"You're Fired!"

You Can't Support an Excommunicated Member!

Court upholds firing of LDS employee

Deseret News and the Associated Press

January 24, 2005

A federal appeals court has upheld the LDS Church's firing of a former employee for allegedly supporting an excommunicated member.

Sharon H. Cook had claimed sex, age and religious discrimination after losing her job as a graphic designer for church publications.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled Thursday that there was no direct evidence of gender or age bias by the Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In addition, the court found that the religious corporation could require Cook to maintain a valid temple recommend - written certification of an individual's worthiness to enter an LDS temple - to keep her job.

Note: Maintaining a valid temple recommend requires a full tithing payment (10% of your gross income) and regular attendance and adherence to Mormon "doctrine."

See the questions asked you by your bishop and stake president in order to secure a temple recommend.

According to court records, church security began investigating Cook after receiving a tip that she might have given a former member access to the church's in-house mail system to distribute materials.

After questioning Cook, the officers said her statements suggested she supported the ex-member and held "strange and unorthodox religious beliefs."

The church took no disciplinary action after she reaffirmed her belief in LDS teachings.

However, Cook was suspended without pay in February 2002 after the former member and his wife moved into her home. She was later reinstated on probationary status after agreeing to refrain from communicating with the former member or advancing his views.

Later in 2002, Cook, a non-lawyer who represented herself, filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City.

She was fired in May 2003 after 18 years on the job for her "lack of fidelity" to the LDS Church and for allegedly using the courts to gather information on behalf of the excommunicated member.

U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell later granted a motion by the church to resolve the case in its favor without going to trial, which led to the 10th Circuit's ruling.