Romney is not the first Mormon to run for president. In fact, he is following in the footsteps of his father, George W. Romney. But older Mormons said they do not recall their church being such an issue then.

Back in 1844, Smith, the church's founder, announced he was running for president, but he was killed later that year. Rep. Morris K. Udall of Arizona, born a Mormon but inactive in the church, was defeated by Jimmy Carter at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. In 2000, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch of Utah withdrew from the Republican race, saying bias against Mormons contributed in part to his lack of success.

Now, many Mormons hope that the Romney candidacy will re-introduce Americans to a church that they believe has been maligned and misunderstood.

Many said that they had been asked why they were not dressed in black, and had to explain that being Mormon is not the same as being Amish.

Vicki Blanch, a vivacious 58-year-old grandmother who lives here, said she was pained when she overheard a man at her gym saying one morning in May that he hated "Mormon culture."

"I think Mitt will open a lot of eyes to see that the church is really not a Satanic cult," Blanch said.