Mary Cosby’s Faith Temple: Cult Claims and 2026 Lawsuits

Investigating the reopening of Mary Cosby’s church and her ongoing $6.3 million embezzlement lawsuit.

Mary Cosby’s Faith Temple

Is it possible to lead a flock while claiming to be the Shepherd, the Gatekeeper, and the Almighty all at once? For Mary Cosby, the enigmatic star of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City (RHOSLC), the answer isn’t just “yes”—it’s her family legacy.

Since 1997, Cosby has sat at the center of a theological storm, balancing a life of designer labels with the weight of “Mama” Redmon Mary Cosby’s Pentecostal empire.

As of January 2026, the storm hasn’t passed; it has simply moved into a newly renovated building.

The Inheritance of the First Lady 

The foundation of Mary’s authority is as cinematic as it is controversial.

To inherit her grandmother’s place as the “First Lady” of Faith Temple Pentecostal Church, Mary Cosby was required to marry her grandmother’s widower, Robert Cosby Sr.

While Mary admits the arrangement was “weird,” she views it as a sacred trust.

However, former members see it differently, suggesting the union was the first step in creating a closed-loop system of financial and spiritual control.

The “Emergency Saints” and the Financial Toll 

While Mary claims her wealth comes from an “eye for the finer things,” ex-congregants interviewed for TLC’s The Cult of the Real Housewife paint a darker picture.

• The Funding: Claims have surfaced of members cashing out 401(k)s and losing homes to meet “emergency” church needs.
• The Rhetoric: Leaked recordings of Mary calling her congregation “poor as hell” for their lack of birthday tributes have fueled the “cult” narrative.
• The Defense: Mary remains adamant that tithings stay within the church and that the scrutiny she faces is rooted in judgment of her status as a successful African American woman.

The 2026 Legal Counter-Strike

While the public focuses on the “cult” allegations, a more complex battle is playing out in the courts.

As of January 2026, Mary and Robert are embroiled in a $6.3 million embezzlement lawsuit against former executives of the church’s business arm.

This isn’t just a simple dispute over missing funds. The Cosbys allege that these executives didn’t just steal; they intimidated employees with verbal abuse and racial degradation. 

This legal move is a “Deep Dive” into the church’s survival strategy. By positioning themselves as victims of corporate fraud, the Cosbys are attempting to flip the script.

If they win, it provides a convenient explanation for why the church was “in ruin” or “financial embarrassment”—shifting the blame from Mary’s leadership to executive corruption. It is a high-stakes gamble to cleanse the Faith Temple brand.

What You’re Getting Wrong About Faith Temple 

Observers often assume that the controversy would lead to the church’s permanent closure.

• The Renovation Shield: The church was closed for over two years for “renovations,” a period that coincided with some of the heaviest legal and social scrutiny.
• The Reopening: In late 2025, Mary reopened the doors, using RHOSLC Season 6 to showcase her first sermon in years.
• The Reality TV Paradox: As Mary herself noted, “I’m not gonna get on national television… and be in a cult.” For her, the transparency of the cameras is her ultimate proof of innocence, despite the testimonies of those who have fled.

The State of the Union 

Faith Temple Pentecostal is open, renovated, and arguably more visible than ever.

With the embezzlement suit still pending this January, the narrative of the church remains a split-screen: one side showing a woman “putting people on the right path,” and the other showing a “financial embarrassment” for the saints who followed her.

Key Takeaways

• Faith Temple Pentecostal reopened in late 2025 after a two-year renovation.
• Mary Cosby and her husband are suing former executives for $6.3 million in a pending embezzlement case.
• Allegations of “cult-like” behavior continue, highlighted in the recent TLC docuseries.