All articles tagged with #mormon church
Originally Published 2 months ago — by The Washington Post
Utah church leaders are urging peace ahead of a tense 'Holy War' game, amid recent violent incidents involving the Mormon community and calls from church president Russell M. Nelson for Mormons to promote peace in America.
Originally Published 2 months ago — by PBS
Dallin H. Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court justice, has been named the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following the death of Russell M. Nelson, marking a significant leadership transition for the church. Oaks, known for his traditionalist views and legal background, will serve until his death and is expected to influence the church's focus, possibly shifting from its global expansion to domestic issues, while maintaining core doctrines.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by PBS
A former Marine drove his truck into a Mormon church in Michigan, opened fire, and set the building ablaze, resulting in four deaths and eight injuries; the attacker was killed by police, and motives are under investigation, with authorities suggesting it was a targeted act of violence against the Mormon community.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by The New York Times
Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of the Mormon Church and its oldest serving leader at 101, passed away in Salt Lake City. A former pioneering heart surgeon, he became church president at 93, leading significant policy changes including renaming the church and expanding its global footprint through new temples. His tenure was marked by efforts to diversify leadership, address racism, and modernize church practices, despite facing internal criticism. Nelson's leadership profoundly impacted the church's direction and policies worldwide.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC News
David Archuleta, former "American Idol" contestant, discusses his departure from the Mormon Church and coming out as queer, which led to a significant personal transformation. Struggling with the church's teachings on homosexuality, Archuleta faced severe mental health challenges before deciding to live authentically. Now, he is focused on new music, a memoir, and supporting the LGBTQ community, finding happiness and meaning outside the church.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
The Mormon church has been accused of using a risk management playbook to keep child sex abuse cases hidden from scrutiny. Recordings obtained by the Associated Press reveal how the church discouraged a bishop from testifying in a sexual abuse trial, citing a law that exempts clergy from divulging information obtained in confession. The church also offered hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for a confidentiality agreement and the destruction of recordings made by the victims. The accused perpetrator, a former bishop, is now a free man. The church claims to condemn child abuse but has been criticized for prioritizing its reputation over justice.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Yahoo News
Audio recordings obtained by the Associated Press reveal how the Mormon church, officially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, employs a risk management playbook to keep child sexual abuse cases secret. The recordings show how the church discouraged a bishop from testifying in a child sex abuse trial, offered hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for a confidentiality agreement, and urged the destruction of recordings made by the victims. The church's actions allowed a former bishop accused of sexually abusing his daughter to avoid prosecution and continue practicing dentistry.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Church News
Sister Kathleen J. Eyring, the wife of President Henry B. Eyring, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Mormon Church, passed away at the age of 82. Throughout their 60-plus years of marriage, Sister Eyring remained her husband's biggest support, counselor, and confidante. Described as an intensely private and modest person, she taught through quiet example and had a deep conviction in the truthfulness of the gospel. Funeral services are pending.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Tulsa World
Tulsa has been chosen as one of the locations for a new Mormon temple, as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' global expansion plans. This announcement, made during the General Conference in Salt Lake City, includes a total of 20 new temples, with six in the United States. The temples are reserved for special worship services and religious ceremonies, while regular weekly worship services are held in meetinghouses. The church has seen steady growth and currently has 177 operating temples worldwide, with more under construction and announced.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by KTLA Los Angeles
A whistleblower from the Mormon Church's investment firm, Ensign Peak Advisors, appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss the alleged misuse of church tithing funds. The whistleblower claimed that the church misused $100 billion in tithes, with $1 billion going to Ensign Peak. The church denied the allegations, but the SEC charged Ensign Peak for failing to file forms that would have disclosed the church's investments. Ensign Peak agreed to pay a $4 million penalty, while the church agreed to pay a $1 million penalty. The whistleblower filed a 74-page letter to the IRS alleging the stockpile and misuse of the tithing money.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Guardian
A former investment manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has accused the organization of stockpiling more than $100bn in funding intended for charity work but never spent it on such projects. The church's investment firm, Ensign Peak Advisors, acted as a "clandestine hedge fund" and dodged billions of dollars in taxes by falsifying records, according to whistleblower David A Nielsen. The church paid $5m to resolve its SEC case in February, but experts say the likelihood of the IRS investigating Nielsen's claims is low.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
David Nielsen, a former Ensign Peak portfolio manager, blew the whistle on the Mormon Church's investment arm to the IRS in 2019, alleging that the church had accumulated $100 billion in assets and used the money to bail out businesses with church ties, violating its religious tax exemption status. The church was fined $5 million in February for using shell companies to hide the size of a $32 billion equity portfolio. Church leaders have denied the allegations. Nielsen, a devout Mormon, felt a calling to serve his church and community but turned to the government as "integrity is at stake."
Originally Published 2 years ago — by CBS News
A former senior portfolio manager at Ensign Peak Advisors, the investment arm of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has alleged that the firm violated its tax-exempt status by directing funds built from member donations to bail out businesses with ties to the church. David Nielsen filed a whistleblower complaint with the IRS in 2019, alleging that the firm used false records and statements to appear as a charity while stockpiling money and misleading church members. The SEC fined the Mormon church and Ensign Peak a total of $5m in February for using shell companies to obscure the size of its investment portfolio.