Most members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints already knew they were discouraged from taking their guns to church on Sunday, but the church is making sure that message is crystal clear by tweaking the policy to prohibit all lethal weapons. The previous policy called it inappropriate to have weapons on church property. It still includes an exception for law enforcment officers.

The clarification comes one year after a fatal shooting inside one of its churches in rural Nevada and as religions around the country grapple with how to deal with gun violence that has spread to places of worship. The change went into effect the first week of August and a letter explaining it was first sent to local leaders in Texas and shared with members there, said church spokesman Daniel Woodruff. The impetus was a new Texas law that takes effect soon that makes it clearer in state law that licensed handgun holders can carry weapons in churches, synagogues and other houses of worship.
The same letter will be sent elsewhere to local leaders, who will be responsible for sharing it with their congregations, Woodruff said.

The fatal shooting in the Latter-day Saints church occurred in July 2018 in Fallon, Nev., when a man opened fire during Sunday services, killing one man and wounding the victim’s brother.

Houses of Worship Prohibiting Firearms on Premises
The following churches have notified BCI of their intent to prohibit firearms in their “houses of worship” in Utah.

Wasatch Presbyterian Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Instructions for notifying the Bureau of Criminal Identification of your intent to prohibit firearms.

Read Utah Code 76-10-530 regarding the prohibition of firearms by Utah houses of worship.

Per state statute, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made public notice on January 9, 2019 in the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News of their intent to prohibit firearms.

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resour ... -gun-laws/

Yes/No. “No Weapons” signs under Utah gun laws have no force of law unless they are posted in areas that are mentioned by the law as being off-limits. The law specifically mentions places of worship and private residences. If any of these places have posted a “No Weapons” sign, it is illegal to enter. This prohibition applies equally to concealed weapons permittees. However, a church or organization operating a house of worship may allow exceptions to the prohibition as the church or organization considers advisable. Owners may not restrict a renter or lessee from lawfully possessing a firearm in the residence.

Notice that firearms are prohibited may be given by:

• Personal communication to the actor by the church or organization or a person with authority to act for the person or entity;
• Posting of signs reasonably likely to come to the attention of persons entering the house of worship or private residence;
• Announcement by a person with authority to act for the church or organization operating the house of worship in a regular congregational meeting in the house of worship;
• Publication in a bulletin, newsletter, worship program or similar document generally circulated or available to the members of the congregation regularly meeting in the house of worship; or
• Publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the house of worship is located or if the church or organization operating the house of worship has its principal office in this state.

A violation of this section is an infraction.

[Ut. Crim. Code §​​​​​​​ 76-10-530]