Mitt Romney announced that he has formed an exploratory committee to determine if he will seek a 2012 Presidential Bid. His announcement was made via a YouTube video and on Twitter. “It’s time that we put America back on a course of greatness,” he says in the video.

A Presidential bid is nothing new for Romney. He lost the Republican nomination in 2008 to Senator John McCain. He went on to say that, “…with able leadership, America’s best days are still ahead.”

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Romney and other Latter-day Saints in government intrigue me. I hope all lawmakers everywhere (regardless of their religion) seek to do what is right, by standards higher than those of today’s world.

The brethren have counseled that we should educate ourselves on the candidates and the issues and then should exercise our right to vote. The time for campaigning is fast approaching and as much as I sometimes dread all the political commercials that are sure to air, it is important to take the time to listen and learn so that we can make informed decisions when we vote.

For more information about Romney’s announcement, please visit this link.

I have heard Conference weekend referred to as the Mormon Superbowl. At least for those of us who can watch conference in the comfort of our homes, the parallel is not too far off. So as I sat in my PJs in front of the TV, food at the ready, the first strains of the opening hymn began. While the football Superbowl is characterized with much physical feasting, General Conference is a time for spiritual feasting. And feast we did.

I wasn’t able to catch all of it, but of the talks I watched, one that stands out is Elder Holland’s talk. It was a talk about conference talks and the importance of the preparation of both speaker and audience in getting the most out of the meetings. I found it interesting to note that the speakers are not given a topic on which to speak. Instead they fast and pray to determine what the Lord would have them talk about. It makes the value of what they share all the greater to me.

So, what was your favorite talk? What stood out to you? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below. I’ve been told that some of the talks I missed were really good. And so, if you missed a few talks or weren’t able to catch conference at all, it’s not too late to join the feast. Log on to the Church’s website and see what you missed.

A recent article on LDS.org states that there are more than one million LDS youth who are trying to live faithful lives in a world that doesn’t always agree with their beliefs. Now there is a newly redesigned website to help support them in their choice to follow the Savior.

Brother David L. Beck, Young Men’s General President said, “As young men learn about the standards of the Church and the doctrines of the gospel through the resources on this site, they will be inspired to act on what they have learned. The website also makes it easy for them to share the articles and videos with their friends, and it allows them to share the experiences they are having.” Sister Dalton, Young Women General President, agrees. “On the youth website, young women can see that they aren’t alone in standing for truth and righteousness. Here they can see examples of other youth who are living the standards … and making a difference in the world.”

I am constantly impressed with how the Church keeps up with the latest tools and technologies available to help the members as well as to share the gospel message with those who have yet to hear it. This is truly a living church with a prophet and revelation to guide it. The website facilitates sharing through several social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter.

New content will be added every week, such as videos, articles and resources to help youth. I think Sister Dalton said it best, “With all the evil influences on the Internet, the youth website is a positive place where youth can go online and be uplifted.” I once heard it said that the adversary has had control of the media long enough, now its our turn. I think this applies to the internet as well.

The website is also available in a mobile app format for cell phones etc. Currently the site is only available in English, but plans are under way to translate it into 10 languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German. To access the site log on to www.lds.org/youth

Whenever disaster strikes, our thoughts and prayers go to the people in the heart of the event. For days and weeks afterwards, the media reports individual stories of struggle and triumph. I was eager to read one that MSNBC wrote about a missionary in Sendai, Japan. Elder Hiltbrand, from Pocatello, Idaho, was in the middle of a a gospel discussion when the quake hit. He and his companion spent 24 hours going from their appointment to apartment to nearby church meetinghouse, where they encountered the floods of the tsunami.

Elder Hiltbrand says that he tried to offer comfort with smiles to the people he saw. For him, it was a way to help. The elder’s good attitude and his love for those around him encourages me. From statements by other missionaries like Hiltbrand and the Church, apparently many wish to return to provide relief, but that is already being handled by others at the Church and in many worldwide organizations.

MSNBC also released this article, which I dub “Mormon response time.” In it, readers better understand how the Church operates to help members and nonmembers alike in such emergencies, complete with how even home-teaching comes into play. While these positive articles are a relief to read and make one proud to be a member, I’m proudest of seeing the Church practice what it teaches. In that action is an example for us, exemplifying what the Savior taught.

