Change in Church Policy on "Lethal Weapons"

One of the recent topics to hit the firearm community is word that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints ("LDS" or "Mormon" Church) has changed its policy on firearms, even rating an article at The Truth About Guns.The TTAG article quotes an AP article stating that the policy was first made known to congregational leaders in Texas, and that "[t]he impetus was a new Texas law that takes effect soon that makes it clearer in state law that licensed handgun holders can carry weapons in churches, synagogues and other houses of worship."

     Per an article from This Week In Mormons, the new policy states:

Churches are dedicated for the worship of God and as havens from the cares and concerns of the world. With the exception of current law enforcement officers, the carrying of lethal weapons on Church property, concealed or otherwise, is prohibited.

The old policy (which appears to have been adopted in 1994--about the time Utah adopted "shall issue" concealed carry license laws) read:

Churches are dedicated for the worship of God and as havens from the cares and concerns of the world. The carrying of lethal weapons, concealed or otherwise, within their walls is inappropriate except as required by officers of the law.

So, the policy has been strengthened from "inappropriate" to "prohibited," and the law enforcement exception has been tightened to "current law enforcement officers." Which should play havoc with church security teams. For instance, I know that there at least two of the "church security" members in my congregation were retired LEOs.

     In any event, according to the AP article quoted by TTAG, the policy was supposed to be shared with congregations in Texas. Nothing has been announced in my congregation and I wouldn't have even known about this other than these news stories.

     I share some of the same feelings as I've seen expressed online about this policy. It is ironic that Brigham Young, who had lived through the persecution the Church received in Missouri and Illinois, warned members to always have firearms at hand. Whereas, after many decades of peace and prosperity, the current leadership (who are protected by security guards) evidently feels that members need not be prepared for violent attack. However, policy is not doctrine, and changes as needed. This is not really all that different from the policy that food cannot be prepared in church house "kitchens," but only heated up, because health code reasons, I guess.

     I was also irritated because it seems yet another policy that signals a lack of trust for the members. But as I calmed down, I realized that this is probably more of what I've noted before--that much of the Church's policy seems driven by its risk management department. And I suspect that the issue isn't the Texas law per se, but the trend of local leaders establishing security teams. Because that might result in the Church being sued if one of these security team members killed or seriously injured someone. And I'm sure that the crack team of lawyers at the McConkie law firm probably believed this was necessary to also make sure that the Church was absolved of any responsibility if any member carrying a weapon (whether on a security team or not) accidentally killed or injured someone because, after all, the Church has made sure that members know that such carrying is verboten.

     But like I said, policy is not doctrine.