Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slashed the number of religious affiliations recognized by the Pentagon from more than 200 to 31 and set off a political firestorm in the process. The loudest reaction came when U.S. Sen. Mike Hill, R-Utah, and…
61 of 250: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints delivers truckfuls of food
Inching along in stop-and-go traffic just after the sun had risen, Dustin Walker said it was an honor to be driving a semitruck full of goods to a food bank in Sterling, Virginia, on behalf of America250 and The Church…
Mormon church shooter believed to be a MAGA supporter
The man who killed at least four worshipers at a Mormon church in Michigan Sept. 28 displayed a Trump sign outside his home and was known to wear MAGA gear. Authorities have identified Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Mich., as…
Rise And Reckoning: New Biography Confronts The Myths And Realities Of Joseph Smith
Considering the chaotic first 14 years before founding Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr., was assassinated, it is incredible that today his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed “Mormon” until 2018) is America’s fourth largest religious body.
Judge dismisses lawsuit against Mormon church over how it uses donations
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arm misused hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations by investing it instead of using it for charitable purposes.
Romney bids farewell to Senate after reckoning with Trump and evangelicals
As Congress and the country focus on Donald Trump’s incoming administration and cabinet picks, Americans are paying less attention to outgoing leaders such as Mitt Romney, the principled Mormon Republican senator whose six-year term featured regular critiques of both Trump…
LDS Church puts strict bans on transgender participation
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormon church, has taken one of the harshest formal positions against transgender identity of any faith group in America. Last month, LDS leaders rolled out new policies that bar…
LDS members in Arizona could be key to the presidential election and control of the Senate
When the Republican mayor of Mesa, Ariz., endorsed Kamala Harris for president, the significance wasn’t just his party affiliation. Mayor John Giles also is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As anyone who pays attention…
How evangelical and Mormon deconstruction is playing out on TikTok and YouTube
Mainline and evangelical churches aren’t the only religious communities losing members these days. According to a new study published in the Journal of Religion and Demography, Mormonism is no longer followed by the majority of residents in Utah. Ryan Cragun, a professor…
Sensationalized child abuse: Ruby Franke’s arrest, the LDS church and social media
Last Wednesday, social media influencers Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt were arrested after two children were found suffering from malnutrition and evidence of restraint lacerations on their bodies. Authorities were called after Franke’s 12-year-old son escaped from Hildebrant’s home, fleeing…
The brutal honesty of The Book of Mormon
I’ve seen the hit Broadway musical The Book of Mormon twice. Deliciously blasphemous, it is as profound as it is profane. It’s also brutally honest and theologically instructive. Written by the creators of South Park (Matt Parker and Trey Stone),…
Why churches that ever have chartered a Boy Scout troop need to pay attention right now
Chartered organizations of Boy Scouts of America — which includes thousands of U.S. churches — are being handed a “get-of-jail-free card” by the latest proposed bankruptcy settlement, according to a law firm appointed to represent the 82,500 men who claim…