As Lilian Hurtado approaches her sixth decade, her life reveals a pair of absolute certainties.

Preparation: Gather the following items: a map, a textbook, a recipe card, house plans, an instruction booklet (such as one that comes with electronic equipment or an appliance), a set of scriptures. On a large poster paper draw a simple maze (see photo gallery for an example), add these scripture references along the path of the maze: John 13:34, Doctrine and Covenants 119:4, Exodus 20:8, Doctrine and Covenants 19:38, 2 Nephi 31:10.

We Mormons are in the business of baby birthing. It's not uncommon for a Mormon mom to give birth five, six, seven(?!) times in her life. It's a pretty big deal. There is no right or wrong way to have a baby, just different ones; and with all the moms out there, I'm curious to know which methods are most popular. For me, I got an epidural before I even got my ice chips. Let's just say I'm a big baby. My personal philosophy (personal, ladies, not for everyone) is I would never ask to have a root canal natural, so I surely am not going to ask to have a baby natural. But I really respect women who do. Truly. That is some serious willpower. I also chose to go the traditional, Western medicine route with an O.B. and in a big, fancy hospital. But I've read that midwives and even home births are increasing in popularity among women in the United States.

If campaigning for Republican presidential candidates in New Hampshire sounds like hard work, try going door to door on primary weekend for Jesus. That's what Elder Taylor Bayles is doing in Exeter, N.H. "Elder" is a religious title the Mormon Church gives this missionary even though he's just 20 years old. His canvassing partner is Elder Kyle Hodson, who's 21. The two blond, conservatively dressed young men acknowledge that they tend to attract attention when they go door to door. "Generally, walking around New Hampshire in a suit and tie with a name tag makes you in the spotlight," said Bayles.

Lexi Walker, who recently returned from performing "Let It Go"during the opening ceremony of the Beijing International Film Festival, recently sang a transcendent cover of Kurt Bestor's "The Prayer" accompanied by Jenny Oaks Baker and the Lyceum Philharmonic Orchestra.

When the world’s biggest investment bank, Goldman Sachs, holds its annual shareholder jamboree this week, it will not be in the financial centres of New York or London, where most of its traders work. It will be in Salt Lake City, home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the largest Mormon population in the world. The Utah city, ringed by picturesque mountains, is 2,000 miles from Wall Street, but it feels even further than that. Bars shut early, coffee is frowned upon, families devote time to praying together, and stricter Mormons discourage mothers from paid work.

Sometimes when reading articles about the LDS Church, I see approaches to stories that make journalists appear much as zoologists; they seem to be observing the unusual habits of people in their gilded cages.