Welcome to Monday!

• 🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high of 80.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Lisa Midgley!

This newsletter is 917 words — a 3.5-minute read.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took an unprecedented leap into abortion politics when leaders issued a letter to be read from the pulpit Sunday, supporting one of the strictest bans in the nation.

Why it matters: While the Utah-based church has long opposed abortion, the move is a departure from its historic neutrality on related public policy.

Driving the news: As Idaho voters consider a ballot proposal reversing the state's near-total ban on abortion, a letter obtained by East Idaho News and addressed to all Latter-day Saint congregations there states, "The Church opposes this initiative."

• "We join with other like-minded individuals and organizations working against this initiative and encourage our members to voice their opposition to it in a respectful manner," wrote four members of the all-male Area Presidency over the church's central U.S. region.
• Axios' query to church headquarters was not immediately answered.

The intrigue: For years, the church noted that it "has not favored or opposed legislative proposals or public demonstrations concerning abortion."

Catch up quick: That changed with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, when the church quietly revised its statement to replace that sentence to read: "As states work to enact laws related to abortion, Church members may appropriately choose to participate in efforts to protect life and to preserve religious liberty."

• "The Church's position on this matter remains unchanged," the statement added.

Zoom in: The exceptions in Idaho's ban are narrower than what the church describes as circumstances where it may "allow for" members to undergo abortions.

• For example, Idaho's medical exemption only applies when a pregnancy risks the death of the patient. The church says it may be OK if "the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy."

Flashback to 2008

Salt Lake City International Airport tied for seventh place in customer satisfaction among large airports in North America, according to a new JDPower survey.

The big picture: The airport wraps up its $5.1 billion overhaul next month, capping a yearslong expansion that added local restaurants, bars and retailers, luxury lounges and art installations.

State of play: The airport achieved high scores for its terminal facilities, food, drink and retail options and the friendliness of airport staff, Michael Taylor, JDPower's managing director of travel, hospitality and retail, tells Axios.

Yes, but: It underperforms in ease of travel through the airport, with survey takers pointing to slow TSA security screenings, according to Taylor.

Between the lines: Some travelers still complain about the long walk between the A and B gates, which takes six to seven minutes.

• Before the River Tunnel opened in 2024, the trek took up to 15 minutes.

What they're saying: Any delays can heighten travel anxiety and make the airport feel inefficient, Taylor says.

How it works: The study was based on almost 25,000 surveys from U.S. and Canadian residents who traveled through at least one airport in those countries in the past 30 days.

Zoom out: Tampa's airport took the No. 1 spot in the category, while Philadelphia ranked last.

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🎡 Some Utah State Fair vendors say they're grappling with rising expenses, including gasoline, while seeing customers cut back on spending. (FOX 13)

A 19-year-old man died Friday after lightning struck a shack he was in with others at the summit of Mount Timpanogos during a storm. (Salt Lake Tribune)

☕️ Gramercy, a new tea and coffee shop in the Avenues, opens today from 8am to 2pm at 569 E. 2nd Ave., Bldg. B, the owners shared on social media.

This summer's record-hot temperatures are hitting Utah's pumpkin crops just ahead of Halloween.

The big picture: The loss of crops could make it harder to buy pumpkins from local farmers this summer.

How it works: Pumpkins are vulnerable to extreme heat. Their flowers don't open for as long on hot days, making pollination more difficult, according to the Weather Channel.

Zoom in: The family-run Beck Family Farms in Centerfield expects to harvest 600 tons of pumpkins this year, an 80% drop from the 3,000 tons it produces in a typical year, because of the weather and drought challenges, FOX 13 reported.

• The shortage has forced the farm, which sells the crop to grocery stores in multiple states, to buy pumpkins from other growers, per FOX 13.

What we're watching: How this could impact beloved pumpkin patches like Cross E Ranch or Wheeler Historic Farm.

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Metallica is returning to SLC next year for its first show here since 2018.

The intrigue: The June 19 show at Rice-Eccles Stadium is the final show on the M27 tour, the band announced last week.

• Limp Bizkit and Avatar are joining the show.

What's next: Ticket presales begin today.

• Tickets drop 10am Friday.

🧙‍♂️ Erin will never stop laughing at Pope Leo's reaction to his new green orb. 

🧟 Kim loves the new "Resident Evil."

This newsletter was edited by Astrid Galván.