With the 2002 Winter Olympic Games came the attention of the world. Numerous print and broadcast journalists have written articles about the area, the Church and its members, and the things that make them unique. Following is a notebook sketch, listing excerpts from articles written in past weeks about Salt Lake City and the Church:

Photo by Shaun Stahle

Interest in the Church puts members under the media microscope during the Olympics.

"Salt Lake is where nice is being slathered on top of nice, and the result is the nicest ever. . . . Niceness is everything in this particular holy land, where 'funeral potatoes' were recently voted as one of the state's top 30 icons. The concept of funeral potatoes (a casserole dish) is an American folk custom of niceness and caring. These Olympics are at times going to seem like a big Pyrex dish of baked funeral potatoes."

— Hank Stuever, Washington Post, Washington, D.C.

"The Mormon Tabernacle reminded me of so many other good places I have been, places where people share their faith, and try to find some way better than the hurly-burly of the world. For me, in sporting terms, this was like going to Yankee Stadium and meeting solid citizens like Jeter and Rivera and Williams in the clubhouse, knowing it is as awesome up close as it is from a distance. No disillusionment. No bad vibes."

— George Vecsey, The New York Times, New York City

"There were images of Mormons taking over the flavor of the Games, of church members spreading their beliefs on every street corner. But on the bustling sidewalks of this wide-avenued city, as throngs of parka-wearing sports fans from around the country and world make their way to events, restaurants and shops, there is very little in-your-face religion. Many say the Mormons have been gracious hosts and these Olympics have been a chance for a little more understanding."

— Jenn Menendez, Portland Press Herald, Portland, Maine

"The Mormon Church kept its pledge to keep missionaries from spreading the word among Olympic visitors. In return it got a public relations bonanza from journalists who found a church that didn't seem as weird as they had believed."

— Tim Dahlberg, AP article published in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.

"No matter, says [Elder M. Russell] Ballard, who figures that the Olympic payoff will be long-term. He sees a day when missionaries knocking on doors in foreign countries are welcomed inside because people have fond memories of the Olympics. The Games also have helped Mormons get stronger footing in this country, says Jan Shipps, a non-Mormon who has written several books about the faith."

— Hannah Wolfson, AP article published in San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, Calif.

"The church's contribution turned into a plus after years of fear that these would be the Mormon Games. [IOC President Jacques] Rogge said Mormon influence was 'absolutely invisible,' but he noted the indirect contribution the church's missions had made in helping welcome the world. Many volunteers were former missionaries whose time in a foreign country had given them language skills."

— Philip Hersh, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill.

"The Salt Lake City Olympics have put The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to use its proper name, in the spotlight. For Mormons, Salt Lake City is a place with special meaning. It's the headquarters of their church. It's the heartland of their society."

— Mark Abley, Montreal Gazette, Montreal, Quebec

"Who has moved more hearts, shown more endurance, spent more time on the platform and inspired more tears during these Winter Olympics than . . . . the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?

". . . The choir has sung for President Bush. It has accompanied Sting and Yo-Yo Ma. It has sung and clowned with Al Roker on the 'Today' show. It has sung for Michael Kamen and John Williams. It has sung on national TV for 3.5 billion people in the opening ceremonies. It has sung for thousands every day during the Olympics. It has sung with a TV broadcaster from Chicago who wanted to join it in rehearsals. It has granted a faux audition to a BBC broadcaster.

"And you thought the Austrian skiers had a good Olympics."

— Doug Robinson, Deseret News, Salt Lake City

"What visitors do here, when there are no Olympics going on, is lose themselves in the remarkable genealogical records available, mostly for free, in two estimable edifices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

— Lonnie Wheeler, The Cincinnati Post, Cincinnati, Ohio