In The Book of Mormon Broadway musical, the central character Elder Price sings, “I Believe…” followed by a mixed series of benign and ridiculous claims. The genius of the song is that it so perfectly performs widespread American perceptions about Mormonism in the early 21st century. Elder Price, and Mormons in general, are presented as harboring some naive and strange ideas, but in the end being good people with good intentions who might actually be able to help people. Mitt Romney’s upcoming nomination as the Republican candidate for President seems to confirm how Mormons generally have come to be understood. Even Evangelical Republican voters have largely overcome some hesitancy about Mormonism, perhaps accepting it the way viewers of The Book of Mormon musical come to accept Mormons. Romney may hold some wacky religious ideas, but he is a good person who may actually help some people.

It was a long way from American presidential politics, but as Romanians gathered around their dinner tables one day last week, a national television station aired a 20-minute segment on Mormon core values - close families, hard work, clean living and helping others. Romanian Mormons were surprised, but pleased. With fewer than 3,000 of them in the country, they aren’t used to being on prime time.

The Utah Symphony will welcome Mormon Tabernacle Choir organist Richard Elliott to Abravanel Hall for a concert of the most iconic and commonly performed work for organ and orchestra – Saint-Saëns’ “Organ Symphony.” Elliott will also perform Poulenc’s organ concerto with the Utah Symphony under the direction of young American conductor Andrew Grams, Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m. in the hall (123 West South Temple).

Costa Rica recently staged the Women’s Under-17 World Cup, becoming the first Central American nation to host a World Cup tournament. The international competition drew top teams from 32 nations and captured the attention of “futbol” fanatics worldwide.

By almost all accounts, 2012 was an extraordinary year for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in terms of media scrutiny and public awareness. For a variety of reasons — most notably the American presidential campaign of lifelong Mormon Mitt Romney — the LDS Church was featured this year in numerous television specials, magazines, newspaper articles and radio programs around the world. Google reports that there have been more Internet searches including the word “Mormon” during 2012 than in any of the previous eight years.

Like many Americans of all faiths and backgrounds, I like to pray often. You probably do, too. We pray at church, over meals, at bedtime, before road trips and when life presents a need that only heaven can meet.

A new study from the Pew Research Center shows that 72 percent of the United States public thinks religion is losing influence in American life, the highest level in Pew Research polling over the past 10 years. Significantly, most of the respondents who say religion's influence is waning describe this as a bad thing.

Tourists stroll among the faithful, their conversations competing with the birds and fountains. Old couples walk hand in hand amid a steady stream of brides and grooms emerging from the massive granite temple.Temple Square, the world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, emanates harmony. But fresh anxieties pulse just below the surface.

If you have an ancestor who served in the American Civil War, it may now be easier to find information about that relative online.

Mormon historian Richard Bushman has pioneered an approach to history based on “generosity,” and it's not just for his own faith's complicated — and often controversial — past.