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Mormon church hits back at magazine’s portrayal of LDS prophet and profits

The Mormon church is lashing back at a business magazine that parodied its prophet’s mission and portrayed the affluent church as miserly in its charitable donations.

A lengthy story in Bloomberg Businessweek that hit newsstands July 13 detailed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ vast financial holdings, from a $2 billion mall in Salt Lake City to a $1 billion ranch in Florida.

Reaction to the magazine’s cover has overshadowed the article, however. The illustration satirizes the moment that Mormons believe John the Baptist bestowed the priesthood on Joseph Smith, the faith’s founding prophet.