Teens Cause Over $20,000 Worth of Damage to LDS Chapel in Oregon

Patrons of an LDS church building in Oregon are baffled by the severe vandalism left behind earlier this week.

“It really shakes you up, you don’t expect it, it comes as a surprise,” said Reed Curtis, ward clerk at the vandalized building for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Church members were taken by surprise Monday morning when they found a mess inside the building.

Police say two male teens, 15 and 16 years old, broke in through a window and vandalized the church.

The two teens took a hammer to the walls and beat up electronic equipment. Clerk offices were smashed up, the basketball court was trashed, and even a picture of Jesus Christ was defaced.

“A church isn’t a place you expect to have a security system and add security to the premise, it should be a safe place,” said Curtis.

The damage is estimated to be around $20,000 to $30,000.

Read what Church members said they would say to the teenagers if they were to show up Sunday at KSL.com.

Aleah Ingram

Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast “Single to the Glory” about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.