There’s a lot of talk about Mormon missionaries these days. With two former missionaries running for the White House and a Tony Award-winning broadway musical bearing the name of the Latter-day Saint’s Holy Scripture, many have asked, Is this the Year of the Mormon?

Mr. Romney is a former bishop of the ward in the Mormon Church -- one who has given what is estimated as tens of millions of dollars to its core operations and numerous programs of community service and hopeful proselytizing. With the possibility of such a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints becoming the 45th President of the United States, taking stock of its temples and meeting houses emerges as one way to understand the unique cultural contribution this native religion has made across the country. However, as the interiors of these various Mormon houses of worship are inaccessible except to members in good standing who present a validating card known as the "recommend," and as the faith's dogma and rituals are cloaked in discretion (born in part from decades of murderous persecution), the exteriors and their placement in the landscape are for many the only source of prospective insight.

I’m fascinated by the pop science/theology behind near-death experiences. I’ve read the “Life After Life” books by Raymond Moody and several similar books. It was interesting to discover another book, “Glimpses Beyond Death’s Door,” by Brent L. and Wendy C. Top. . . .

Marvel's recent issue of the Amazing Spider-Man contained a reference to anti-Latter-day Saint literature, a reference the company said was made "without awareness."

Eternal Life. How would you define eternal life? Heaven? A place of happiness? What we receive after we endure to the end? The place where God lives? Being exalted and living with our Heavenly Father? I've heard these and much more in my many years in the church. Eternal life was always one of those big general ideas in the church that I knew about by hearing it in context with other topics, but one that I couldn't seem to define. Until one day I read a scripture that changed my life.

WHEN William Hopoate is confronted with a media scrum he shifts awkwardly, clearly out of his comfort zone. But thrust him in front of packed church pews to speak about his faith, and it's a completely different story. Next year, the quietly-spoken Manly winger will walk away from the riches of the NRL to embark on a two-year Mormon mission.

The sale this week of 10 acres of land in Oakland Twp., Susquehanna County, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for $2.1 million has rekindled discussion about plans to develop a site that has sacred importance.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is planning to blitz the world of social media this weekend with a new media campaign aimed at helping "those not of our faith understand that we believe in and follow Jesus Christ." In an email sent from the LDS Church Missionary Department to those who have created profiles on the church's Mormon.org website, officials said the campaign will take place Friday through Sunday on YouTube and Facebook, and will feature "members of the church sharing their beliefs about the Savior."

Life frequently throws us curve balls and our best-laid plans often go awry. But even in those moments of frustration, anxiety, or discouragement, God is always aware of us.

Although the Broadway musical comedy "The Book of Mormon" spoofs their faith, Alabama members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made the best of it during its six-day run in Birmingham that ended Sunday.