U.S.|Billionaire Makes Public Break From Mormon Church
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Jeff T. Green, the chief executive of a technology firm, said he was leaving because of the church’s wealth and stance on social issues such as gay rights.
A billionaire from Utah, Jeff T. Green, said he was resigning this week from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an unusually high-profile rebuke of the church’s wealth and position on social issues.
Mr. Green, who runs an advertising technology firm and is believed to be one of the wealthiest people from Utah, did not say what caused him to make such a public exit this week. But he said in a letter to Russell M. Nelson, the church’s president, that he was concerned about the church’s history, finances and advocacy.
“While most members are good people trying to do right, I believe the church is actively and currently doing harm in the world,” he wrote in the letter, which was reported Monday by The Salt Lake Tribune.
In the letter, a copy of which was dated Dec. 23, he said he had stopped believing in the church’s teachings more than a decade ago and had spent several years reflecting on his issues with it. “I believe the Mormon Church has hindered global progress in women’s rights, civil rights and racial equality, and L.G.B.T.Q.+ rights,” he wrote.
The church’s press office did not respond to a request for comment.
In the letter, Mr. Green, 44, asked for his records to be removed from the church and for his only other contact from the organization to be a letter confirming that he was no longer a member. One of his friends and 11 of his family members were also resigning, he said.
Kathleen Flake, a professor of Mormon studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, said this sort of formal exit from the church was similar to a renunciation of citizenship. To return to the church, a person would have to be rebaptized.
“Renouncing it is a political act; it’s a way of making a political statement, not just a religious statement,” she said.
She said it was unlikely that the church, which has more than 16 million members, would respond.
“I think they care, but I don’t think they are surprised by such public statements,” Professor Flake, a church member, said. “They’ve simply had too much experience with it to think that they will escape this kind of public engagement with their moral standards.”
Mr. Green, who now lives in Southern California, was also critical of the church’s wealth, which includes an investment fund paid for with contributions by members. The fund had $48 billion worth of stocks as of Sep. 30, according to SEC filings.
“This money comes from people, often poor, who wholeheartedly believe you represent the will of Jesus,” Mr. Green wrote. “They give, expecting the blessings of heaven.”
The management of the fund has come under scrutiny in recent years after a former manager accused the church of misleading members about the use of the funds. Church officials told The Wall Street Journal last year that the money was to be used during possible economic downturns.
In September, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by a prominent former member, James Huntsman, that accused the church of using the money for commercial purposes.
Mr. Green, the chief executive of the firm The Trade Desk, is worth $5.2 billion, according to Forbes. In November, he pledged to give away more than 90 percent of his wealth before or at his death.
This week Mr. Green also announced he was donating $600,000 to Equality Utah, a group that advocates L.G.B.T.Q. rights in the state.
He told The Tribune that almost half the money would go to a scholarship fund for students in Utah, including those who “may need or want” to leave Brigham Young University, which is sponsored by the church and has an honor code that prohibits same-sex “romantic behavior.”
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As someone deeply immersed in the realms of religious studies, social issues, and financial matters, I bring a wealth of expertise to dissect the recent high-profile departure of billionaire Jeff T. Green from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). My extensive knowledge in these areas allows me to navigate the nuances presented in the New York Times article dated December 21, 2021.
Jeff T. Green, the CEO of a prominent advertising technology firm, has made an unprecedented public exit from the LDS church, citing concerns about its wealth, historical practices, and stances on social issues such as gay rights. This departure is noteworthy not only due to Mr. Green's billionaire status but also because of the detailed reasons he outlined in a letter to the church's president, Russell M. Nelson.
One significant aspect of Green's departure is his critique of the LDS church's wealth, particularly its investment fund, which reportedly held $48 billion in stocks as of September 30, according to SEC filings. This revelation raises questions about the source of these funds and their utilization, especially given the claims by a former manager that the church misled members about the fund's purpose. The article also mentions a lawsuit brought by James Huntsman, a former member, accusing the church of using the money for commercial purposes, though a federal judge dismissed the case in September.
Green's departure is not solely based on financial concerns. He explicitly states in his letter that he stopped believing in the teachings of the church over a decade ago and highlights issues with its historical impact on women's rights, civil rights, racial equality, and LGBTQ+ rights. This departure is not merely a personal decision but a political statement, akin to a renunciation of citizenship, according to Kathleen Flake, a professor of Mormon studies at the University of Virginia.
Moreover, the article touches on Green's donation of $600,000 to Equality Utah, an organization advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. This move underscores Green's commitment to his beliefs and serves as a tangible expression of his disapproval of the LDS church's stance on these issues.
In summary, Jeff T. Green's departure from the LDS church, as detailed in the New York Times article, is a multifaceted issue involving financial scrutiny, historical concerns, and a public stance on social issues. My comprehensive understanding of religious studies, social dynamics, and financial matters allows me to provide a nuanced analysis of the various elements at play in this significant event.
