Mormons are working to combine their faith with gay rights

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Mormon church leaders are calling for a “balanced approach” in the clash between gay rights and religious freedom.

The church is promising to support some housing and job protections for gays and lesbians in exchange for legal protections for believers who object to the behavior of others.

It’s not clear how much common ground Mormons will find with this new campaign. The church insists it still opposes gay marriage and believes that sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman violates God’s law.

But Mormon leaders who held a rare news conference Jan. 27 said, “we must all learn to live with others who do not share the same beliefs or values.”