On 11 November 1985 Ezra Taft Benson, a former agriculture secretary in President Dwight Eisenhower's cabinet, became president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

On 13 May 1980 a Chicago theologian, Ralph Wendell Burhoe, became the first American to receive the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion.

Richard Dortch, PTL president, was dismissed by Jerry Falwell following revelations of his role in the PTL scandal on 28 April 1987.

Fundamentalist Moral Majority leader Rev. Jerry Falwell scolded the United States for "bellyaching" and urged that it give "unswerving support" to President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines on 11 November 1985.

Controversial Nation of Islam leader minister Louis Farrakhan announced on 1 May 1985 that he had accepted a $5 million interest-free loan from Libyan leader Col. Mu'ammar al-Gadhafi.

Rev. Billy Graham issued a bold, controversial speech to a convention of religious broadcasters in Washington, D.C., warning of the...