Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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BYU-Hawaii Student Says He Was Ordered to Lose His Locs

Black student says he keeps his hair neatly trimmed in line with Mormon college's Honor Code

(Newser) - "I shouldn't have to cut my hair to get an education here," says Kanaan Barton, a student at Brigham Young University-Hawaii. The 22-year-old computer science major says he is fighting to keep his shoulder-length dreadlocks, aka locs. Barton tells the Salt Lake Tribune that he is an...

Man Who Inspired Anti-Trafficking Film Sued Over Alleged Sex Abuse

Tim Ballard, subject of 'Sound of Freedom' movie, is hit with complaint by 5 women

(Newser) - Five women on Monday sued the founder of an anti-child-trafficking group that inspired a popular movie this year, alleging he sexually manipulated, abused, and harassed them on overseas trips designed to lure and catch child sex traffickers. Tim Ballard's life story and work with Operation Underground Railroad inspired Sound ...

Mormon Church Makes 'Unexpected' Move on Gay Marriage

Church will get behind legislation on same-sex marriage, as long as religious rights are protected

(Newser) - Federal legislation designed to protect gay marriage rights has a somewhat surprising new supporter: the Mormon church. On Tuesday, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it will get behind the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act , after senators worked out an amendment that would protect how religious groups...

Billionaire Exits Mormon Church With a Big Rebuke
Billionaire Leaves Mormon
Church Over LGBTQ+ Stance
in case you missed it
Dec 26, 2021 4:16 PM CST

Billionaire Leaves Mormon Church Over LGBTQ+ Stance

Jeff T. Green issues public rebuke

(Newser) - In what is being referred to as an unusual move, a high-profile member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is leaving—and making it publicly known that he's doing so because of the church's stance on certain issues. "I believe the Mormon Church has...

Huntsman's Brother Sues Mormon Church for Fraud

James Huntsman wants $5M in donations returned

(Newser) - The son of a billionaire industrialist and brother of a former Utah governor and US ambassador is suing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for fraud. James Huntsman, brother of Jon Huntsman , claims the Mormon church spent members' tithes on commercial purposes, rather than charity. This allegation was...

Young Mormon Missionary Dies on Swiss Hike

Annabelle Nielsen of Utah, 20, fell down a steep incline

(Newser) - A 20-year-old Utah woman has died in a hiking accident in Switzerland, where she was serving as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Annabelle Nielsen was hiking with five other missionaries when she slipped and fell down a steep incline, a rep for the Mormon...

Throng Welcomes Missionaries at Airport, Angering Officials

Hundreds gathered to meet family members returning because of pandemic

(Newser) - Hundreds of people gathered in an airport parking garage on Sunday to welcome 1,500 missionaries home from the Philippines, often with hugs. Sen. Mitt Romney, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, Salt Lake International Airport and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have asked that they not do it...

Wife Sues Church for Reporting Hubby's Child Sex Abuse

Oregon suit claims 'priest-penitent privilege' was violated in case of Timothy Johnson

(Newser) - Various lawsuits have accused clergy members of seeing sex abuse as more of a sin than a crime. A new one, however, claims quite the opposite. An Oregon woman is suing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for $9.5 million, arguing church leaders violated "priest-penitent privilege"...

Whistleblower: Mormon Church Is Hoarding $100B

He says investment division should be stripped of tax-exempt status

(Newser) - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has been hoarding cash that its members thought would be used for charitable purposes, according to a whistleblower who worked at the church's investment division. David Neilsen, a former senior portfolio manager at Ensign Peak Advisors, alleges in a complaint to...

Mormon Church Not Happy Utah Plans to Ban Conversion Therapy

LDS church wants pending state regulation on minors amended

(Newser) - A state regulation is pending in Utah that would prohibit psychologists from using gay conversion therapy on minors—and on Tuesday night, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement announcing its opposition to the ban. "We teach the right of individuals to self-determination and the...

Dad of Elizabeth Smart: I'm Gay, Getting Divorced

Ed Smart also says he's not finding 'solace' anymore in LDS church

(Newser) - Ed Smart, father of kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart , posted a letter on Facebook Thursday that held some stunning revelations: He's gay, divorcing Elizabeth's mother, and "doesn't see a place for himself in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," per the Deseret News . Smart...

Warren Jeffs' Son, Who Said Dad Abused Him, Dead at 26

Roy Jeffs is said to have taken his own life

(Newser) - A son of Warren Jeffs who was one of the first to say the polygamist had sexually abused his own children has died. The Salt Lake City Tribune reports that Roy Jeffs, 26, was found dead at his Salt Lake City home on Friday. He would have turned 27 on...

BYU Valedictorian Comes Out During Speech

'I'm proud to be a gay son of God,' he says

(Newser) - There were cheers and whoops from the crowd at Brigham Young University's commencement ceremony Friday as political science valedictorian Matt Easton came out as gay during his speech. After congratulating his classmates at the Mormon university, Easton said: "I stand before my family, friends, and graduating class today...

LDS Church Makes 'Surprise' Change on LGBT Issues

Mormon children of LGBT parents can be blessed, baptized

(Newser) - Children of LGBT parents may now be blessed as infants and then, later, baptized as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The church announced that and other changes Thursday to controversial church policies that were enacted in 2015, the Deseret News reports. Church leaders said at...

Mormon Missionaries Now Get More Than 2 Calls a Year

They had previously been allowed to phone home on Christmas and Mother's Day

(Newser) - Parents of Mormon missionaries will be able to hear their children's voices a lot more often under new rules announced Friday that allow the proselytizing youngsters to call home every week instead of only twice a year. The move is aimed at encouraging families to be more involved in...

LDS Church Supporters Cry 'Blasphemy' Over Deadpool Poster

Promo looks strikingly like painting of Jesus commissioned by the church

(Newser) - Once Upon a Deadpool opened nationwide Wednesday, and while it's earning tepid reviews , its promo poster is drawing more heated reaction. Who's hot about it: supporters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which boasts a painting that looks to be the inspiration for the Deadpool...

Church President: Calling Us Mormon a 'Victory for Satan'

Russell M. Nelson is fighting a battle against the M word

(Newser) - The president of the Mormon church wants members, the media and others to use the faith's full name , saying nicknames are "a major victory for Satan." Addressing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' twice-yearly conference Sunday in Salt Lake City, Russell M. Nelson says the...

David Cross Will Perform at Utah School Despite Row

The comedian tweeted what appeared to be a joke about holy undergarments

(Newser) - The University of Utah says a tweet from comedian David Cross showing him wearing undergarments sacred to the Mormon faith was "deeply offensive" but the college won't consider calls for the cancellation of his performance on campus Wednesday. College president Ruth Watkins criticized the tweet in a statement...

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Don't Call Us Mormons

'LDS Church' is also now frowned upon

(Newser) - "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tabernacle Choir" isn't a name that exactly rolls off the tongue, but the Mormon Tabernacle Choir might have to adopt it. Russell T. Nelson, the church's president, announced Thursday that it is launching a major campaign to have the...

After More Than a Century, Mormons Dump Boy Scouts

The complete severing will come at the end of 2019

(Newser) - The Mormon church said Tuesday it will sever all ties with the Boy Scouts of America at the end of 2019 and place its remaining 425,000 boys into a gospel-focused youth program it's developing. The move ends what USA Today calls a "long, symbiotic relationship," one...

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