Todd Noall
Fact Checked by Kevin Prince
Last Updated: January 5, 2026
When most people hear the word “Mormon,” a common nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they might picture certain stereotypes: conservative dress, cloistered communities in Utah, or lives centered around tradition and strict religiosity. But what is a Mormon, really? In truth, every Latter-day Saint is different, making the question of what is Mormonism part of a diverse and nuanced global community. Faith can shape lives in unexpected ways, inspiring creativity, public engagement, and connections between people of different perspectives.
Here are three well-known Latter-day Saints who break the stereotypical mold, offering unique contributions to world culture and art informed by their personal convictions.
Brandon Flowers: A Rock Star Walking With Jesus
Brandon Flowers, frontman of the internationally acclaimed rock band The Killers, might be one of the most well-known Latter-day Saints on the global stage, giving a unique answer to the question: what are Mormons? His journey shatters the stereotype that religion and rock-and-roll are incompatible. Flowers embraced music from an early age, drawing inspiration from artists like U2 and David Bowie. But his rise to fame wasn’t without inner conflict.
Flowers has candidly discussed the tension between the traditional “sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll” image of the music world and his own religious upbringing. At one point in The Killers’ early years, he drifted from his faith, wrestling with what is Mormon identity as the band shot to stardom. But this inner conflict also crystallized into his songwriting, most notably in the song “All These Things I’ve Done,” capturing that spiritual struggle in rock-anthem form.
Flowers has said that his LDS faith doesn’t exist in a separate box from his music. It’s a part of who he is and heavily influences his perspective, even if it’s not explicitly mentioned in every song. He’s spoken openly about how following Church teachings like abstinence from alcohol and drugs has helped him personally and professionally, improving his performance and longevity as an artist.
Beyond music, Flowers has embraced his role as a father and husband, balancing life on the road with family responsibilities—something that, for him, stems from deep values shaped by his faith. From appearing in the Church’s 2010’s I’m a Mormon campaign to defending his beliefs in the face of antagonistic interviewers, he refuses to separate what is the Mormon religion from his creative life.
Brandon Flowers shows that being a Latter-day Saint often means navigating complex worlds with integrity and conviction, even when the spotlight is bright.
Stephenie Meyer: Melding Modern Gothic With Moral Heart
Few authors have had as dramatic an impact on current popular culture as Stephenie Meyer. Best known as the author of the Twilight series, a worldwide literary phenomenon that spawned blockbuster films and a devoted fanbase, Meyer’s creative force came from a dream that became the first chapter of Twilight.
Meyer grew up in a Latter-day Saint family and attended Brigham Young University, where she studied English. She has been open about how her faith influences her storytelling. The Twilight books are distinctive for their focus on restraint, virtue, and moral tension, themes that are increasingly less common in the Young Adult Romance genre today. There’s no gratuitous swearing, smoking, drinking, or sex. Rather than relying on shock or sensationalism, Twilight’s narrative emphasizes resisting temptation and the deeper emotional currents of love, commitment, and self-discipline. These themes align with Meyer’s own values of what is Mormon religion and lend the characters’ choices emotional weight without preaching doctrine.
Fans and critics alike have observed that Twilight’s focus on abstinence and emotional tension is part of its broad appeal. The books highlight the power of self-control and the beauty of connection without explicit physicality, which resonates with readers from many backgrounds.
Meyer’s work illustrates that a Latter-day Saint artist can be at the center of global pop culture while weaving moral sensibilities into her work. Rather than holding her back, her values give her work depth and distinction in a crowded literary landscape.
Don Bluth: Animation as Parable
Before Pixar and the digital animation age, Don Bluth made his mark as one of the most influential figures in traditional animation. His notable films, such as The Secret of NIMH, The Land Before Time, An American Tail, All Dogs Go to Heaven, and Anastasia, have captivated audiences for decades with their emotional richness, artistic craftsmanship, and narrative resonance.
Bluth’s faith as what is a Mormon has been a foundational anchor throughout his life and career. Like many members of the Church, he believes his unique talents were given to him before he was born. That sense of purpose informs the way he approaches storytelling, mentorship, and creativity itself. Bluth has described creativity as a kind of divine inspiration, suggesting that he serves as a spiritual “conduit” for ideas rather than the sole originator.
His decision to leave Disney, where he worked on classics like Sleeping Beauty and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, was shaped by a desire to create stories with moral depth and emotional truth. This leap led to the founding of his independent studio and films that many people have grown up loving.
Bluth also attributes pivotal personal growth to his LDS mission to Argentina, which gave him a broader perspective on life, storytelling, and human connection. In his later career, Bluth has continued to teach, write, and create, always emphasizing that art should uplift the viewer and reflect truths about the human condition. His work captures themes of courage, family, loss, and hope—universal motifs that resonate regardless of religious background, yet are deeply informed by his own worldview.
Faith as a Landscape for Connection
These three figures reveal a more complete picture of what it can mean to be a Latter-day Saint in the modern world. None fit a simplistic stereotype. Each has navigated the interplay between faith and creativity on their own terms, taking what they believe into arenas where their art can touch, challenge, and inspire millions.
In a world quick to assign identity based on labels, these individuals’ lives remind us that faith is a landscape rather than a constraint. What is a Mormon, really? Perhaps one who listens deeply, creates boldly, and engages the world meaningfully, sharing both heart and hope.
Sources:
https://mormonwiki.com/Stephenie_Meyer
By Todd Noall, Source Expert
Todd Noall is an author and religious scholar at Mormonism Explained with a focus on the history and theology of religion.
Fact Checked by Mr. Kevin Prince, Source Expert
Kevin Prince is a religious scholar and host of the Gospel Learning Youtube channel. His channel has garnered over 41,000 subscribers and accumulated over 4.5 million views. Mr. Prince also created the Gospel Learning App, a reliable platform where individuals seeking truth can access trustworthy answers to religious questions from top educators worldwide.
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