Updated October 25, 2019

Update Regarding Opposition to Utah Psychologist Licensing Act Rule.

In response to the many stories inaccurately reported by the media that do not reflect the Church’s position, Marty Stephens, director of government and community relations, gave the following clarification:“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opposes ‘conversion therapy’ and our therapists do not practice it.”This clarification is the latest in a series of statements on the topic. The most recent statement —released October 15, 2019 — that opposes the proposed Utah Psychologist Licensing Act provided these Family Services notes:

Family Services has a longstanding and express policy against using therapies that seek to ‘repair,’ ‘convert,’ or ‘change’ sexual orientation, such as from homosexual to heterosexual. Research demonstrates that electric shock, aversion and other analogous therapies are [ineffective] and harmful to youth who experience same-sex attraction. Those, including youth, who seek therapies that constitute sexual orientation change efforts will not receive them from Family Services counselors.

February 2019

Statement as Utah Legislature Introduced House Bill 399

“The Church denounces any therapy, including conversion and reparative therapies, that subject an individual to abusive practices, not only in Utah, but throughout the world.”

March 2016 First Presidency Statement

“The Church denounces any therapy that subjects an individual to abusive practices.”