Benjamin R. Hertzberg, Ph.D., is visiting professor of political science at Emory University. He taught political theory and philosophy at the LDS Church's Brigham Young University during the 2013-14 and 2014-15 academic years and serves as Second Counselor in the Bishopric of Atlanta area ward in Georgia. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his.

(CNN) Sometimes in the history of a religion there are moments of decision — events that set the course of the group for generations. Today, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) are living through such a moment.

Last week, the governing council of the church, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — men Mormons sustain as "prophets, seers, and revelators" — announced a policy change that forbids the children of married or cohabiting LGBTQ couples from participating in any church ordinances, including the naming and blessing children receive just after birth, baptism (which Mormons normally perform at age 8), and ordination to the "Aaronic Priesthood" (which is a rite of passage for Mormon boys performed at age 12).

Children of LGBTQ couples may only participate in these ordinances after they have reached the legal age of maturity in their country, expressly disavowed their LGBTQ parent(s)' relationship, and no longer reside in their LGBTQ parent(s)' home (or receive a special exemption directly from the First Presidency themselves).

In an interview given after someone leaked the policy change to the national press, Elder D. Todd Christofferson (one of the LDS Church's Twelve Apostles) claimed the policy change is designed to protect LGBTQ families from the inevitable strife that would come from their children joining Mormon congregations. Those congregations would teach the children that God condemns their parents' relationship.

The life and home that Brooks has created with her husband are the result of a complicated journey. Like her ancestors who struggled before her, she fights for her faith. And she's at peace with her purpose.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – The life and home that Brooks has created with her husband are the result of a complicated journey. Like her ancestors who struggled before her, she fights for her faith. And she's at peace with her purpose.

As a young activist, Brooks watched her beloved church crack down on -- and even excommunicate -- her intellectual heroes. Today, she trusts that times are changing and that she can speak up without being cast into the wilderness.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – As a young activist, Brooks watched her beloved church crack down on -- and even excommunicate -- her intellectual heroes. Today, she trusts that times are changing and that she can speak up without being cast into the wilderness.

Brooks has emerged as an accidental and unofficial voice of Mormonism, all while serving as a full-time faculty member at San Diego State University. Her work ethic and ability to do so much at once don't surprise those who know her.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks has emerged as an accidental and unofficial voice of Mormonism, all while serving as a full-time faculty member at San Diego State University. Her work ethic and ability to do so much at once don't surprise those who know her.

She speaks openly about issues that many in the church wish she'd avoid. But Brooks is committed to being her authentic self. She refuses "to be ashamed of being Mormon" or of holding beliefs that don't mirror expectations.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – She speaks openly about issues that many in the church wish she'd avoid. But Brooks is committed to being her authentic self. She refuses "to be ashamed of being Mormon" or of holding beliefs that don't mirror expectations.

Brooks recently self-published her memoir, "The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith." Writing it allowed her to heal from past hurts she's felt as a Mormon and will someday help her daughters better understand their mother.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks recently self-published her memoir, "The Book of Mormon Girl: Stories from an American Faith." Writing it allowed her to heal from past hurts she's felt as a Mormon and will someday help her daughters better understand their mother.

With Mitt Romney's presidential bid, curious eyes are trained on Mormonism. Brooks, an Obama supporter and longtime gay rights activist, hopes people emerge from this election cycle more educated about and accepting of others.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – With Mitt Romney's presidential bid, curious eyes are trained on Mormonism. Brooks, an Obama supporter and longtime gay rights activist, hopes people emerge from this election cycle more educated about and accepting of others.

Brooks and Kamper are professors and department chairs at San Diego State University -- she in English and comparative literature, he in American Indian studies. At night, in their home office, she does her research and blogging.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks and Kamper are professors and department chairs at San Diego State University -- she in English and comparative literature, he in American Indian studies. At night, in their home office, she does her research and blogging.

Scattered on the family refrigerator are signs of this household's spirit. Among the magnets are some from the Feminist Mormon Housewives blog, including one that says, "Jesus loves us. Who cares what you think?"

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Scattered on the family refrigerator are signs of this household's spirit. Among the magnets are some from the Feminist Mormon Housewives blog, including one that says, "Jesus loves us. Who cares what you think?"

Brooks met her husband at a union party for teaching assistants when they were in graduate school. She honors his Judaism, has never asked him to convert, and her acceptance has helped him get over what they call his "Jesus allergy."

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks met her husband at a union party for teaching assistants when they were in graduate school. She honors his Judaism, has never asked him to convert, and her acceptance has helped him get over what they call his "Jesus allergy."

The Book of Mormon and a study guide sit among sections of The New York Times. Brooks is on a mission to humanize her often misunderstood faith and doesn't hold back in responding to editorials she views as unfair.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – The Book of Mormon and a study guide sit among sections of The New York Times. Brooks is on a mission to humanize her often misunderstood faith and doesn't hold back in responding to editorials she views as unfair.

