Afterward came the poking and prodding of these strange creatures called Mormons. What do you say when people think you're a cult, when they think you're strange, Jorge was asked. Doesn't it make you mad?

"I felt like he wanted to get some emotional reaction out of me, but I didn't feel defensive or bothered by it at all," says Jorge. "People just don't know us."

And that seems to be the problem, doesn't it.

Allen was skeptical. This family home evening stuff was a little too idyllic, a little too Mayberry — the prayers, the scripture reading, the croquet and Popsicles. Who in this age can get their kids to spend an evening with mom and dad singing songs? Don't the kids resist? Aren't they too busy with soccer practice and dance lessons?

"What is ordinary to us, is extraordinary to the rest of the world, I guess," says Becerra. "Go to any house on the street; they're all doing the same thing. We're not different than anyone else around here. These are just things we do around here."

After a pause, Jorge added, "We felt like we were under a microscope, but we welcome any interest."

Ready or not, it's coming anyway. CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Time magazine and newspapers from around the country have all come calling in recent weeks, and more will follow in the months ahead. They all want to know the same thing: What, exactly, is a Mormon?

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Doug Robinson's column runs on Tuesday. Please send e-mail to drob@desnews.com.