Famous Latter-day Saints

The Polynesian Cultural Center has attracted the attention of both Latter-day Saints and celebrities over the years. Here are just a few of its most famous visitors.

Every Easter season, I anxiously anticipate when the classic, Academy Award-winning, biblically epic movie The Ten Commandments begins to play on TV stations around the world.

Any discussion of Latter-day Saint connections in Star Wars has to begin with the old legend that Yoda was modeled after Latter-day Saint prophet Spencer W. Kimball, who was passably similar in appearance and mannerism.

Dan Truman and Jason Deere aren’t your typical Nashville-based singer-songwriters. They founded an inspirational hit band that’s captured the attention of the Christian world with its tributes to the Bible, missionary work, Jesus Christ, and more. We recently asked them about their new album and what they love about music.

When Elder Vai Sikahema was a boy, he kept the law of chastity out of respect for his mother. Then it turned into a desire to obey God’s commandments. Now, as a father, Elder Sikahema finds new gratitude in the blessing it was to his children.

One question we hear people say all the time is, “How is it possible that a story this good was out there, but I’ve never heard of it?” Surely, with our great love and interest in our Church’s history—and the fact that these events take place in Palmyra—you would expect we would all know and be familiar with Willard and Rebecca Bean.

1. What is a hobby most people don’t know you have?

In the 1970s, the Osmond family thrilled throngs of screaming fans with performances throughout the United Kingdom. Because of their shining example both on and off the stage, these musical missionaries would play a key role in sharing the gospel and growing the Church in that corner of the world.

Latter-day Saint violinist Lindsey Stirling was recently featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, accompanying Clarkson as she performed an exciting Halloween-themed rendition of "The Upside."

Paul Cardall, a well-known Latter-day Saint pianist, became the first Latter-day Saint to win an award at the Gospel Music Association’s 50th Annual Dove Awards, held this week. He received the Instrumental Album of the Year award for his album Christmas, which had already landed a spot on 9 Billboard Charts including no. 1 New Age Album and no. 4 Classical Album.

All four of the original Osmond Brothers—Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay Osmond—gathered for a final performance together for Marie Osmond's 60th birthday on The Talk Monday.

Bill Marriott puts faith at the forefront of his life, and that's no secret. In the rooms in his hotels guests can find a copy of the Book of Mormon and Bible. At a party celebrating the opening of his $24-million Los Angeles hotel Bill recalled a memorable moment with John Wayne: “He was a very large man and a man of few words, but he let me know exactly what he wanted—a drink—when he said, ‘I understand liquor flows like glue at Mormon parties.’” There was little doubt in any one's mind that to Bill Marriott, faith and family came first.

“I have never spoken about this before,” Marie Osmond said on Tuesday’s episode of The Talk. “My son who died, he was bullied.”

The following article previously ran on LDS Living earlier this year and is being shared as part of an article series that will highlight the life and teachings of President Russell M. Nelson. Beginning at his birthday week and leading up to general conference, LDS Living will focus on the insights and life lessons we can learn from the Lord's prophet on the earth today.

From film to television to music, Latter-Day Saints have left an indelible mark on Hollywood, starring alongside legendary performers in the process. Here are the lucky few whose careers have been immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California.

The story of the Christmas Jars phenomenon is officially getting another chapter! Only this time, fans of the Jason F. Wright novel can watch the beloved Christmas story unfold right before their eyes.

On Fox Sports' Fair Game with Kristine Leahy, Shaquille O'Neal praised Latter-day Saint NBA player Mark "Mad Dog" Madsen as "the purest NBA guy I've ever met." He continues, "I don’t know much about Mormons or their religion, but . . . most rookies, when they come in, they go crazy, including me. . . . Mark was none of that."

Marie Osmond appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday, September 16, and even beat the host in a race to see who could list all of their siblings' names in order. The two talked about Donny and Marie's award-winning Las Vegas show, which has been running 11 years. When the show wraps up this November, Marie will have performed more shows on the Strip than Elvis and Celine Dion combined. "We have been very blessed," Marie says of the show and the numerous awards it has received.

This September has seen countless Latter-day Saint artists topping Billboard charts. And now the success has reached a new peak.

In 1991, Marriott opened the 37-story, 504-room Financial Center Marriott two blocks from the World Trade Center. It was the only competition for the nearby Vista International hotel, which was nestled between the massive 110-story Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

During an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, Donny and Marie Osmond were asked a question many have wondered: Has their squeaky-clean lifestyle ever held them back?

Latter-day Saints havelong dominated the classical Billboard charts. But this week, Latter-day Saints have claimed three of the top 10 spots on multiple Billboard charts.

In honor of President Nelson's 95th birthday, Latter-day Saint artists The Bonner Family, Nathan Pacheco, Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four, GENTRI, and Donny Osmond along with The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square will all be performing at the Conference Center on Friday.

From a young age, Jenny Oaks Baker’s parents instilled in her a love of music and faith—a faith that has become the central force in her life.

Latter-day Saint dancer and violinist phenomenon Lindsey Stirling has done it again with her new music video, "Artemis."

It’s no secret the Sosa siblings, Ezra and Stephanie, have wowed an audience with their high-energy dancing on the most recent season of So You Think You Can Dance. But like any family, their path to success didn’t always consist of the brightest days. In fact it was unexpected trials that led them to where they are now.

