Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Sister Wendy Nelson wave to students after a devotional at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. Nelson reaffirmed Tuesday the religion’s opposition to gay marriage by explaining that he and fellow leaders have a duty to teach God’s law that says marriage is restricted to man-woman unions. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)

Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his wife Sister Wendy Nelson wave to students after a devotional at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. Nelson reaffirmed Tuesday the religion’s opposition to gay marriage by explaining that he and fellow leaders have a duty to teach God’s law that says marriage is restricted to man-woman unions. (Jeffrey D. Allred/The Deseret News via AP)

PROVO, Utah (AP) — The leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reaffirmed the religion’s opposition to gay marriage Tuesday, while explaining that leaders lifted a short-lived ban on baptisms for children of gay parents because they felt the “heartache” it caused.

Church president Russell M. Nelson’s remarks in a speech to students at the church-owned Brigham Young University were the most detailed explanation to date of the faith’s surprising move in April to repeal 2015 policies that banned the baptisms and labeled people in same-sex marriages as sinners eligible for expulsion.

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“We knew that this policy created concern and confusion for some and heartache for others,” Nelson said. “That grieved us. Whenever the sons and daughters of God weep, for whatever reasons, we weep.”

Nelson claimed the original policy was motivated by love and a desire to prevent friction between the beliefs of gay parents and their children. Nelson became president last year but was a member of a top governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles when the policy took effect.

Nelson, 95, who is considered a prophet by church members, said the church’s longstanding opposition to gay marriage stems from a belief that he and other leaders must follow God’s law dictates that marriage is restricted to unions between a man and a woman.

He contended that leaders can’t change God’s laws but have the authority to adjust church policy.

The comments marked the latest attempt by the Utah-based faith widely known as the Mormon church to carve out a more empathetic stance toward LGBTQ people while adhering to doctrinal rejection of gay marriage amid widespread societal acceptance.

Critics say the balancing act has led to a confusing push-and-pull of policies that leave LGBTQ members and their allies confused and sometimes distraught. The 2015 policy angered many and led to protests and some defections.

The church considers homosexual relations a sin, forcing gay and lesbian members to avoid intimidate relationships to remain full-fledged members.

Laura Root was a lifelong member of the church until she was kicked out last year for being in a lesbian relationship. She called Nelson’s explanation of the policy and repeal just a few years later illogical.

She believes Nelson that he and leaders love LGBT members but said there is a disconnect.

“Is it loving to say, ’Yeah we love you but we’re not going to give you the freedom to have romantic love in your life?” said Root, a 49-year-old mental health counselor in Boise, Idaho. “It does not feel loving to me. In fact, it feels very cruel.”

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Joe Wheat, a 24-year-old from Corona, California, was among the nearly 19,000 BYU students who packed the basketball arena to listen to Nelson. Wheat said he was happy to hear that a policy that upset his LGBT friends was motivated by love.

“I know it’s really easy to hear about these policy changes and assume the worst,” Wheat said. “More than anything, I felt that everything that is done is really motivated out of love. It’s not meant to tear anybody apart. It’s not meant to hurt anybody.”