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Learning How God Moves Slowly with Rachel Cope

In the church, we often colloquially refer to a trial as something we’re “going through.” As if there is a finish line, or even a moment in time that we just need to get by. But perhaps the real need is to slow down in our hard times and find out what it is we can learn when we simply sit with them.

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What percentage of Americans are praying? New survey finds surprising results

By Haley Lundberg

See the surprising results of a new survey investigating how, where, and when Americans pray.

Heidi S. Swinton

Heidi S. Swinton is an award-winning author and screenwriter whose works include the PBS documentaries American Prophet; Sacred Stone; Sweetwater Rescue; Trail of Hope; and America’s Choir. She is the author of President Thomas S. Monson’s official biography, To the Rescue. She has served on the Relief Society general board and as a member of Church writing committees. She served with her husband, Jeffrey C. Swinton, as he presided over the England London South Mission (2006–2009) and as he directed the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors Center (2016-2018); they are the parents of five sons, four living, and have 13 grandchildren.

Patrick Q. Mason

Mason is an associate professor of religious studies and history at Utah State University, where he holds the Leonard J. Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture. A Utah native, Mason was trained in American history at Brigham Young University and the University of Notre Dame. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Romania, has served on the boards of the Mormon History Association and Dialogue Foundation, and is an advisor and contributor to Faith Matters. Mason currently lives with his wife Melissa and their four children in Logan, Utah.

Mormonism shows American values

There has been heated speculation about what it will mean to have a Mormon in the White House. Because Mormons believe their “president” — the head of their Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — is God’s prophet on earth, will a Mormon president of the United States be bound to obey whatever this man says? Again, Americans do not seem much astir about such things. Even so, with these concerns laid aside, many voters might not recognize an often undervalued feature of the faith: How it might help a Mormon lead in the Oval Office. This possibility arises from the emphasis the faith places upon patriotism, civic duty and morality in government — American government in particular.

Kenneth Rooks: A Tale of Two Steeplechase Races

Olympic silver medalist Kenneth Rooks shocked the world when he worked his way from the back of the pack to become the second American to medal in the 3,000-meter steeplechase since 1984. But those who recognized Rooks’ name know that this isn’t the first time he’s come from behind. In fact, in 2023, Rooks fell in his third lap at the USA Track and Field Nationals but came back to win the race. Both races were a spectacle—incredible athletic feats—and, on today’s episode, we talk with Rooks about what he’s learned from them.

The surprising faith of 8 American presidents

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.

Latter-day Saint Life

Survey On How Americans Spend Their Time Reveals Surprising Results About Home Life

MR says: How and where do you spend most of your time? Check out how you compare with the rest of America.

LDS Church hosts African American genealogical conference

“I want to start with the common belief we have that African-American personal histories are unknown and unknowable. Indeed, this is a common idea both among professional historians and among those of us who do genealogies,” stated Dr. Leslie Harris, keynote speaker at the 9th annual African-American Genealogy Conference held March 9 at the Harlem LDS meetinghouse. Sponsored by the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society and the Church, the conference drew many attendees from the greater New York metropolitan area.

What do Americans think about Mormons?

Many Utahns may have been surprised to learn that only four in 10 Americans correctly identified Mitt Romney as a Mormon in the July Public Religion Research Institute/Religion New Service Religion News Survey. But perhaps that's not so surprising, given the percentage of Americans who say they don't know much about Mormons in general.