Shrine Bowl player from South Pointe chooses Mormon mission over college scholarship (Rock Hill Herald)

One of the first of many visible high school seniors to be preparing for a mission under the new age guidelines. He’s even graduating a semester early to enter the MTC in February. Read about this South Carolina youth in Andrew Dys’ article.

Mormon church in Richmond draws in Latino converts (Richmond Confidential)

At the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Richmond, its members demonstrate the success the church has made in Latin America, the place of origin for many new converts. Read more on Rachel de Leon’s piece here.

What would a Mormon White House look like? (CNN)

From alcohol to home decor to home teaching, CNN guesses what having a Mormon in the White House would look like, in Jessica Ravitz’s piece here.

While Romney didn’t serve in military, many Mormons do (Reuters)

Guy Hicks, a Mormon and former officer in the Army Reserve Special Forces, said there is a public misperception that members of the Mormon Church do not serve in the military. The participation of Mormons in the armed forces is roughly equivalent to their proportion of the population, according to David Alexander and Jennifer Dobner’s collaboration.

LDS Charities gives $1 million in humanitarian effort for Syrian refugees (Deseret News)

“Our focus has been on the particular needs of women and children,” Sharon Eubank, director of LDS Charities said recently. Read more of Joseph Walker’s report here.

LDS missionary applications jump 471 percent (Deseret News)

During the last two weeks, nearly five times the typical number of young Latter-day Saints have begun the application process to serve as full-time missionaries. See why in Joseph Walker’s article here.

Speaking in tongues — Mormon style (Salt Lake Tribune)

“For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language.” (Doctrine and Covenants 90:11). Learn more about the 199 congregations in Utah that hold services in languages other than English here, courtesy of Lee Davidson.

Missionary preparation: Young Men general president answers questions about new policy (LDS Church News)

All should feel an urgency today in seeing that young men consistently fulfill their duty to God. Read more of Jason Swenson’s Q&A with Brother David L. Beck here.