I was shocked and saddened to hear of the new policy adopted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints concerning the blessing and baptism of the children of same-sex couples. The pain experienced by LGBT members of the Church is excruciating. It is only made worse by policies that end up dividing families rather than uniting them. Aside from the children of polygamists, the offspring of murderers, adulterers, drug addicts, and others who are not leading lives in accordance with church teachings are allowed to receive a blessing and join the Church at age 8. Why single LGBT families out? It seems hypocritical, to say the very least. Sadness soon turned to disgust when I opened Facebook and came upon a post written by a relative defending the Church's decision. One of the responses really infuriated me. The commenter, also a relative, wrote, "I have had to laugh at all who don't even have a dog In this comment and spread lie after lie. Like why do they even care????" So, basically, unless yourself or someone in your immediate circle of family and friends is personally affected, you shouldn't even care about the countless families that are being/going to be harmed by this policy. You've got to be kidding me! One of the great responsibilities we have in this life is to love and serve others. It is both a privilege and a blessing. Love is, in many ways, the quintessence of the gospel. Let us not forget John 13:34: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." At General Conference in October 1985, Elder Loren C. Dunn of the First Quorum of the Seventy said it best: "We teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a gospel of salvation and exaltation. It is a gospel of love—love of God and love of fellowmen." One of the ways we show love to our fellow brothers and sisters is caring about their welfare. Sometimes it's a sibling. Other times it's a child. Or perhaps it might be a stranger you run into on the street. When others fall, we should be there to help lift them up. As we move forward and try to come to terms with this latest development, let us reach out to LGBT Mormons with love and understanding, not indifference or derision.