For  more information, click on the links in this blog. You can read about Elder Hiltbrand in the MSNBC article here.

As we all know by now, Japan has been devastated by an earthquake, a tsunami and most recently nuclear plants in crisis as a result of the disasters. The Church has issued a statement that all the missionaries in Japan are accounted for and alive and well. They are all a safe distance from the damaged nuclear plants.

Relief aid is on the way from the local government as well as from the US government and other countries around the world. Communication and transportation is difficult in the most affected areas. Local Church leaders are working with the government and humanitarian organizations to determine the best way to help. The temple in Tokyo received no significant damage. The condition of other Church buildings is still being assessed.

As the news of the disasters unfolded, I had two thoughts. The first came as I noticed a link you could click on to donate money to help on the home page of my preferred search engine. There was also a tally kept of the amount of funds raised so far. I wondered how much of people’s donations would actually make it safely to where it was needed. While this search engine is certainly reputable, there are many scams that unfortunately arise in conjunction with relief effort. I am always wary of them. For me, I feel safe in donating through the Church. If you would like to donate money to help Japan, you can go to here and donate through the Church’s humanitarian and philanthropic departments.

The other thought I had as I watched the devastation on TV is what if that were us? Am I prepared if the lights go out, or if basic utilities are shut off or damaged? Could I survive without a trip to the grocery store for a few days, or longer? If I have a 72 hour kit, do I know where it is? Is everything in it still good? Take a moment and ask yourself these questions and access your preparedness level. Then fix any deficient areas so that if the big one should strike your home, you are prepared. Let’s also keep the people of Japan in our prayers as they begin the process of recovering from these horrific natural disasters.

Recently I read a headline that the Catholic church has an app for confession. The idea of a religious app made me wonder: what about us? Imagine my surprise when I found that the Church has a group of about 100 volunteers who do nothing but work on apps for the Church. The Church currently offers 4 free apps on several mobile phone platforms: Mormon Channel, Gospel Library, LDS Tools and Scripture Mastery. The church’s first app, Mormon Channel, was launched in 2009 and since then the apps have been downloaded over 800,000 times.

The Mormon Channel app allows users to listen to the Church’s official radio station. Gospel Library allows users to download the scriptures, general conference talks, and a wealth of other Church content including books. LDS Tools allows members to download ward and stake directories and schedule ward and stake events. The Scripture Mastery app helps youth memorize scriptures.

Members with skills can volunteer to help on these projects by searching for the LDS Tech website. To download the apps go to mobile.lds.org, the Android Market, the Palm App catalog, or by searching “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” in the iTunes app store.

I am impressed with how current the Church is. There are many powerful media tools available to spread the gospel and to help the members. These mobile apps are just another of these great tools. So the next time the bishop calls you up to speak on the fly, don’t sweat it. Now, there’s an app for that.

A relative recently called me, upset at a rude email she’d received at her work. It was from a frustrated customer who voiced their frustrations in writing–and probably did not spare a thought for the person reading the email.

As I tried to offer some comfort that the customer probably did not mean the email to be taken so personally, I was saddened by the idea of communication nowadays, and how easy it is to forget that the person you’re talking to–via text, email, or phone–is a child of God.

In October’s General Conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard related astonishment in the sight of two teen boys standing side by side, texting each other back and forth. Perhaps it all starts out as fun. But as the texts and emails fly back and forth, something is lost. And sometimes, something bad is communicated in its place, whether you mean it or not.

Have you ever had similar experiences? Have you ever been on the receiving–or giving–side of a verbal or written thrashing to a complete stranger? I myself have let my frustration come out in anger at a person only doing their job–and it was immediately followed by my embarrassment and shame. What is it about these wondrous technologies that makes us think we can be so rude?

On the other hand, I can share happily that many customers who contact me ask questions without anger–they remember that we are all brothers and sisters, and treat me as they probably would if we were face to face. What uplifting examples they are.

Mervyn B. Arnold in last General Conference mentioned that in taking upon the name of Jesus Christ, we are His representatives. The name of his talk is “What Have You Done with My Name?” The answer gives me both a sense of pride and horror. Pride, because there is no other person I would rather represent. Horror, because how often have I failed and treated another as if they meant nothing and did not deserve respect?

What have you done with His name?

