Mormon Church members who attain some fame...

Mormon Church members who attain some fame in sports, beauty contests, politics and entertainment have come to expect appreciation from the media outlets related to the Salt Lake City-headquartered Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Thus, in a typical “one of ours made it” salute, the Latter-day Sentinel ran a cover story in its Southern California edition on Glendale comedian Ray Combs, the new host for CBS’ morning program “Family Feud.” Combs was termed “TV’s first LDS game show host.”

The high visibility of talented, clean-cut church members in American life is regarded by Mormon officials as an asset for winning friends and converts to the church. The show’s former host, Richard Dawson, was known for kissing all the women contestants; Combs said if he does kiss any women, his wife will understand that it’s only part of the show.

Combs, 32, served as a Mormon missionary for two years in Arizona as a young man and has remained active in the church.

But Combs said he “was very, very embarrassed” and disturbed that “Family Feud” is not being carried on the CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City, KSL, which is owned by the Mormon Church’s Bonneville Corp.

“It’s one of the few stations in America that won’t put my show on the air,” he told Carolyn S. Allen, managing editor of the independently owned Latter-day Sentinel. She quoted a KSL programming official as saying that the station planned to use a community information program in that time slot.

However, KUTV, the Salt Lake competitor to the Mormon-run station, will pick up the show in September and run it in the evening.

PEOPLE

Bishop Henry W. Murph, 75, of Los Angeles, the prelate for the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s Western States district since 1984, retired from the post at the close of the denomination’s quadrennial convention July 13 in Ft. Worth. Murph was succeeded by Bishop Vinton R. Anderson, 61, of St. Louis, who has been serving as the AME Church’s ecumenical officer. A spokesman said Anderson will continue to reside in St. Louis, which is part of the 5th (Western) District.

HOLIDAY

An important Muslim holiday--the Festival of Sacrifice, or Eid-ul-Adha--will be observed Sunday at Islamic centers in Southern California. The day recalls Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, a story found in the Bible as well. The occasion also marks the completion of the annual pilgrimage period at Mecca. Services will begin 7 a.m. at the Islamic Center of Southern California in Los Angeles and 7:30 a.m. at the Islamic Center of the South Bay in Lomita. Continuing a tradition of the Los Angeles center, a youth group will prepare 500 bagged lunches and distribute them among the city’s homeless Sunday.

LECTURE

Ancient mystery religions and their possible influences on early Christianity and Judaism will be the subject of a lecture at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday by author Marvin Meyer of Chapman College at the Gallery Theater in Los Angeles’ Barnsdall Park. The talk is sponsored by the California Museum of Ancient Art.