Latter-day Saint dancers Charity Anderson and Andres Peñate have made history on World of Dance, twice. In 2018 they became the first dancers to earn a perfect score on the show, and they are also the first Latter-day Saints to win the junior division. Recently, the duo teamed up with the Piano Guys to create a stirring music video of Lewis Capaldi’s "Someone You Loved."

After 11 years and more than 1,600 performances at the Flamingo, Donny and Marie were honored by the city of Las Vegas with a key to the Strip and an upcoming star on the Walk of Stars.

Eliana Su’a does resemble the Disney animated character Moana. There is no denying it. But on the set of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, where Eliana was starring in her first major motion picture as Sam, the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, the popular Disney movie came to life. It all started when Hollywood sweethearts Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively brought their daughters on the set of the film while Reynolds was filming a brief cameo appearance. Their daughters, who are both under the age of 5, began following Eliana around the set saying, “Moana, Moana!”

Despite receiving glowing praise from the judges, both of the Sosa siblings found themselves in the bottom four of So You Think You Can Dance this week.

The tragic death of Latter-day Saint YouTube sensation Grant Thompson has been reported by major news outlets including The New York Times, CNN, BuzzFeed News, The Washington Post, and more. With 11 million subscribers and billions of views on his videos, it is no surprise that Grant’s unexpected death has caused a stir. As these reporters review the highlights of his life, however, many are failing to mention what Grant may have considered his greatest accomplishment: his role as a husband and father in the gospel.

From the entertainment world to the medical field, Latter-day Saints have made several significant contributions to the way we live in the modern world.

In 16 seasons, Fox's So You Think You Can Dance has never had a pair of siblings crack the top 10 together. Until now.

As a seasoned, media-savvy leader of a D1 college football program, Ken Niumatalolo is deft at answering tough questions.

This story previously ran on LDS Living in June 2017 but has been updated to include new information.

Six-year-old Claire Ryann Crosby has been on The Ellen Show more than most big-name actors, not to mention she starred in live-action retellings of The Little Mermaid and Anastasia. But despite her YouTube and Hollywood fame, Claire's most stunning videos continue to be those that testify of her faith, including this gorgeous new video, "Consider the Lilies."

What do flat earthers, Tupac, and the moon landing have in common? They were all recently featured in a skit that won over the judges on NBC's Bring the Funny.

A little over 100 years ago, Jack Dempsey became the heavyweight boxing champion of the world, defeating four-year defending champion Jess Willard in a title fight by way of corner retirement between the third and fourth rounds.

With the recent release of the movie Yesterday in theaters across the nation, The Piano Guys have decided to take their own twist on this iconic Beatles song. "This poignant timeless Beatles melody has always been a favorite of ours," they posted on YouTube. "With this arrangement, we attempted to portray the idea of someone breaking free of melancholy with fond reminiscence of happier times."

The following story originally ran on LDS Living in 2015 and has been updated to include recent information.

A returned missionary going back to visit the country where they served? Normal. Moving there, earning a spot on a professional soccer team, touring nearly the entire country as a back-up dancer, and then starting a movement that involves running down the entire coast of the country picking up tons (literally tons) of trash along the way? Not so normal. But that is exactly what Clayton Thomas Kearl is doing.

Against a striking, alien backdrop, The Piano Guys have done it again, creating a breathtaking music video using James Horner's music from Avatar. Check out this new video filmed in Disney World's Animal Kingdom:

Although Nathan Pacheco has performed a variety of projects throughout his vocal career, his latest album released, “My Prayer,” has brought him “a little closer to heaven” than he was before.

The following article previously ran on LDS Living in August 2014.

Between fulfilling his role as a father and working his job as the chief executive officer of the Philadelphia 76ers, Scott O'Neil leads a busy life.

Surrounded by screaming fans at Madison Square Garden, Justin Osmond watched his dad and uncles onstage perform some of the hits that made the Osmonds mega-stars of the 1970s.

It's not often you see the presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hitting the no. 1 spot on a Billboard chart. But Bishop Gérald Caussé and Nicolas Giusti just took that acclaimed spot on the classical charts with their album Joyful.

Glenn Beck was a teenager when his mother died by suicide. Having experienced depression as a boy, Beck recalls the oppressive grief and the feeling of inevitability that he would follow in his mother's footsteps. "You get to a place to where you think, 'Well, that's just in our blood. That's the way it works in our family, and I am going to repeat her mistakes,'" Beck says in the Good Morning America podcast Journeys of Faith with Paula Faris.

Marie Osmond thanked everyone for prayers on behalf of her newest granddaughter yesterday.

Before his football career with BYU and the Philadelphia Eagles—as a member of the latter he also became a three-time pro-bowler—Chad Lewis served a mission in Taichung, Taiwan. Though his mission was difficult at times, it was while serving others in Taiwan that he learned some of the most important lessons of his life. It was also during those two years that he was convinced to walk onto BYU’s football team, beginning his prolific career in the sport. The following excerpt includes Lewis describing an experience he had during his mission:

"I got a new ministering companion and was so excited when I learned that I had been paired with a celebrity in our ward," Sharon Eubank said in a video she shared on her Facebook page.

Humanitarian leader and businesswoman Gail Miller will be honored with a congressional award for setting an example for youth and expanding opportunities for Americans.

From TV shows to charity foundations to a member of their family being knighted, there is no doubt the Osmond family has become one of the icons of entertainment throughout the 1960s to today.

With Mother's Day approaching, GENTRI released a cover mashup of the songs "You Say" and "Wind Beneath My Wings," featuring Ryan Innes, Yahosh and O/B/A Bonner, and EJ Michels.