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In the News

Mitt Romney’s years as a Mormon church leader

The Republican presidential candidate’s decades as a bishop and stake president demonstrate an assurance with the church, a confidence in his authority and a deep spirituality.

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The Longfellow Park Chapel in Cambridge, Mass. Blessed with one of the most renowned names in Mormonism and eager to fulfill his ecclesiastical and spiritual destiny, Mitt Romney beat a decade-long path through the intellectually dynamic Longfellow Park Chapel, where antiwar liberals, brilliant academics, John Birch Society members and fellow business students all worshiped together under a rose window.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sing a hymn during a sacrament meeting inside the Longfellow Park Chapel in Cambridge

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sing a hymn during a sacrament meeting inside the Longfellow Park Chapel in Cambridge

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Church members mingle after a sacrament meeting inside the Longfellow Park Chapel. Romney’s church service at Longfellow in the 1970s — when he served as a bishop’s assistant, a religion teacher to teenagers and a networking member of a council of church elders — put him in a position, at the relatively young age of 34, to answer the calling of bishop.

Church members mingle after a sacrament meeting inside the Longfellow Park Chapel. Romney’s church service at Longfellow in the 1970s — when he served as a bishop’s assistant, a religion teacher to teenagers and a networking member of a council of church elders — put him in a position, at the relatively young age of 34, to answer the calling of bishop.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

The Belmont meetinghouse in Belmont, Mass., where Romney held the position of bishop.

The Belmont meetinghouse in Belmont, Mass., where Romney held the position of bishop.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Grant Bennett, who succeeded Mitt Romney as bishop of the Belmont meetinghouse, stands in the office Romney occupied when he held the position. Romney told Bennett, his counselor at the time he held the bishop position, that he wanted everyone in the congregation to “feel something in common with someone in the bishopric.”

Grant Bennett, who succeeded Mitt Romney as bishop of the Belmont meetinghouse, stands in the office Romney occupied when he held the position. Romney told Bennett, his counselor at the time he held the bishop position, that he wanted everyone in the congregation to “feel something in common with someone in the bishopric.”

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and missionaries wait for a Sunday school class to begin in Belmont. As bishop in Belmont in the 1980s, Mitt Romney acted as a marriage counselor and a mentor to troubled teens and provided a willing ear to lonely widows. He called on those in his flock struggling with a crisis in faith to publicly meditate on their problems at sacrament meetings.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and missionaries wait for a Sunday school class to begin in Belmont. As bishop in Belmont in the 1980s, Mitt Romney acted as a marriage counselor and a mentor to troubled teens and provided a willing ear to lonely widows. He called on those in his flock struggling with a crisis in faith to publicly meditate on their problems at sacrament meetings.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Grant Bennett walks down the aisle of the Belmont chapel. The chapel's centerpiece is a pipe organ that was funded partially by Romney's donation to the church.

Grant Bennett walks down the aisle of the Belmont chapel. The chapel's centerpiece is a pipe organ that was funded partially by Romney's donation to the church.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Inside the Belmont meetinghouse. In a building that prominently featured a depiction of Jesus instructing a rich young man to give his treasure to the poor, Romney reached out to the network of business leaders in the congregation to help put people on solid financial footing.

Inside the Belmont meetinghouse. In a building that prominently featured a depiction of Jesus instructing a rich young man to give his treasure to the poor, Romney reached out to the network of business leaders in the congregation to help put people on solid financial footing.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

A Sunday school class at the Belmont meetinghouse. Bennett recalled Romney, who set aside Tuesday nights for annual one-on-one meetings with young members, poring over lists of birthdays to make sure he saw everyone.

A Sunday school class at the Belmont meetinghouse. Bennett recalled Romney, who set aside Tuesday nights for annual one-on-one meetings with young members, poring over lists of birthdays to make sure he saw everyone.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

A Sunday school class at the Belmont meetinghouse. Romney was also honing his political and financial skills as bishop. When the growing congregation’s new $1.6 million chapel in Belmont burned down in a case of suspected arson — “We weren’t wanted,” he later told the church publication Ensign — Romney capitalized on the outpouring of sympathy to build ties to the larger religious community.

