Peggy Fletcher Stack
Peggy Fletcher Stack
@pfstack.bsky.social
Covers Mormonism & other faiths at The Salt Lake Tribune. Podcast Mormon Land; Exec dir, International Association of Religion Journalists http://theiarj.org
Why do you think Africans are joining the LDS Church?

Listen to one Kenyan stake president and his wife to offer their reasons and experience.

Tell me what you think.
www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Special ‘Mormon Land’ from Africa: Couple reflect on why they converted and the appeal of a lay leadership
This special on-location "Mormon Land" podcast from Africa focuses on the church's growth and challenges in Kenya, which just gained it first LDS temple.
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May 28, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Do you have any religious objections to cremation? If not, what do you want your family to do with your ashes?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
As cremation’s popularity rises — even among Latter-day Saints and other believers — families want to know: Does God approve?
For years, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints frowned upon cremation, insisting that burial was theologically preferred for the dead. But more and more Latter-day Saints and other believe...
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May 23, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Here's my report of Mormonism in Kenya. Have you been there or lived there -- or any other African country. What are your thoughts?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Special report: As LDS Church grows bigger in this country, so do challenges — young members, high poverty, even modern polygamy
LDS Church is growing rapidly in this African county, as it is elsewhere on that continent, but challenges range from "bride prices" to modern polygamy.
www.sltrib.com
May 18, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I'm writing about cremation vs burial for Memorial Day. Seems like more and more people of faith are choosing cremation. And church positions seems to have evolved, too. Which do you prefer and why? Does religion have anything to do with your decision?
May 16, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Just finished covering my 65th consecutive LDS General Conference. Never missed, including my first one in April 1992, a month after giving birth to twin girls (one of whom was still in the hospital).

What stood out to you this time?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
LDS conference highlights: President Russell Nelson calls for more charity, less hostility, in a repeated plea for peacemakers
Highlights, talk summaries and announcements from the weekend's LDS General Conference.
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April 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Thanks to a new Utah law, the LDS Church is getting serious about background checks for volunteers. Do you think it will make a difference?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
What the LDS Church and others are doing under a new Utah law to protect kids from sexual abuse
In accord with a new Utah law, the LDS Church and other faiths are cross-checking their youth volunteers against sex offender registries.
www.sltrib.com
April 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
If you have a simple way to discard your temple garments and help the Earth, would you do it?
www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
With sleeveless LDS garments emerging, there’s a new way to dispose of the old ones. Here’s how.
An LDS couple have created a new way to dispose of temple garments: Send them to "Celestial Recycling."
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March 19, 2025 at 3:50 PM
If porn watching is not an addiction, what is it? An LDS therapist has some answers. Hint: Something to do with free agency.

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
‘Mormon Land’: Why treating porn as an addiction misses the mark and how the LDS Church has improved its messaging
A Latter-day Saint psychologist discusses the viewing of pornography. Is it an addiction? Why do some men and women view it? What does the church teach about it? How can people stop?
www.sltrib.com
March 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM
"My wife was everything," LDS Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland said Saturday at Roots Tech, the giant family history conference in Salt Lake City.

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LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland reflects on his life and his late wife in a surprise appearance at RootsTech
LDS apostle Jeffrey R. Holland surprises attendees by speaking at RootsTech 2025, paying tribute to his late wife and reflecting on changes throughout his life.
www.sltrib.com
March 9, 2025 at 2:21 PM
While Trump's administration wipes out any symbol of DEI (including the "gay" on the airplane Enola Gay), and Utah is nixing pride flags on public buildings, BYU is eliminating most rainbow imagery.

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Rainbows are disappearing at BYU in an atmosphere of fear surrounding LGBTQ+ support
It has become increasingly unacceptable for BYU faculty members to display any rainbow images — pins, flags, posters.
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March 8, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The LDS Church just posted a Dieter Uchtdorf video, about being a refugee. The timing is, well, interesting.
Here's my story linking Ucktdorf with Ukrainian refugees — specifically Utahns amnesia about their support for Zelensky and the country's refugees. Thoughts?
www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
As U.S. debates the status of refugees, LDS Church holds up its most famous one
As the Trump administration threatens the status of refugees, LDS apostle Dieter Uchtdorf tells his story of being driven from country to country when he was a boy.
www.sltrib.com
March 7, 2025 at 5:35 PM
LDS apostle Patrick Kearon spoke at an antiporn conference today, using his British command of language and soaring message. What did you think of it?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Newest LDS apostle says porn addicts can kick their habit through professional help and Jesus’ love
LDS apostle Patrick Kearon discusses the problems of pornography at a Utah anti-porn conference.
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March 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
The LDS Church revised its polygamy cartoons for children.
The old message, "obey, even when it's hard." The new one, "polygamy was an exception to the divine rule of marriage, with one man, one woman."
What do you think of the changes? Better? Worse?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
LDS Church changes its polygamy cartoons for children — including the message
The LDS Church has revised illustrations explaining polygamy to kids, eliminating some cartoons and changing the message from "obedience" to "a rare exception" to the teaching of monogamy.
www.sltrib.com
February 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Some faiths are pushing back against Donald Trump's license to ICE to invade sacred spaces to find immigrants. Not the LDS Church.

