British court summons Mormon leader to appear on charges of fraudulent teaching
February 07, 2014
An English court has ordered the 86-year-old American president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to appear in court next month on fraud charges, The Telegraph reported.
Two former Mormons allege that seven Mormon teachings were fraudulently presented as true, with the result that the ex-Mormons paid an annual tithe to the church.
These seven teachings include the following: “all humans alive today are descended from just two people who lived approximately 6,000 years ago”; “Native Americans are descended from an Israelite family which left Jerusalem in 600 B.C.”; and “the Book of Mormon was translated from ancient gold plates by Joseph Smith, is the most correct book on earth, and is an ancient historical record.”
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
- Head of Mormon church Thomas Monson summoned by British magistrates' court over Adam and Eve teaching (The Telegraph)
- British Court Issues Summons To Mormon Church Head Alleging Teachings Violate Fraud Act (Religion Clause)
- Full text of summons (MormonThink.com)
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: FredC -
Feb. 11, 2014 9:19 PM ET USA
I hope the judge requires the plaintiffs to prove that these teachings are false.
-
Posted by: Mike in Toronto -
Feb. 08, 2014 6:36 AM ET USA
As nonsensical as Mormon teachings are, this is not only a frivolous misuse of judicial resources, but, far more importantly, flat-out religious persecution. Get used to it, folks.
-
Posted by: garedawg -
Feb. 07, 2014 11:07 AM ET USA
So will he share a cell in the Tower of London with the Pope?
-
Posted by: DrJazz -
Feb. 07, 2014 7:29 AM ET USA
Mormon teachings aside, the judges' attitude in this case is similar to that of the UN committee toward the Vatican: Wildly outrageous, self-centered, massively egotistical hubris. You get the sense they'd put God Himself on trial if they could. "Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and his anointed, saying, 'Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.'” (Ps. 2)
-
Posted by: jg23753479 -
Feb. 07, 2014 7:25 AM ET USA
I almost fell off my chair when I read your headline; I misread it and thought for a moment it said "Muslim leader" rather than "Mormon leader". I know beyond question that no British court would even consider summoning a Muslim leader regardless of what he did.
