Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to intervene in a case deciding the constitutionality of memorial crosses placed on various state properties to honor fallen state troopers.

Shurtleff requested that the high court issue an opinion on the case after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the 14 crosses bearing the name of a fallen state trooper violated the U. S. Constitution. Prior to the 10th Circuit Court’s ruling, the high court had upheld the cross as a non-religious display for fallen employees.

“With two simple lines the highway crosses remind us of the ultimate sacrifice made by troopers while trying to protect us,” said Shurtleff in a statement. “The crosses only establish a trooper died in the line of duty.” more >>

Mormons who gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah, for their 181st Annual General Conference this past weekend were again met by a small group of Christians shouting "repent," among other things.

The group is a regular presence at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints conferences, often hurling insults and dragging the Book of Mormon on the ground.

Countering the protesters this year, however, was another group of Christians who offered "free hugs" and some "Jesus style" love for the Mormons. more >>

The very red state of Utah surprised quite a few people this week when Republican Governor Gary Herbert signed into laws immigration bills considered liberal.

Among the most controversial moves was allowing illegal immigrants to obtain legal residency through a two-year guest worker permit if a background check concludes the applicant has committed no serious crimes. But applicants that entered the country illegally would need to pay a fine of up to $2,500 for the worker pass.

Under this new policy, which can only take effect if the Obama administration gives the green light, illegal immigrants would be recognized by Utah as legal residents even though other states would still consider them illegal. The Utah government is trying to negotiate with the Obama administration to allow employers in the state to hire illegal immigrants – a federal crime, according to the Los Angeles Times. more >>

Traditionally, evangelicals and Mormons have regarded each other with suspicion and contact was kept at a minimum. But on Thursday, a high-profile delegation of evangelical leaders was hosted by Utah’s governor, a Mormon, at his mansion and spent time engaging with one of the top leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The event involving board members of the National Association of Evangelicals was the first time that anything close to an official evangelical council had come to Utah to listen and extend a hand of friendship to the LDS Church.

“I see the NAE coming to Utah, and not just meeting here but saying, ‘We want to meet at least one Mormon leader and extend the hand of friendship;’ I see that as a very historic and courageous act,” said Dr. Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, to The Christian Post. more >>

A group of prominent evangelicals will meet with a Mormon leader Thursday in Salt Lake City, Utah, for dialogue to better understand each other's faith.

Some of the evangelical leaders involved in the dialogue are: Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary; Craig Williford, president of Trinity International University; and David Neff, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today; among others.

"We hope this time of dialogue with LDS leaders will deepen our understanding of the Mormon faith and contribute to the ongoing work of evangelicals in Utah," said Leith Anderson, NAE President. "For the sake of Christ and his kingdom, we seek to represent biblical evangelicalism to those who wouldn't hear or know. We also look for common ground on issues where we can work together." more >>

No stranger to conservative religious values, Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow proposed the idea of giving Brigham Young University’s basketball player Brandon Davies a second chance despite his violating the school’s honor code.

Tebow, while acknowledging that he does not know details of the incident, said, “I do always think that people definitely deserve second chances because no one is perfect and we mess up every day,” in a video interview with the Orlando Sentinel posted Saturday.

“There should be a punishment, but I don’t know that he should maybe … I don’t know. I don’t even know the situation, but I just always think about giving people a second chance. Maybe he deserves one, but I don’t know the situation,” the outspoken evangelical football star said about Davies’ situation. more >>