"Either I would build a bridge between the two cultures, finding a way to accept both parts of myself, or else I would remain forever lost between the two worlds."

Voters are likely to know two things about Mitt Romney: that he’s rich and that he’s a Mormon. At the same time, more than one fifth of Americans tell pollsters they won’t vote for a Mormon for president. Yet if Americans understood Mormonism a little better, they might begin to think of Romney’s faith as a feature, not a bug, in the Romney candidacy. If anything, Romney’s religion may be the best offset to the isolation from ordinary people imposed by his wealth. It was Romney’s faith that sent him knocking on doors as a missionary—even as his governor father campaigned for the presidency of the United States. It was Romney’s position as a Mormon lay leader that had him sitting at kitchen tables doing family budgets during weekends away from Bain Capital. It was Romney’s faith that led him and his sons to do chores together at home while his colleagues in the firm were buying themselves ostentatious toys.

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. Somewhere in the backs of our minds, we know it’s about long-ago celebration between the newly arrived pilgrims and the Native Americans, but in today’s culture that idea has taken a back burner to family, football, and of course, the food. Whether you like turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls or pumpkin pie, that’s what Thanksgiving is about, Charlie Brown. The Thanksgiving meal is one that stands out because it requires us to spend nearly all day in the kitchen. It is rare, in America, to spend an entire day in the kitchen. As a young college student studying in Russia, I was astounded to watch my host mother spend hours either shopping at the outdoor markets or stirring a cabbage soup on the stove. Slapping a bag of chicken nuggets on a tray and popping them in the oven was not an option — not part of the culture.

As Latter-day Saints are to religion, homeschoolers are to education—a peculiar people. Yes? Not so much anymore. For Mormons' emergence into mainstream culture, we can thank Mitt Romney, David Archuleta, Napoleon Dynamite, and a host of others. But what about homeschoolers?

I remember learning in an American history class about George Washington, John Adams, and the first peaceful transfer of power in American government. It was a significant moment in world history and one that I haven’t thought about the importance of until recently. Because although plans are in the works for a peaceful transfer between presidents of the United States of America, the reaction I have been watching from Americans has been anything but peaceful. With emotions raging, I have watched individuals and a nation struggle to even consider “praying for the president-elect, for his new administration, and for elected leaders across the nation and the world,” as the First Presidency urged in their statement following the presidential election results.

The Game Show Network's most successful original game show "The American Bible Challenge" is back for season three, airing Thursdays at 6 p.m. on GSN.

The United States men's volleyball team beat Brazil on Thursday, leaving the Americans undefeated in the preliminary round. They played four sets; Brazil won the first one and the United States won the next three.

David Archuleta joined motivational speaker and contributing author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" Dan Clark on a tour throughout the Middle East from July 8-25.

The Mormon church footprint in Peru continues to grow. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently opened its 100th stake in Peru. That makes the South American country just the fourth country in the world with at least 100 stakes, which are collections of five to 12 smaller congregations similar to Catholic diocese.

Katherine Jenkins – the young Welsh mezzo-soprano who was a 2012 finalist on ABC’s "Dancing with the Stars" – will once again take her place on American television on July 21 and again on the 24, when BYUtv broadcasts in entirety her upcoming concerts with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.