For some people, the fact that women are not ordained to the priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a sticking point, a hot topic, and even a potential media controversy. Others aren't troubled by the issue at all. But wherever you fall on that spectrum, you'll be fascinated by this doctrinal exploration of a topic that is crucial for both women and men to understand.

Richard and Barbara Winder, residents of South Jordan, Utah, have just become the first Utahns to receive the Czernin Palace Award. This highly prestigious award is given by the Czech Republic to a person or group that has contributed significantly to positive relations between the United States and the Czech Republic, and after more than 50 years of interaction with the Czech Republic, the Winders received the award in recognition of their efforts.

Editor's note: The following responses have been edited for length and clarity.

This year’s celebration had a special focus on the 100-year anniversary of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ being preached in South America.

President R. Kelly Haws had a simple message for BYU–Hawaii students during his first devotional.

A new study showed that weekly attendance at worship services may reduce the risk of suicide for women.

Famed reality show producer Mark Burnett has brought Americans popular programs like “Survivor,” “The Apprentice,” “Shark Tank” and “The Voice.” But his next project, “The Bible,” a mini-series set to air on the History Channel in 2013, may come as a surprise to some. The program, which takes the holy book from Genesis to Revelation and re-enacts it, will air in two-hour intervals over a five-week period. Recently, TheBlaze attended a screening that was hosted by Burnett and his wife, actress Roma Downey (“Touched by an Angel”). After airing 90 minutes of the 10-hour series, the duo shared their passion for “The Bible” project, while also highlighting the intense process they went through to see the series come to fruition (Downey plays Jesus’ mother, Mary).

Ken Hutchins was a 27-year-old police sergeant in Walpole, Mass., when two Mormon missionaries visited his home in 1968 and invited him to read the Book of Mormon. A few visits later they taught him what they termed "the pattern of prayer" – address Heavenly Father, speak from the heart, and close in the name of Jesus Christ. Hutchins, a protestant, had never prayed aloud. But at the missionaries' urging, he tried it and soon thereafter joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That was forty-four years ago. Since then he has given hundreds of prayers from the heart in Mormon congregations throughout the greater Boston area as a bishop and later as a stake president. Next week, at Mitt Romney's invitation, the 71-year-old retired police chief from Walpole will give the opening prayer on the final day of the Republican National Convention.

I was reminded last week, upon reading Simon Critchley’s opinion piece in the New York Times, what a unique stretch of time we’re in. Much has been written about the Mormon Moment. As a columnist, I’ve been watching this moment snowball for more than a decade, from the rustlings that came during the 2002 Winter Olympics up until now. A lot has changed in that period of time. The number of famous Mormon faces has grown, thanks to reality shows, business success, blogging, politics and some best-selling books. The way we’re scrutinized has changed. A decade ago, the media often deferred to non-Mormon experts on Mormonism. Now they reach more from within the faith to source their stories.

The father of The 5 Browns — his face scratched with injuries from a spectacular Monday auto accident — pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually abusing his daughters when they were children.