As Relief Society sisters serve in their callings they accomplish the work of Relief Society by increasing faith, strengthening home and family, and helping those in need. They recognize that enduring to the end in keeping sacred covenants is an essential part of the Plan of Happiness.

You probably won't find them at the bar downing shots of Patron or at Starbucks waiting for a double-shot espresso, but if you think the closest you've ever been to a Mormon is a Mitt Romney bumper sticker, you're probably wrong. As Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, travels the presidential campaign trail, and the musical "The Book of Mormon" comes to Chicago, it's Mormonism's time to shine. The more than 14 million members the LDS church counts worldwide-including 4,600 members in the Chicago area-make it a prominent Christian religion, and shows like TLC's "Sister Wives" (even if they don't reflect actual Mormon doctrine) draw pop culture attention to the faith.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney struck a somber tone in a speech Friday morning in addressing the fatal shooting at a movie theater in a Denver suburb – and he seemingly harked back to a passage from his faith's signature scripture, the Book of Mormon. “Today we feel not only a sense of grief, but perhaps also of helplessness,” Romney said. “But there is something we can do. We can offer comfort to someone near us who is suffering or heavy-laden. And we can mourn with those who mourn in Colorado.”

"This last week has been one of the most terrifying, confusing, heart wrenching times of my life in regards to my faith (I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). But I want you to know, now, after it all, that I feel stronger and more passionate about this gospel than I ever have before. I will give you the “short version” but I feel extremely prompted to share my story."

Conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck [devoted] his entire show Thursday on his online TV network to answering questions on a topic he almost never talks about: his Mormon faith. In an e-mail exchange with BuzzFeed, Beck said he typically avoids talking about the religion he converted to in 1999, in part, because he's "not a spokesperson for the church by any means."

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attended the installation mass for Archbishop John C. Wester today in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The afternoon mass was held at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe.

Latter-day Saints have had a long history with presidential races. But did you know there have been eight Latter-day Saints who have made a bid to be the leader of their country?

“Not everything in life is . . . black and white, but it seems that the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and its keystone role in our belief is exactly that. Either Joseph Smith was the prophet he said he was, who, after seeing the Father and the Son, later beheld the angel Moroni, repeatedly heard counsel from his lips, eventually receiving at his hands a set of ancient gold plates which he then translated according to the gift and power of God or else he did not. And if he did not… he is not entitled to retain even the reputation of New England folk hero or well-meaning young man or writer of remarkable fiction. No, and he is not entitled to be considered a fine teacher or a quintessential American prophet or the center of great wisdom literature. If he lied about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, he is certainly none of these” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "A Standard unto My People," delivered at the CES Book of Mormon Symposium, 9 August 1994, BYU Marriott Center).

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“I’ve always struggled with my testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Tami wrote on her blog in August of 2016. “My testimony was always on high or off. There was no in between. I’m sure people wonder . . . if I had a very strong testimony at times in my life how in the world could I just let it waste away? I don’t have the answers to that question. I’m stubborn? Satan is a jerk? I’m forgetful? I left my room without thinking to pray? Yeah, probably all of those combined into a big mess.”