There are reality shows a plenty on TV, every channel, every night.  But there is only one show where losing makes you a winner.  On NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” overweight contestants compete for a prize for losing weight and getting into shape.  This season, 6 of the 22 contestants are LDS.  During the course of the show contestants live on a ranch and do not leave the premises.  So the LDS contestants meet together on Sundays in one of the contestant’s room to worship and share their testimonies.

In a recent Mormon Times article, the LDS contestants talked about how they are not only having a life-changing physical experience but a spiritual one as well.  They are discovering how true the Word of Wisdom is and how infinite our worth is no matter what we look like or how much we weigh.

It seems like there are people all around me lately that are struggling with health concerns and I’ve come to see how important it is to take care of our bodies.  We only have one body and we need to keep it in good shape.  I am also reminded of a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 6:32 that says “…where two or three are gathered together in my name…there will I be in the midst of them…”  I admire the dedication of these contestants to seek out a chance to nourish themselves spiritually. I admire their courage to improve their health and care for their bodies. No matter what the outcome on TV, the reality is there are no losers–just children of God.

These days mention is made of the Church in the media quite often. Usually, however, it is in reference to some controversial issue or other unpleasant story. But recently, there was a happy, positive story about a missionary. Elder Cameron Johnson serves in the California San Bernadino Mission. A local newspaper describes him as having come on a “mission to save men’s souls.” Recently, he also had the chance to save a man’s life.

Three months into his mission, Elder Johnson and three other missionaries were just finishing lunch at a local hamburger place when they saw a twin-engine plane crash into a fenced storage yard. He scaled a 9-foot fence and joined two others in pulling the pilot away from the plane as it leaked fuel. San Bernadino firefighters called him a hero for his actions, since the pilot could have died if the plane had caught fire.

With all the bad news that is reported daily, it is refreshing to read a story such as this. There is still good in the world. There is still reason to hope optimistically for the future. There are still people out there who reach out to others, as the Savior did, and help in time of need. Are you such a person?

Every January the stars gather in Utah Valley.  Films are premiered and prizes awarded.  No, I’m not talking about Sundance.  Every January for the last 10 years, the Orem SCERA theater has played host to the LDS Film Festival.  It is a gathering of LDS filmmakers who get the chance to show off their work and compete for cash prizes. If you didn’t get a chance to attend, here’s a run down of just a few of the new LDS films that may be coming to a theater or DVD player near you. For more information click the links below for each film.

Midway to Heaven -  Director/Producer Michael Flynn, Cast includes Kirby Heyborne

Midway to Heaven is a movie based on the popular novel by bestselling author Dean Hughes. Years after his wife’s death, Ned Stevens still cringes at the thought of dating other women. After all, why would he start dating again when he still has to look out for his daughter Liz? But when Liz comes home for a visit from college, she brings a surprise guest who will throw Ned for a loop. Can Ned ever accept that his little girl has fallen in love with David, a practically perfect know-it-all who drives Ned crazy? With Ned trying to sabotage the relationship, Liz tries to divert his attention to Carol, the charming single woman Ned sees jogging every morning. Together, Liz and David will teach Ned that with love, there are always second chances.  http://www.midwaytoheavenmovie.com/

Other films by Michael Flynn: Friends For Life, The Best Two Years

17 Miracles -  Director TC Christensen

TC’s latest film chronicles the trials and the miracles of the handcart companies’ journey west.

Other films by TC Christensen: Treasure in Heaven, Only a Stonecutter, The Bridge, The Touch of the Master’s Hand

Joseph Smith and the Golden Plates - Director Christian Vuissa

In 1827, Joseph Smith, Jr., was only 21 years old, when he claimed to have received a prophetic calling to translate ancient scriptures that would soon be published as The Book of Mormon. Less than three years later, he founded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that today has grown to be the 4th largest religious denomination in the United States. The film follows Joseph’s early adult years and portrays the events that lead up to the publishing of The Book of Mormon and the founding of a new world religion. The film also details Joseph’s personal life and his desire to find forgiveness, acceptance and salvation from God.

Other films by Christian Vuissa: One Good Man, Errand of Angels

There were also some special screenings of films already available for purchase.  Click on the titles below to get your own copy of these great films:  Life Lessons from Fathers of Faith, Stories from the Life of Porter Rockwell, and Take the Mountain Down.