It was only the latest such incident. In May, the Rev. Al Sharpton traveled to Utah and met with LDS Church leaders after apologizing for a widely publicized comment he made about Romney's campaign that suggested Mormons didn't believe in God.

And two other GOP presidential candidates, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, have personally apologized to Romney after their staffs circulated negative materials dealing with the LDS Church.

Jowers said the scrutiny of Mormonism that Romney's candidacy invites "will be a painful experience for many Mormons" that forces them "to look at themselves through the eyes of inquisitive, thoughtful and cynical others."

Still, Jowers said, there are benefits to what he called "coerced introspection."

Even if Mormons choose to support a candidate other than Romney, he said, "they should nevertheless appreciate the opportunity his candidacy presents. Namely, that the church is finally able to tell its relatively little-known story to a suddenly receptive public."

---

E-mail: lisa@desnews.com