Source: USA TODAY

On February 8, 2001, USA TODAY published an article about the Mormon Church's plans to take advantage of the Olympic Games being held in Salt Lake City next year. "Mormons founded this city as their own Kingdom of God, built the temple that is its visual icon and, while constituting more than 70% of Utah's population, largely sway state politics. And the fast-growing Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...isn't reticent about self-promotion...For the Olympics, it will 'try to tell the story of Mormonism in every possible way.'...The church's central message will essentially drive home the point that church President Gordon B. Hinckley, considered a prophet, has made publicly: 'We're not weird.'" A member of the church's internal Olympic Coordinating Committee explained, "We just want to inform, educate and correct misperceptions." Also being considered are "the church putting out its own Olympic pins, an exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls and a re-enactment of founder Brigham Young's arrival...Ten thousand media people are expected, and they'll find potential controversy among the Mormons, which could prompt publicity the church wouldn't be able to control. Consider the church's position on homosexuality, which it can't condone because it bans premarital and extramarital sex as well as same-sex marriages."