CONTINUING EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE: THE MAINSTREAMING OF THE MORMON IMAGE THROUGH PUBLIC RELATIONS The Public Affairs office of the LDS church plays an important role in expressing and clarifying the Church’s position on various matters, especially “moral issues.” I analyze the substantive and rhetorical issues in the press releases issued by the Church in the last ten years. I will specifically look at the Main Street Plaza Controversy, the 2002 Winter Olympics, and most recently, statements in response to inquiries about presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s campaign. I argue that these types of issues put the Church at the center of public attention and examination while at the same time offering significant opportunities to promote a more “accurate, orthodox, and positive” public face of the Church.

ETGA UGUR and BECKY JOHNS