Rosa helps out in the kitchen, stirring the ingredients for pancakes. When her daughters are old enough, Brooks says, they will choose the religious path they want to walk. She's not worried about them because "God has a plan for everyone."

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Rosa helps out in the kitchen, stirring the ingredients for pancakes. When her daughters are old enough, Brooks says, they will choose the religious path they want to walk. She's not worried about them because "God has a plan for everyone."

Rosa, 6, opens a large cabinet in the family's garage to reveal stockpiles of food, which could feed the family for up to nine months, Brooks says. The LDS Church recommends food storage in case of disasters.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Rosa, 6, opens a large cabinet in the family's garage to reveal stockpiles of food, which could feed the family for up to nine months, Brooks says. The LDS Church recommends food storage in case of disasters.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Ella, 8, wears her mother's bonnet while sitting in the driver's seat of a covered wagon at a historic site celebrating Mormon contributions to early San Diego history.

Each night at dinner, daughters Ella, left, and Rosa, right, recite prayers for Brooks and her Jewish husband, David Kamper. Sometimes the girls are inspired by their Mormonism; other times by their Judaism.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Each night at dinner, daughters Ella, left, and Rosa, right, recite prayers for Brooks and her Jewish husband, David Kamper. Sometimes the girls are inspired by their Mormonism; other times by their Judaism.

Brooks, a descendant of Mormon pioneers who struggled, is inspired by her heritage. She attends events like the annual Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day in San Diego to honor those who walked before her.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Brooks, a descendant of Mormon pioneers who struggled, is inspired by her heritage. She attends events like the annual Mormon Battalion Commemoration Day in San Diego to honor those who walked before her.

Joanna Brooks, a faithful Mormon, believes there's room in her church for loving criticism. For 10 years, she turned away from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But now she's back, writing and blogging about a religion and people she couldn't love more.

Keeping the faith, daring to be different – Joanna Brooks, a faithful Mormon, believes there's room in her church for loving criticism. For 10 years, she turned away from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But now she's back, writing and blogging about a religion and people she couldn't love more.

The justification is disingenuous: The vast majority of children the new policy affects come from failed, mixed-orientation Mormon marriages (those between a straight and an LGBTQ partner). In many cases, the LGBTQ parent(s) are connected to the church and identify as Mormon, support their children's involvement with the church, and have even planned to pay or already paid for their children to serve as Mormon missionaries.

Rather than protecting LGBTQ families, the policy change drives the adult children of LGBTQ parents from their families and severs the minor children from congregations they love and that love them and are their main source of social and communal support.

The new policy contradicts basic Christian teachings and core Mormon theological principles. Jesus said: "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not" (Luke 18:16). The church's second article of faith reads, "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins." We, sinners all, require access to Jesus' grace to be forgiven: access Mormons believe is granted through the very ordinances the new policy forbids the children of LGBTQ parents from receiving.

Mormons must decide how they will respond to an official church policy, authorized by men they believe speak for God, that so plainly departs from their deepest religious principles.

One choice is to accept the disingenuous justification their religious authorities have offered and attempt to explain away the obvious theological contradictions. Mormons unfortunately have considerable experience doing this.

Most notoriously, they spun a racist and odious mythological explanation for the church's policy (it shared the same name) of banning black men from priesthood ordination. (A policy that lasted until 1978.) But the consequences of this choice are severe: They must deal with the corrupting influence the justifying stories they tell will have on the way generations of future Mormons understand their religion.

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Alternatively, Mormons can loudly and publicly object to the policy and demand its immediate retraction.

This choice also has costs. Mormons have, since the crucible of the 19th century polygamy persecutions led them to return to monogamy, believed that their "prophets, seers, and revelators" are more-or-less infallible, that they "cannot" lead the church astray. When Mormons publicly criticize a church policy that comes directly from these men, the church and their LDS friends and neighbors may ostracize them.

For me, however, the choice is clear: I must loudly and publicly dissent. The new policy must go.

When I read Mormon scripture, I see no justification for the authoritarian subservience so prominent in contemporary Mormon culture. Instead, I see stories that, again and again, teach me the value of acting on my moral convictions. I read Joseph Smith's own stirring words about the proper use of priesthood authority: "When we ... exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved, and when it is withdrawn, Amen [the end] to the priesthood or the authority of that man" (Doctrine & Covenants 121:37).

Mormons use the word " sustain " to communicate their support of those in ecclesiastical authority. Some will think that by publicly dissenting from the new policy I am not sustaining the First Presidency and the Twelve. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I dissent because I love Mormonism, and I cannot bear to see its leaders cause so much unnecessary suffering and harm. I dissent because obedience now costs too much, to my moral integrity, to the church, and to the families of Mormons whom I love.

Church discipline or excommunication is a consequence I am prepared to accept. Not because I want to leave — I pray that I can stay. But because in a moment like this, my Mormonism will not let me do otherwise.