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LDS Church denounces Arizona official’s adoption scheme

Phoenix • A leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says he is “disgusted” by an Arizona elected official and church member accused of running an adoption scheme.

Ronald Rasband, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, told The Arizona Republic the church leadership has found the human smuggling charges against Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen "sickening."

It's the first time an official with The Church has weighed in on Petersen's case. The Quorum is the highest governing body after the president.

Prosecutors in Arizona, Utah and Arkansas say Petersen brought pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to the U.