The Mormonizing of America

How the Mormon Religion Became a Dominant Force in Politics, Entertainment, and Pop Culture

By: Stephen Mansfield

Narrated by: John McLain

What the Mormonizing of America means for the nation, the world—and for you. A century ago, there was one Mormon celebrity in the United States—a member of Congress so controversial, his confirmation hearing lasted four years. The Latter-day Saints’ practice of polygamy had ended only a decade or so before. Mormons were a despised sect with almost no standing or credibility in American culture. Today, Mormons number in the millions. Their members include some of the most prominent people in the world: the Marriott family; Stephen Covey; Mitt Romney; Glenn Beck; the Osmonds; Stephenie Meyer, author of the best-selling Twilight vampire novels; David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue; and more than a dozen members of Congress. In The Mormonizing of America, New York Times best-selling author Stephen Mansfield tells the story of the faith that has become one of the country’s most influential religions and how it has ascended to astonishing power in American society. In his fair and thought-provoking way, he also unveils what Mormons believe and why it matters for America, the world—and for you.

interesting but not quite right...

I am LDS and am open to others views. find this an enjoyable critique on my own faith. however I do think the author speaks to authoritatively on a faith he obviously researched, but still does not completely know. he's more right than wrong and appreciate his attempt.

Mansfield at His Finest

Well written and researched, Stephen Mansfield not only gives a historical perspective, but sow excellent points on how the Church and those of LDS faith can portray themselves and the other with compassion.

Easy Listen

Respectful and informing from both points of view. Very easy to listen to and understand.

Its pretty objective.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. I probably shouldn't comment on this book, but on the other hand, it's a free country. My initial reason for buying this book was morbid curiosity I originally had thought this book was going to be about politics. However, for the most part it's actually an overlook of the church itself. It does delve into a little bit of here's why the church is good. Here's why church the church is bad, etc. but it takes a pretty objective view and it brings up points I had never thought of. Or even heard of before. I highly recommend this book for anybody who just wants to know about the church without being preached to about the church. Kind of like a text book overview of the entire church that you'd find for a religious college course. On the technical note the author is incredibly engaging and it's fairly easy to just listen to it from start to finish in one go it is pretty entertaining honestly, even when it's brutal.

Very Well Done

This book was exactly what I was hoping for... a somewhat objective outsider's view of LDS. I felt like Mansfield presented the facts of the history of Mormons in a fair and honest light, pointing out the good and the bad of the church and its history without attempt to shame or discredit the "saints".

"The Mormon people have often been better than their leaders and the doctrines they have been given." I particularly liked this quote in the book.