Latter-Day Saints
Utah Legislature expands ability of clergy members to report child abuse
By Hannah Schoenbaum — March 1, 2024
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Religious leaders who report abuse still will not be required to testify.
Mormonism, as shaped by the culture wars
By Jana Riess — February 29, 2024
(RNS) — Debates over gender, race and sexuality have been part of Mormonism since Kirtland, says historian Benjamin Park.
After a boom in west Africa, LDS church finds increasing acceptance in the east
By Fredrick Nzwili — February 20, 2024
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Once shunned as cultic and anti-Christian, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has converted not only thousands of Africans, but has come to collaborate with Africa’s historic denominations, and even with Muslims.
How many Mormons are actually in church every week in the US?
By Jana Riess — February 16, 2024
(RNS) — Cellphone data reveals the number is lower than people self-report (but Mormons do better than most).
Revisiting those old Mormon movies from 50 years ago — with live commentary!
By Jana Riess — February 9, 2024
(RNS) — From 'Saturday's Warrior' to 'Cipher in the Snow,' there's a treasure trove of more than 100 vintage LDS Church movies for your viewing pleasure.
Those sexy Mormon swingers
By Jana Riess — February 2, 2024
(RNS) — Here’s the reality that will never feature in a 'reality' TV series: Most Mormons are deeply, predictably, embarrassingly boring when it comes to their sex lives.
A Mormon faith beyond the performance checklist
By Jana Riess — January 26, 2024
(RNS) — 'When we really stop and reflect, we realize that in our religious performance, we're nurturing the very part of ourselves that the gospel instructs us not to feed,' says meditation teacher and LDS author Thomas McConkie.
Meet Elder Patrick Kearon, the first LDS convert in a century to be named apostle
By Bob Smietana — January 24, 2024
(RNS) — The 62-year-old British and Irish citizen, who joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his 20s, was named an apostle in December. He's best known for a 2016 talk about the refugee crisis.
New member of Mormon church leadership says it must do better to help sex abuse victims heal
By Deepa Bharath — January 24, 2024
The Utah-based faith has stuck by the system despite the criticism and increasing scrutiny from attorneys and prosecutors who argue it is inadequate to quickly stop abuse and protect victims.
I’m the collateral damage of Mormon racism and homophobia
By Jana Riess — January 19, 2024
(RNS) — 'Everyone knew before I did that the church was white on purpose,' writes guest columnist Carlene Fraser. 'The Saints they were 'perfecting' didn’t look like me. Think like me.'
Dealing with racism in the Book of Mormon
By Jana Riess — January 12, 2024
(RNS) — The Book of Mormon could teach us some hard truths about racism if we're brave enough to listen, say co-authors Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming.
Juicing up your Book of Mormon reading this year (Part 1, with Grant Hardy)
By Jana Riess — January 4, 2024
(RNS) — Hardy’s ‘The Annotated Book of Mormon’ promises to enrich Latter-day Saints’ yearlong study of the scripture.
The top 10 Mormon news stories of 2023
By Jana Riess — December 30, 2023
(RNS) — There's a mix of good news (more missionaries!) and bad news (more sexual and financial scandals).
Study: Utah is no longer a majority-Mormon state
By Jana Riess — December 28, 2023
(RNS) — With more nonmembers moving into the state and smaller Mormon birthrates, Utah is no longer a majority-Mormon state.
Faith leaders, influencers who died in 2023: Preachers, protesters, writers, singers
By Adelle M. Banks — December 26, 2023
(RNS) — We also bid farewell to some celebrities and influencers whose time on stages sometimes represented public faith or whose lives were strengthened by their personal faith.
