An unknown vandal spray-painted a message on the north wall of The Church of Latter-day Saints on Ingram Street last week.

“Exaltation is a lie,” was found written in black spray paint on the outside back wall of the church. Next to the words was what appears to be a pentagram, also marked by black spray paint.

Lance Smith, branch president of the church, said the incident must have occurred sometime between Christmas Eve on Tuesday and early Friday morning.

A church member noticed the vandalism Friday morning and then called the police.

“It’s really a shame that this happened during Christmas time. It stands against everything we teach about Jesus Christ,” Smith said Saturday.

“We will try to turn this into something positive,” he added.

Smith has been branch president of the church for seven years. He has been a church member and Mormon for close to 30 years.

In part, “exaltation” is the Mormon belief that mankind can continue to live in God’s presence and continue as families.