Spotlight

The ‘Mormon moment’ in America

Daniel Burke

(RNS) "The Book of Mormon" swept the Tony Awards on Broadway in a sign of cultural acceptance, but some Mormons say pop culture portrayals of their faith hurt their image. Religion News Service file photo courtesy Joan Marcus.

(RNS4-MAY24) The Celestial room of the Manhattan temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See RNS-MORMONS-NEWYORK, transmitted May 24, 2004. Photo courtesy the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

(RNS1-SEPT14) Illustration by Amy Lewis/The Salt Lake Tribune.

(RNS) Joseph Smith founded the Mormon faith after he said he was visited in a grove of trees by God and Jesus; he was the first Mormon to run for president, but not the last. RNS file photo courtesy of the Museum of Church History and Art/The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

(RNS1-JAN25) The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched the "I'm a Mormon" campaign last summer in a bid to educate the public and break down stereotypes. For use with RNS-FAITHS-ADS, transmitted Jan. 25, 2010. RNS photo via The Salt Lake Tribune.

(RNS) Thomas S. Monson is the next president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. RNS photo courtesy Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Michael Patrick and Eduardo Martins, both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, observe Temple Square from an observation deck in Salt Lake City, Photo by Jerilee Bennett.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' "I'm a Mormon" ad campaign features testimonials from black Mormons, even though some remain troubled by the church's racist past. RNS photo courtesy LDS Church.

A Mormon in the White House would bring new levels of scrutiny from Republicans uneasy about the faith, and from Democrats concerned about its conservative political posture. RNS photo courtesy Gage Skidmore.

A Mormon leads the field for the GOP presidential nomination, a musical based on Mormonism plays to overflow crowds on Broadway and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may soon grow to become the third largest church in the United States. And yet, surveys show that Americans know relatively little about this homegrown religion, which was founded in 1830 by a charismatic New Yorker named Joseph Smith. The articles and photos collected in this special section explore controversial moments in Mormon history, how LDS leaders might influence a Mormon in the White House and how Latter-day Saints themselves feel about starring in America's "Mormon moment."

Mormon leaders told to stay out of politics

Lee Davidson | Jun 30, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Mormon officials are telling their top, full-time leaders that they and their spouses should not participate in political campaigns, including making donations or endorsing candidates. However, part-time leaders -- including local and regional congregational leaders -- are s...
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Mormons launch group to defend against media attacks

Peggy Fletcher Stack | Aug 5, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) With two Mormons in the presidential campaign and a hit Broadway show about LDS missionaries, a group of church loyalists felt the time was ripe to begin scrutinizing media reports for inaccuracies about the Utah-based faith. On Thursday (Aug.4) the Foundation for Apologetic...
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Mormons see potential in online proselytizing

Peggy Fletcher Stack | Jul 29, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Not so long ago, Mormon missionaries were prohibited from using the Internet, even to contact their families. The system then loosened a bit to allow weekly e-mails home and some occasional viewing of church materials. Now the nearly 14 million-member Church of Jesus Chri...
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Well before Romney, Mormon founder ran for president

Daniel Burke | Oct 25, 2011

(RNS) For all the political hubbub over Mormonism, you might have thought Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman are the first Mormons to run for president. In fact, 11 Latter-day Saints have campaigned for the White House, including the faith's founder, Joseph Smith. A barrage of bullets cut short S...
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Mormons catch a glimpse of life in the big leagues

Peggy Fletcher Stack | Sep 14, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY (RNS) Mormons have been making headlines across the nation -- from HBO's "Big Love" to California's Proposition 8, from American Idol wannabe David Archuleta to "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer, from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to conservative icon Glenn Beck. Church spo...
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