What do you think?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
‘All people must feel safe when they worship’: Utah clergy oppose ICE entering sanctuaries; LDS Church is mum on lawsuit
Utah clergy voice support for lawsuit opposing Trump administration's move allowing ICE to enter sanctuaries. Despite being a strong proponent of religious freedom, the LDS Church is not among them.
www.sltrib.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:16 PM
More on the LDS CHurch's guidelines on immigration, an issue that is heating up across the country. What do you like -- or not like -- about the church's approach?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
‘I don’t think in good conscience we can call ICE on our co-congregants,’ says LDS law professor
"Mormon Land" podcast excerpts explore what an LDS immigrant and an LDS law professor have to say about their church's response to President Donald Trump's crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
www.sltrib.com
February 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
How many of you have loved Lion House rolls? What do you like about them? While the Lion House is closed for renovation, have you found them elsewhere?

We are looking for people to quote, so please tell us your name and location. Thanks!
February 7, 2025 at 7:41 PM
What should the LDS Church do to protect its immigrant members from profiling and bigotry from fellow Latter-day Saints?
www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
‘Mormon Land’: Treating immigrants as ‘second class’ goes against the gospel, says LDS attorney
An LDS immigrant and an LDS attorney discuss Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and the church's response to it.
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February 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
What is the First Presidency advising its stake presidents to do about undocumented immigrants in their midst?

Food, clothing and medical help, OK. Housing, legal advice, out.

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Sanctuary is out — Here’s what else the First Presidency is telling local LDS leaders about undocumented immigrants
The First Presidency of the LDS Church has sent a letter to local leaders about the handling of undocumented immigrants.
www.sltrib.com
February 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Amid national attacks on transgender rights, Laurie Lee Hall has written a compelling memoir about her journey through being a Mormon convert, bishop and stake president, and temple architect to being an excommunicated trans woman.
Listen and learn.
www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
‘Mormon Land’: From stake president and temple designer to excommunicated trans woman
Excommunicated Latter-day Saint Laurie Lee Hall, a former bishop, stake president and temple architect, discusses her new biography, "Dictates of Conscience: From Mormon High Priest to My New Life as ...
www.sltrib.com
January 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Here's what one observer thinks about the LDS Church's efforts at compromise on same-sex marriage.

Do you agree?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Why an atheist gay Jewish writer believes Mormonism could save democracy
Writer and scholar Jonathan Rauch says the LDS Church may have found the answer to balancing cultural war issues with religion.
www.sltrib.com
January 25, 2025 at 2:29 PM
If you want to get a clear-eyed look at the LDS tithing cases, listen to our reporter Tony Semerad, who has been following them closely.

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
‘Mormon Land’: Understanding the big courtroom showdown in the tithing lawsuit against the LDS Church
Tribune reporter dissects the legal arguments in a proposed class-action lawsuit against the LDS Church.
www.sltrib.com
January 23, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Today would have been the 100th birthday of Latter-day Saint Helmuth Hubener, the youngest dissident every executed (he was 17) in Nazi Germany for exposing Hitler's lies.

Here's the story I wrote about him in October for the anniversary of his execution.

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
‘I have done nothing wrong’: Remembering the LDS teen who stood up to Hitler, and lost his life for doing so
Helmut Hubener opposed Hitler, based on his Mormonism, and was the youngest political dissident executed in Nazi Germany.
www.sltrib.com
January 8, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Here's a story about BYU that I have been researching for months.

What do you think? Have you heard about the school's recent changes?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Dark days: New rules have BYU professors running scared
Under the LDS Church's new education boss, many BYU faculty members feel demeaned, disrespected, powerless — and afraid.
www.sltrib.com
January 6, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Explaining polygamy in Mormonism's past to adults is hard enough. But to kids? Almost impossible.

What do you think of the church's effort?

www.sltrib.com/religion/202...
Teaching LDS polygamy in Primary: Will the kids get it?
The LDS Church publishes cartoons to teach children about 19th-century polygamy.
www.sltrib.com
December 27, 2024 at 5:53 PM