Mormon Church

Taking the high road, or throwing down the gauntlet? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has purchased ads promoting the faith in the playbill for the Los Angeles engagement of "The Book of Mormon," the satirical musical from the creators of TV's "South Park. " The show, which is currently in previews at the Pantages Theatre as part of a national tour, tells the comical story of two Mormon missionaries who travel to a remote African village. The musical pokes fun at the tenets of the Mormon Church, as well as those of other religions.

Thomas Monson, a longtime senior leader of the Mormon church in Salt Lake City, was officially named its 16th president at age 80. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the faith is officially known, has a global membership of 13 million, more than half of whom reside outside the United States, its country of origin. Monson takes over from Gordon Hinckley, who died Jan. 27 at age 97 after leading the church since 1995. Monson had been Hinckley's second-in-command.

"When the Laws of God and Man Converge" (Feb. 5) was well written but contained a significant error. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (called Mormon in your article) has Jesus Christ as its central focus, and should not be considered a "non-Christian faith" as your article referred to it. The centrality of Jesus Christ in the lives of the more than 9 million members of the church should leave no doubt in the minds of your readers and others that it is indeed a Christian church.

In a prediction of underhanded campaign tactics to come, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) told GOP delegates Tuesday that he foresees that President Obama's campaign will try to use Mitt Romney's Mormon faith against him. “You watch, they're going to throw the Mormon church at him like you can't believe it,” Hatch said. He later reiterated his point on Wednesday in Draper, Utah. “For them to say they aren't going to smear Mitt Romney is bologna. It's way out of bounds, but that's what is going to happen.” Hatch, also a Mormon, and seeking reelection in a state with more than 60% of the population following the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, specifically pointed his finger toward Obama's campaign adviser David Axelrod and White House aide David Plouffe.

The Mormon Church apologized Tuesday for a "serious breach of protocol" after it was discovered that the parents of the late Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal were posthumously baptized as Mormons. The church also acknowledged that one of its members tried to baptize posthumously three relatives of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. The efforts, at least in Wiesenthal's case, violated the terms of an agreement that the church signed in 1995, in which it agreed to stop baptizing Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

Mormon church President Gordon B. Hinckley has announced plans for the construction of six temples, three in the United States and three overseas. Hinckley made the announcement during the church's recent Annual General Conference. "We shall go on in the process of bringing temples to the people," Hinckley said of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the meeting in Salt Lake City. The new U.S. temples will be in Lubbock, Texas; Snowflake, Ariz.

Republicans look at Mitt Romney and see a future nominee or a Massachusetts moderate they can't support. Democrats see a formidable opponent with abundant vulnerabilities to exploit. For one group, though, Romney's candidacy represents a unique mix of hopes and fears, pride and apprehension. Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a lot riding on Romney's candidacy - which is one reason why, paradoxically, they have steered clear of anything that smacks of support for the man who could become the first Mormon presidential nominee of a major political party.

Vandals spray-painted swastikas and white supremacist slogans on the wall of a Mormon church, causing an estimated $500 damage, authorities said Thursday. Sometime between 8 a.m. and noon Wednesday, vandals painted the phrase "white power," and swastikas on several outside walls of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 7900 block of Hillrose Street in Sunland, said Los Angeles Police Detective Ray Broker.

Re "Annul and Void," Aug. 20: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints places great importance on marriage and family relationships. Marriage partners are encouraged to work together to try to solve any problems that are interfering with the family's happiness and stability. The church also recognizes that there are instances where divorce will occur. In such instances, church members do not automatically lose their membership status. A marriage partner's membership may be affected when he or she has been involved in a serious moral transgression such as abuse or adultery.

The Mormon Church has finished a remake of its 24-year-old film that introduces the faith's doctrine to prospective members and interested observers, officials announced. The remake of "Man's Search for Happiness" is being premiered next weekend via satellite transmission to Mormon centers across the United States and Canada, Peter Johnson of the Brigham Young University Media Production Department said.