Attendees are pictured on the South Lawn of the White House as President Biden signs the RFMA into law on Dec. 13, 2022 in Washington D.C. (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement of celebration after President Joe Biden signed an amended version of the Respect For Marriage Act into law on Tuesday.
The amended, bipartisan law codifies protections for same-sex and interracial marriages. But the law also acknowledges that some Americans hold religious beliefs that are not represented by same-sex and interracial marriages.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Elder Jack N. Gerard was in attendance as Biden signed the act in into law on the South Lawn of the White House.
In a statement, the church offered its thanks and congratulations to those involved in the amended law. The act was previously amended to include religious freedom stipulations.
In its statement, the church reaffirmed its belief that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Despite the protections the law offers to same-sex couples, the statement said, it still respects religious freedom.
“It ensures that religious organizations, religious schools and their employees do not have to perform or host same-sex marriages or celebrations. No law is perfect. But putting such protections in the federal code is a big step forward,” the statement said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ full statement about the Respect for Marriage Act is available online.
Bonneville International Corporation, the company that owns KSL NewsRadio, is a subsidiary of Deseret Management Corporation, which is owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.