Check out more information on big events of the LDS Church and its people in 2012:
January 16, 2012
Jon Huntsman Jr. withdraws from the presidential race, ending the momentous occasion of two Mormons running for U.S. president.
Jon Huntsman wasn't in it for long, but he still had time for a few well-written articles to get out there:
Jon Huntsman Jr. picks up a Bush endorsement
Jon Huntsman Jr. debate performance praised for, hurt by truth telling
But it was hard to beat his appearance on SNL:
Jon Huntsman on Saturday Night Live
Eventually he supported fellow Mormon Mitt Romney in his difficult campaign for the Republican party bid against numerous contenders:
January 22, 2012
The Church celebrates 100 years of seminary.
February 18, 2012
Elizabeth Smart married her fiancé in the Laie Hawaii Temple in a surprise wedding (well, surprising to the press). Ultimately their pictures appeared in People magazine and word got out.
Elizabeth Smart marries in Hawaii temple
March 22, 2012
City Creek Mall opens, a big effort by the Church to help Salt Lake City and draw more people to the city that is headquarters for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
First Presidency attends City Creek opening
Mormons build giant mall designed to 'last for 100 years'
March 28, 2012
David Archuleta enters the MTC.
Before he left, he posted a couple great videos:
David Archuleta gets missionary haircut say goodbye to fans
He was also seen singing with the missionaries during April 2012 General Conference:
March 31, 2012:
The Church announces a new presiding bishopric (Gary E. Stevenson, Gerald Causse, and Dean M. Davies) and new General Relief Society Presidency (Linda K. Burton, Carole M. Stephens, Linda S. Reeves).
May 21, 2012
BYU’s rugby team wins the national D1 championship for the first time ever.
BYU rugby teams wins national championship
June 1, 2012
Jimmer Fredette marries girlfriend (and former BYU cheerleader) Whitney Wonacott in the Denver Colorado Temple.
Jimmer marries former BYU cheerleader
July 30, 2012
The Italian government grants the Church “official” status as a religion, allowing it more freedom to operate within the country.
Mormons in Italy rejoice: Church granted country's 'official' status
July-August 2012
Mormons compete (and medal) in the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Several Mormons would win medals:
Valerie Adams—GOLD (New Zealand, women’s shot put)
Tumua Anae—GOLD (United States, women’s water polo)
Todd Hodgetss—GOLD (Australia, men’s shot put)
Breeja Larson—GOLD (United States, women’s 4x100 relay)
Paul Schulte—BRONZE (United States, men’s wheelchair basketball)
Jason Smyth—2 GOLDS (Ireland, men’s 100- and 200-meter races)
Get a full list of LDS participants in the 2012 games.
August 21, 2012
President Monson celebrates his 85th birthday with a gala of songs and events.
President Monson’s life celebrated with night of song, music tributes
August 28, 2012
Mitt Romney is officially named the Republican Party candidate for the U.S. presidency, becoming the first Mormon to be the candidate for a major party:
Mormon speakers at RNC celebrate Romney's faith
Majority of Protestant pastors back Mormon candidate, but some undecided
His wife, Ann, made numerous appearances on behalf of her husband and received praise for her poise. One of our most popular stories on this was:
Ann Romney corrects Whoopi Goldberg on LDS faith
September 30, 2012
President Thomas S. Monson announces new missionary age requirements, lowering the age for young men to 18 years old and the age for young women to 19 years old. Multiple news sources covered the change, especially the significant change for young women. Missionary applications for young women skyrocketed overnight:
LDS missionary applications jump from 700 to 4,000 a week
How the LDS Church's missionary announcement hit home
The jaw-dropping man who helped make missionary age change viral
November 7, 2012
Mitt Romney concedes the 2012 presidential election to President Barack Obama:
Mormon Media Observer: Election - regardless of result - a cause for Mormons to celebrate
Still, many people felt his campaign did positive things for the LDS Church:
And the winner is . . . the Mormon church
A Mormon reporter on the Romney bus
December 5, 2012
The LDS church unveils a new website on same-sex attraction, mormonsandgays.org, aimed at promoting understanding of the issue:
LDS Church unveils website on same-sex attraction
December 14, 2012
A shooter in Newtown, Connecticut, kills 26 people, among them LDS 6-year-old Emilie Parker:
Official First Presidency statement on Connecticut shooting
Pink ribbons blanket Utah neighborhood in memory of LDS Connecticut shooting victim
Jeff Benedict: Witnessing grief and compassion in Newtown
This year also saw numerous temple dedications and rededications. Those temples were, in chronological order:
Kansas City Missouri Temple: May 6, 2012, dedicated by Thomas S. Monson
Manaus Brazil Temple: June 10, 2012, dedicated by Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Brigham City Utah Temple: September 23, 2012, dedicated by Boyd K. Packer
Calgary Alberta Temple: October 28, 2012, dedicated by Thomas S. Monson
Rededicated:
Buenos Aires Argentina: September 9, 2012, rededicated by Henry B. Eyring
Boise Idaho Temple: November 18, 2012, rededicated by Thomas S. Monson