Julia Evans loves her parents and her three brothers because they have fun together, support her and all want to be what Mormons call a "forever family."

Recently, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joined several other U.S. faith leaders to create a letter sent to President Barack Obama, Sen. Orrin Hatch, and House Speaker Paul Ryan in response to a report issued by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

The Mormons’ adherence to chastity and clean-cut family values has been mocked in a hit musical. But the leading opera singer Bryn Terfel has called for greater tolerance towards the faith after revealing how a musical journey to Salt Lake City resulted in a spiritual awakening. The second-fasted growing religion in American, Mormonism continues to attract hostility over its opposition to gay marriage and suspicion over some of the faith’s beliefs. The Book of Mormon musical mocked the do-gooding naivety of its young missionary protagonists.

On March 3, 2012, Saturday Night Live aired a skit featuring cast members impersonating Mitt Romney and his sons. The actors portraying Mitt Romney’s five adult sons introduced themselves—the first as Tagg, which is Mitt Romney’s oldest son’s name. The other four sons called themselves Tanner, Tictac, Targalack, and Tiggit. (The names of Mitt Romney’s other four sons are actually Craig, Ben, Matt, and Josh.)

Sporting a white shirt, tie, and name tag, Orin Vooheis sat in his electronic wheelchair smiling at people as they entered the American Fork Deseret Industries on July 11. As always, his wife Chartina was by his side.

Donald Trump is arguably the most controversial and polarizing political figure in recent American history, but it's likely that many Mormons will agree with one of his potential nominees for the U.S. Supreme Court.

One of the most prominent displays on BYU–Hawaii’s Laie campus is the large tile mosaic showcasing an American flag-raising ceremony on February 7, 1921, attended by then Elder David O. McKay and Hugh J. Cannon. The two were on assignment from the First Presidency to visit Church members throughout the world when they stopped in Laie. It was at this flag-raising ceremony that Elder McKay, then of the Quorum of the Twelve and Church President from 1951 to 1970, saw an institution of higher learning that would bring students together from all across the globe and then send them back as learners, leaders, and builders in their respective countries. On Saturday, February 16, against the backdrop of this mosaic in Laie, another flag-raising ceremony took place—this time with representatives from 68 countries each hoisting their banners around the historic flag circle at BYU–Hawaii.

July 4 is when Americans traditionally celebrate Independence Day (even though the correct date is July 2, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve independence from Britain). The holiday has become synonymous with BBQs and fireworks, but the event we celebrate is too meaningful to let pass by without something more memorable. In hopes that you’ll commit to make this year’s holiday more substantive, here are 10 ways you, your family, and friends can celebrate Independence Day.

A recent apostolic trip to the southern nations of South America demonstrated the growing ties between the Church and the leaders of many Latin American governments — even as the Church continues to develop in both membership and devotion. On Nov. 14-15, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and Elder D. Todd Christofferson, both members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, together with Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy, participated in a review of the South America South Area. Several training meetings highlighted their tour with priesthood leaders, members and missionaries — along with cordial visits with civic and religious leaders in Chile and Paraguay. Just over a year ago the Chile Area and the South America South Area were consolidated into a single area consisting of four countries — Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.

As the "Mormon moment" extends into 2012, the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life Thursday releases a groundbreaking new survey, the first ever published by a non-LDS research organization to focus exclusively on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their beliefs, values, perceptions and political preferences.Entitled "Mormons in America: Certain in Their Beliefs, Uncertain of Their Place in Society," the survey was conducted between Oct. 25 and Nov. 16, 2011, among a national sample of 1,019 respondents who identified themselves as Mormons. The results validate a number of long-held stereotypes (most American Mormons are white, well-educated, politically conservative and religiously observant) while providing a few interesting surprises (care for the poor and needy is high on the list of LDS priorities, while drinking coffee and watching R-rated movies aren't as taboo among the rank and file as you might think).