Latter-day Saints around the world participate in the political process, whether as voters or as legislators. “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulesr, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law” (12th Article of Faith).

You may have seen the adorable video that recently went viral of young cancer patient and Utah Jazz player-for- a-day, 5-year-old JP Gibson. Now, hear from his sweet mother, Megan, about the heartache and struggles of being a cancer Mom along with heavenly blessings found, lessons learned and talents and gifts revealed.

What an incredible achievement by Lauren Jackson, who recognizes she couldn't have done it without her faith. “Being a member of the church has always given me a very strong support network and community within which I’ve been able to explore, fashion and understand my own identity,” she says. “Being a Mormon really colors everything I do.”

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Presidential religious lives are, for the most part, rather unremarkable--just like the majority of Americans they represent. As the 2012 presidential race, and especially the Republican nomination, dominate the news, the religion of the sometimes-frontrunner Mitt Romney continues to be an issue for many Republican voters. Americans have a hard time imagining a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, a Mormon, as President. Yet Mormonism is, perhaps, the most American of all religions, founded by an American citizen and based on a sacred text that tells the story of God's work in the Americas. As many question Romney's religious heritage, it would be enlightening to look at eight presidents whose religious lives have troubled and fascinated Americans, or whose faiths may surprise us even today.

When Darlyn and Gilvert were married in the Manila Philippines Temple in 2007, they had no idea that eight years and three children later, their lives would change drastically.

In 2008, as my book Shaken Faith Syndrome was getting ready for publication, I contemplated on the fact that most of the book engaged the negative influences toward belief; my book addresses these negative influences and provides specific answers to common anti-LDS arguments. But I was a bit bothered that I hadn’t really included some of the wonderful and exciting evidences in favor of belief. So just a few short months after Shaken Faith Syndrome came off the press, Cedar Published my book, Of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. While the critics cannot prove that God does not exist and that Joseph Smith did not speak to the Father and Son on a hill in Palmyra, neither can believers prove that an angel led Joseph to an ancient Nephite record, or that resurrected beings restored the priesthood to the young prophet. Instead, critics attempt to show that Joseph borrowed teachings and stories from his environment to create a fictional Book of Mormon as well as a man-made Church. These criticisms are addressed in Shaken Faith Syndrome. Believers can show, however, that there are many evidences which support and are consistent with the story told by Joseph Smith. There is evidence consistent with the claim that an ancient family from Jerusalem traversed the Arabian Desert in about 600 B.C. There is evidence consistent with the claim that Joseph possessed actual metal plates with the appearance of gold. There is evidence consistent with the claim that Joseph restored authentic ancient Christian teachings that were no longer practiced and/or taught by Christianity in his day.

Can Latter-day Saints fulfill their roles as citizens in the societies where they live and also be true to their faith? Some may question the very premise — why must there be tension between church and country? Religion and government can’t ignore each other, nor need they be enemies. The spheres of spirituality and law differ, but they cooperate best when freedom of conscience and the common good make space one for another.

President Russell M. Nelson’s life has been one full of genius, service, compassion, accomplishment, and even heartbreak.

Latter-day Saints often wonder how we can clearly stand for our faith in our modern world. While it may be tricky to navigate differences we experience in politics, in faith, at work, in our families, and at church, it is important for us to recognize other's agency is just as sacred as our own and to put first and foremost the two great commandments: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these" (Mark 12:30–31).