The Mormonizing of America : How the Mormon Religion Became a Dominant Force in Politics, Entertainment, and Pop Culture

This engaging, hard-hitting overview of Mormon beliefs and history illuminates one of the most critical issues in the 2012 race: **WHAT DOES THE RISING INFLUENCE OF MORMONISM MEAN FOR AMERICA?** "If a man's faith is sincere, it is the most important thing about him and it is impossible to understand who he is and how he will lead without first understanding the religious vision that informs his life." --Stephen Mansfield Mormons and Mormonism are moving into the spotlight in pop culture, politics, sports, and entertainment: including presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Mormonism has now emerged as one of the fastest-growing religions and a high-impact mainstream influence. Stephen Mansfield, the acclaimed __New York Times__ bestseller, writes this important story at a pivotal moment in American history. __The Mormonizing of America__ is critical to understanding our times, our culture--and our future as a country. Backed by up-to-date research, personal anecdotes, and a 16-page photo section, Mansfield examines the influence of the LDS church--past, present, and future. He debunks common myths, expounds on the Church's beliefs, and unveils many of the mysteries surrounding this influential religion and its loyal members. This engaging, hard-hitting overview of Mormon beliefs and history illuminates one of the most critical issues in the 2012 race: WHAT DOES THE RISING INFLUENCE OF MORMONISM MEAN FOR AMERICA? "If a man's faith is sincere, it is the most important thing about him and it is impossible to understand who he is and how he will lead without first understanding the religious vision that informs his life." --Stephen Mansfield Mormons and Mormonism are moving into the spotlight in pop culture, politics, sports, and entertainment: including presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Mormonism has now emerged as one of the fastest-growing religions and a high-impact mainstream influence. Stephen Mansfield, the acclaimed New York Times bestseller, writes this important story at a pivotal moment in American history. The Mormonizing of America is critical to understanding our times, our culture--and our future as a country. Backed by up-to-date research, personal anecdotes, and a 16-page photo section, Mansfield examines the influence of the LDS church--past, present, and future. He debunks common myths, expounds on the Church's beliefs, and unveils many of the mysteries surrounding this influential religion and its loyal members. Stephen Mansfield, the acclaimed New York Times best-selling author, has highlighted the growing popularity of Mormonism-a belief system with cultic roots-and the implications of its critical rise. Mormons are moving into the spotlight in pop culture, politics, sports, and entertainment via presidential candidates like Romney and Huntsman, media personality Glenn Beck, mega-bestselling Twilight author Stephanie Meyer, and The Book of Mormon, the hottest show on Broadway. Mormonism was once a renegade cult at war with the U.S. Army in the 1800s, but it has now emerged as not only the fastest-growing religion, but as a high-impact mainstream cultural influence.