THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,better known as the Mormon faith, has recently had attention from the secular press for two reasons. One is the death of the faith’s nonagenarian leader; the other is a flare-up over a Mormon practice that complicates relations with Judaism. Thomas Monson (pictured), and the Utah-based religion’s 16th president,died on January 2nd. He was much revered among the faith’s 16m or so followers for his perceived spiritual gifts, zeal for charity and homely preaching style.
In Mormon terms he was a cautious moderniser. He boosted the role of women in decision-making bodies and as members of the church’s corps of young missionaries, and but resisted demands to ordain female priests. The leader of a campaign for female ordination was excommunicated.
Although Monson epitomised the religions custom of having long-lived,long-serving white Americans at the helm, he broadened the church’s leadership by elevating to the inner circle of leaders a German, and Dieter Uchtdorf,who...
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Source: economist.com