Mormon Church

Re "Mormon hunks redefine heavenly," Column One, April 28 I'm shocked that the Mormon Church would expel Chad Hardy and hold up his degree from its tithe-supported university. All the poor kid is trying to do is mock the church's beliefs and use sex to exploit it for fame and money. Robert Goodrich Newhall

A male model wearing a kilt of black vinyl strips, a red belt with a gold buckle and little else is flexing his muscles amid fake oil derricks and Roman columns in a photo studio. All chiseled pectorals and tanned thighs, he is playing Captain Moroni, a battlefield hero in the Book of Mormon who rallied troops with the Title of Liberty banner. Chad Hardy, who is running the photo shoot, adjusts the model's kilt. Captain Moroni lifts his chin, grips a sword and hoists the banner.

Thousands of issues of Brigham Young University's student newspaper were pulled from newsstands because a front-page photo caption misidentified leaders of the Mormon church as apostates instead of apostles. An apostate is a person who has abandoned religious faith, principles or a cause. The photo in Monday's Daily Universe was of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The caption called the group the "Quorum of the Twelve Apostates."

The Mormon Church has named a member to its Quorum of Twelve Apostles. Church President Thomas S. Monson on Saturday announced the appointment of Neil L. Andersen, 57, to the second-highest governing body of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Andersen replaces member Joseph B. Wirthlin, who died in December at age 91. Apostles serve for life and are in line to become president of the church.

Joseph B. Wirthlin, 91, the Mormon Church's oldest living apostle, died Monday night at his home in Salt Lake City. The church said he died of causes related to his age. Wirthlin was ordained a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the second tier of church leadership, on Oct. 9, 1986, about a decade after being called to full-time church service. Wirthlin's other church posts included serving as a counselor to the Sunday school president, director of the church military relations committee, director of the church curriculum department and as an editor of church magazines.

In June, leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made a fateful decision. They called on California Mormons to donate their time and money to the campaign for Proposition 8, which would overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that permitted gay marriage. That push helped the initiative win narrow passage on election day. And it has made the Mormon Church, which for years has striven to be seen as part of the American mainstream, a political target.

Re "Mormons' Prop. 8 aid protested," Nov. 7 Hate begets hate -- and the Mormon church should know that better than most. The political involvement of this tax-exempt church has promoted bigotry; torn apart congregations, families and communities; and set the church's public image back 80 years. Nine years ago, my husband and I, both fourth-generation Mormons, decided to leave the church after its involvement in Proposition 22. It was not a decision made lightly. It was devastating to both sides of our families.