(KUTV) Mayor-elect Jackie Biskupski met with LDS church officials Thursday to talk about the city's future and delivered a letter conveying her feelings on the church's recently announced policy on same-sex families.

"I felt it was my responsibility to use this opportunity to express the community's concerns in a respectful manner," she said. "I share in the sadness and confusion that this new policy has caused many in our community -- both members of the church and non-members."

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Biskupski met with Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Also at the meeting was Bishop Gerald Causse, presiding bishop of the church. The meeting was to "discuss the future of Salt Lake City," Biskupski said in a release. She said the church "plays a key role in Salt Lake City's history and in our city's future and I look forward to continuing a relationship of open dialogue."

She said the men were interested in the ways the church can help with "homelessness, air quality and watershed issues."

"We are all looking forward to a much more collaborative effort on long-term economic development opportunities," she said.

She said at the end of the meeting she presented, and Christofferson "graciously accepted" a letter regarding the church's new policy on same-sex families.

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The church, in a handbook distributed to bishops and other local leaders, part of the organization's lay clergy, added same-sex marriage to the definition of apostasy. The policy also excludes children of same-sex couples from membership in the church until they turn 18 and disavow the practice of same-sex cohabitation or marriage, and stop living within the household. Those seeking baptism at that stage would also require permission from the church's First Presidency.

"I share in the sadness and confusion that this new policy has caused many in our community -- both members of the church and non-members. The LDS church has done so much good in promoting the strength of the family and while I strongly believe they are entitled to live in their doctrine, I hope this policy direction will not last long," she said.









