The Church of Latter Day Saints this evening issued a statement at hearings on an ordinance that would extend housing and employment protections to gays and lesbians in Salt Lake City.

Watch a news report on the vote, AFTER THE JUMP…

The endorsement combined with passionate debate from citizens prompted the Salt Lake City Council to go ahead and vote on the ordinance, which they hadn't planned to do. The Council voted unanimously to approve it:

"Passage made Salt Lake City the first Utah community to prohibitbias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the two newordinances, it is illegal to fire someone from their job or evictsomeone from their residence because they are lesbian, bisexual, gay ortransgender. Utah lawmakers tend to quickly fall in line when theinfluential church makes a rare foray into legislative politics. SoTuesday's action could have broad reaching effects in this highlyconservative state where more than 80 percent of lawmakers and thegovernor are church members. 'What happened here tonight I dobelieve is a historic event,' said Brandie Balken, director of the gayrights advocacy group Equality Utah. 'I think it establishes that wecan stand together on common ground that we don't have to agree oneverything, but there are lot of things that we can work on and beallies.'"

Here's the text of the Mormon statement, delivered by Michael Otterson, managing director of the LDS Church's Public Affairs at tonight's hearings:

"My name is Michael Otterson, and I am here tonight officiallyrepresenting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Thenon-discrimination ordinance being reviewed by the City Councilconcerns important questions for the thoughtful people of thiscommunity.

"Likemost of America, our community in Salt Lake City is comprised ofcitizens of different faiths and values, different races and cultures,different political views and divergent demographics. Across Americaand around the world, diverse communities such as ours are wrestlingwith complex social and moral questions. People often feel stronglyabout such issues. Sometimes they feel so strongly that the ways inwhich they relate to one another seem to strain the fabric of oursociety, especially where the interests of one group seem to collidewith the interests of another.

"The issue before you tonight is the right of people to have a roofover their heads and the right to work without being discriminatedagainst. But, importantly, the ordinance also attempts to balance vitalissues of religious freedom. In essence, the Church agrees with theapproach which Mayor Becker is taking on this matter.

"Indrafting this ordinance, the city has granted common-sense rights thatshould be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rightsof religious organizations, for example, in their hiring of peoplewhose lives are in harmony with their tenets, or when providing housingfor their university students and others that preserve religiousrequirements.

"TheChurch supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable anddoes not do violence to the institution of marriage. It is alsoentirely consistent with the Church's prior position on these matters.The Church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrockfoundation of marriage between a man and a woman.

"Irepresent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating otherswith respect even when we disagree – in fact, especially when wedisagree. The Church's past statements are on the public record for allto see. In these comments and in our actions, we try to follow whatJesus Christ taught. Our language will always be respectful andacknowledge those who differ, but will also be clear on matters that wefeel are of great consequence to our society.

"Thank you."

The gay and lesbian Mormon group Affirmation praised the church's actions. Said Affirmation Assistant Executive Director Micah Bisson: "We pray that the words spoken tonight are to be followed up with positive action. It is time to eliminate the heavy-handed church actions to defeat marriage equality and protections for transgender people. When LDS officials arrest gay people for public affection on Temple Square, we need to realize that all Mormons, and the LDS church itself, look small-minded to people who are outside the tradition."

Earlier today, the filmmakers behind 8: The Mormon Proposition said that MittRomney saw their film and put pressure on the LDS Church to "extend anolive branch to the gay community to try and deflate the anticipatednegative press" that would come from its release, over concern with an anticipated 2012 Presidential campaign.

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Earlier…

The Salt Lake City Council is holding public hearings this evening on an ordinance involving housing and employment protections for gay and lesbian residents, the Deseret News reports:

"The public can comment Tuesday during a Salt Lake City Councilhearing on the ordinances, believed to be the first of their kind inUtah. The ordinances would make it illegal to fire or evict someonebecause of their sexuality. 'Forthe capital city to take this step is huge,' said Will Carlson,public-policy director for the gay and lesbian advocacy group EqualityUtah. 'It would send a message, not only to residents, but across thecountry.' Theordinances would establish a process within the city for tenants andemployees to file discrimination complaints based on sexual orientation."

Towleroad has heard from several sources that representatives from the Church of Latter Day Saints are going to attend the hearings and have a "monumental" announcement to make — which we've heard may be an endorsement of the ordinance.

Watch a news report on the vote, AFTER THE JUMP…