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Mormon Empire: Steve Caplin, Image: Courtesy Library of Congress

“How the Mormons Make Money” (Features, July 16-July 22, 2012Bloomberg Terminal), on the financial operations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, generated a large volume of reader response.

We were deeply disturbed by the cartoonish religious imagery and sensationalist headlines Bloomberg Businessweek used to illustrate the cover story on Mormon Church-owned businesses.

The depiction of the moment when John the Baptist appeared before Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, as instructing him to “build a shopping mall and own stock in Burger King …” is insensitive and offensive, particularly to those of the Mormon faith. There are certain subjects that should be beyond the bounds of satire; the deeply held religious beliefs of others should be one of them.