A Sunday school class at the Belmont meetinghouse. Romney was also honing his political and financial skills as bishop. When the growing congregation’s new $1.6 million chapel in Belmont burned down in a case of suspected arson — “We weren’t wanted,” he later told the church publication Ensign — Romney capitalized on the outpouring of sympathy to build ties to the larger religious community.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Tony Kimball, who served as executive secretary when Mitt Romney was stake president, stands in front of the Mormon temple in Belmont, Mass. Romney played a crucial role in getting the temple built.

Tony Kimball, who served as executive secretary when Mitt Romney was stake president, stands in front of the Mormon temple in Belmont, Mass. Romney played a crucial role in getting the temple built.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

The Mount Hope meetinghouse in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston. Romney oversaw construction of the mostly immigrant Mormon church in the late 1980s when he was a stake president.

The Mount Hope meetinghouse in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston. Romney oversaw construction of the mostly immigrant Mormon church in the late 1980s when he was a stake president.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Stake President Mitt Romney, third from left, wields a shovel during the 1988 groundbreaking ceremony for a new church facility in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston. Romney had encouraged the mostly immigrant congregation to increase its attendance to justify a new Boston building to church headquarters.

Stake President Mitt Romney, third from left, wields a shovel during the 1988 groundbreaking ceremony for a new church facility in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston. Romney had encouraged the mostly immigrant congregation to increase its attendance to justify a new Boston building to church headquarters.

John Barrus

Celestine Benjamin, 67, from Barbados, remembers the opening of the Mount Hope meetinghouse. She is a founding member. “It was such a joy,” Benjamin said.

Celestine Benjamin, 67, from Barbados, remembers the opening of the Mount Hope meetinghouse. She is a founding member. “It was such a joy,” Benjamin said.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Esther Corbin, 83 , like Benjamin from Barbados, took her shovel home after the 1988 church groundbreaking ceremony and kept it for 25 years.

Esther Corbin, 83 , like Benjamin from Barbados, took her shovel home after the 1988 church groundbreaking ceremony and kept it for 25 years.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Members of the Church of Latter-day Saints gather for a Sunday school class inside the Mount Hope meetinghouse in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston.

Members of the Church of Latter-day Saints gather for a Sunday school class inside the Mount Hope meetinghouse in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

A print of Del Parson’s 'Jesus at the Door' adorns a hall inside the Mount Hope meetinghouse.

A print of Del Parson’s "Jesus at the Door" adorns a hall inside the Mount Hope meetinghouse.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather for a Sunday-school class inside the Mount Hope meetinghouse in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather for a Sunday-school class inside the Mount Hope meetinghouse in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Church members gather outside after Sunday services at the Mount Hope meetinghouse. First as a counselor and then as a suburban bishop with a keen sense of the Mormon Church’s void in the inner city, Romney saw a church presence in the Boston neighborhood as important.

Church members gather outside after Sunday services at the Mount Hope meetinghouse. First as a counselor and then as a suburban bishop with a keen sense of the Mormon Church’s void in the inner city, Romney saw a church presence in the Boston neighborhood as important.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

The Weston meetinghouse in Weston, Mass., where Mitt Romney was based when he was the church's stake president for the Boston area.

The Weston meetinghouse in Weston, Mass., where Mitt Romney was based when he was the church's stake president for the Boston area.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Ron Scott, center, and other church members talk in the hallway of the Weston meetinghouse.

Ron Scott, center, and other church members talk in the hallway of the Weston meetinghouse.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

Church member Ron Scott clears off the conference room table at the Weston meetinghouse. As stake president based in Weston, Mitt Romney was the chief Mormon authority in the Boston area.

Church member Ron Scott clears off the conference room table at the Weston meetinghouse. As stake president based in Weston, Mitt Romney was the chief Mormon authority in the Boston area.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

The Mormon temple in Belmont.

The Mormon temple in Belmont.

Gretchen Ertl / For The Washington Post

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