projects aimed at contributing towards the socio-economic transformation of the country.

District president Peter Chinyumba disclosed that the church will take different approaches in implementing the projects to ensure that more people are reached with their services.

Chinyumba said establishment of an Employment Resource Centre will be the church’s first project and will provide free printing, Internet and computer services to jobless youths in need of employment.

“This project may start any time in May depending on how fast the computers are shipped into the country. The centre will be open to the general public, providing services such as typing and printing of CVs, Internet and phone calls. All these services will be provided for free because the idea is to help the country nurture responsible citizens through the youths,” he said.

According to Chinyumba, the church will use tithes and special collections to fund the operations of the centre.

The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints does not collect Sunday offerings as is the case in other churches.

The church will also roll out the Clean Water Project in Blantyre to help low-income earners to access safe and clean water.

The project is currently benefitting hundreds of people in Mchinji where the faith group first implemented it.

“Then we have a childcare initiative called Help Babies to Breathe. This project will be implemented in Blantyre at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and Chiradzulu District Hospital. And finally for this year, we will donate wheelchairs to government [through Kachere Rehabilitation Centre].”