Jeff T. Green, the 44-year-old CEO and chairman of advertising tech firm The Trade Desk, has resigned his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in a scathing open letter. In it, he accuses the church of financial improprieties, hypocrisy, and of political lobbying in the United States.
Green, reportedly the wealthiest native resident of Utah with a fortune valued at $4.9 billion, said that he unofficially left the church “more than a decade ago—not believing, attending, or practicing,” in its beliefs. His letter, obtained by The Daily Beast, marks his formal withdrawal from Mormonism…and a stunning condemnation of the religious sect.
“The church leadership is not honest about its history, its finances, and its advocacy,” Green, a former Mormon missionary and Brigham Young University graduate, wrote to church President Russell Nelson. “I believe the Mormon church has hindered global progress in women’s rights, civil rights and racial equality, and LGBTQ+ rights.”
Related: Former Mormon college leader denies school electrocuted gay men despite all evidence to the contrary
“Although I have deep love for many Mormons and gratitude for many things that have come into my life through Mormonism, I have not considered myself a member for many years, and I’d like to make clear to you and others that I am not a member,” Green further elaborated.
Green then went on to accuse the church of holding “more than $100 billion in assets,” while doing little to help its members or the poor.
“Instead, I think the church has exploited its members and their need for hope to build temples, build shopping malls, and cattle ranches,” Green accused, “rather than alleviating human suffering in or out of the church.”
“After today, the only contact I want from the church is a single letter of confirmation to let me know that I am no longer listed as a member,” he concluded.
Green further announced that in addition to leaving the church, he will donate $600,000 to Equality Utah. He noted that “almost half of the fund will go to a new scholarship program to help LGBTQ+ students in Utah,” including any Brigham Young University students who may want to leave the school over its homophobic policies.
Green’s sentiments join a rising choir of former Mormon voices critical of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, particularly over its treatment of queer people. Former Mormons Dustin Lance Black, Dan Reynolds, Brendon Urie and Christina Aguilera have all criticized the church’s stance on LGBTQ issues. Furthermore, the 2000s saw the church endure wide criticism after it was revealed to have clandestinely spent millions of dollars to fund anti-marriage equality initiatives.
Cam
More and more of this will happen if the LDS church keeps being run by a council of men who are all in their 90s.
Glad somebody called them out, not only on the Church’s bigotry, but also on it’s greed.
Jaquelope
Really, can’t the same be said of many of the leading “Christian” religious denominations? Greed and their own prejudices seem to be what motivates most church leaders/councils.
I don’t claim to be perfect, and may have said somethings that I shouldn’t have, but I won’t be the one who takes the brunt of Divine Justice for leading so many astray.
Kudos to the man for standing up and speaking his truth!
Openminded
Jacquelope, I agree. I totally commend the guy on his actions and statement but I also totally believe he will have a hard time finding another mainstream church that isn’t doing the same.
joverit
religion is a toxic cancer on society. periot
Fahd
Mormonism seems always to be on the wrong side of history – they were at least up there with the Roman Catholics financially supporting Prop 8 in California, for example.
If Green is not, and has not been, tithing, that is a benefit to him and a hit for the Mormon Church. 10% of the annual income on a $4.9 billion fortune has got to be quite a sum. Speaking of which, I’m delighted he’s giving $600K to Equality Utah, but I say with his money, he should at least double it.
Mister P
Religion is a scam.
Mack
Got that right. They’re nothing but businesses hiding behind the tax laws to exempt themselves. The US has really got to revamp these tax laws, they only benefit the crooks.
baggins435
I lived in Utah from 1999 until 2018. Fortunately, the company I worked for wasn’t based in Utah, and had an excellent non-discrimination policy. I heard stories from others who weren’t native, LDS members about how difficult it was for their spouses to find jobs because they weren’t LDS. During the interview they would be asked what ward they were in, which is the equivalent of a Catholic Parish. They contact your bishop to see if you are an upstanding member and up to date on your tithing and whatever else the bishop wants to tell them about you. Where you live determines which church you attend and which service at that church. If you move, they send your “records” to the new church. A co-worker who had a LDS mother and a Catholic father grew up alternating which they attended each Sunday. He wasn’t particularly religious, and really hated the LDS church so quit going years before I knew him. A bishop is an unpaid position like most in the church. It is a “calling” like going on a mission. Part of the reason the church has so much money is people are “volun-told” to do the things other churches pay people to do. There are no paid preachers in the LDS faith. Plus, they are really, really serious about tithing your 10%. You can have it paid directly from your paycheck. The Temple wedding is huge there, but there is a waiting list to get one. I knew a guy who’s fiance had to call every Temple in the Salt Lake valley to find one she could schedule their wedding at. And it is ridiculous. You wait outside until your party is called for your time, you go in, they have the ceremony, and then you leave so the next happy couple can have their 15 minutes. I didn’t ask what it cost. I met few Mormons who were middle of the road, they seemed to be either the nicest people you could know, or the most unethical. Many LDS won’t let their kids play with, much less date non-LDS kids. Some of the ones at work didn’t care if their kids were serious about the faith or not, they were going on a mission before college and then they could decide for themselves. They changed the policy, but from what I understood it used to be that when the ones in charge of missions prayed over the callings to see where people would be sent, the destination was a direct correlation of what the family could afford to pay as they paid for the expenses for the 1.5-2 years the kids would be gone. So, if you had money, you were needed in someplace cool, or exotic, and if you didn’t…well brother, it looks like the Lord wants you to serve in Podunk, TX. I heard stories from divorce cases where the judge awarded custody of the LDS parent over the non-LDS one, especially if the LDS bishop spoke up. Also, the state legislature is famous for dithering on acting on “controversial” subjects, like LGBT rights until and unless the church comes out with an official position on it. Then, boom!, they suddenly vote in line with church policy.
As I write I’m looking at an old editorial cartoon from the Salt Lake Tribune. It is supposed to be of the LDS Prophet. He is at his desk with the Temple visible from his huge window. He is looking at a newspaper and has his finger on the intercom to his secretary. Caption is “Sister Finchley, I’m tired of these stories accusing the Church of calling all of the shots in Utah. Have the Legislature pass a resolution denying it!”
RTG
I’ve heard from employees at Marriott corporate that the same was true there – you couldn’t get into the senior executive levels without being Mormon. That was in the 80’s and early 90’s so I’m not sure if it’s changed.