This past week, with the passing of the Mormon prophet Thomas Monson, many Mormons were left in sorrow as they reflected on his life, teachings and accomplishments. He was very respected and revered within his community and the obituaries detailing his life portrayed him as such.
Yet the obituary written by The New York Times, a publication whose audience is not dominated by Monson’s followers, quickly became infamous amongst Mormons for highlighting controversies during his tenure as president.
Complaints accusing the Times of heavy, unfair bias quickly filled the comment section and social media. A petition was distributed asking the Times to “present an honest, neutral, and balanced obituary.