Yes, I was raised Mormon. Through a series of family events and some hypocrisy with some of the members in our ward, I stopped going to church when I was 18, right before I graduated from high school. And then I went to a Catholic university (Creighton), where I was required to take a different theology course every semester.

Because of that, I learned (and grew to believe) in other philosophies; other theories.

I’ve never found my way back to the church. I am what one would call a Jack Mormon (not that they label or judge people for decisions made outside of the church).

But I’m always drawn to stories, articles, and leadership lessons from the Mormon faith. It’s true I’ve been away from the church longer than I was in it, but it’s still my roots.

That’s why I was fascinated to read this article in BusinessWeek about Mormons, their missions, and how they produce leaders.

If you don’t know, Mormon men, at the age of 19, leave college to serve a mission. Some are sent overseas, some are sent to third-world countries, and some stay stateside. Women can serve missions, too, but not until they’re 21. You see, they typically go to college to get their MRS degree, dating and then marrying the men who are just coming back from their missions. But that’s not for all and there are some women who serve missions and then live a long and fruitful married life.

Gary Cornia, dean of Mormon-run Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management, is often asked what makes Mormons so successful.

I’m not going to say we beat everybody out, but we do have a reputation. And one of the defining opportunities for young men and young women is the mission experience.

Because of the mission experience, there are Mormon leaders at Marriott International, American Express, American Motors, Dell Computers, Lufthansa, Fisher-Price, Life Re, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Madison Square Garden, La Quinta Properties, PricewaterhouseCooper, and Stanley Black & Decker. The head of human resources at Citigroup is Mormon, and in 2010 Goldman Sachs hired 31 grads from BYU, the same number it hired from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Steve Young is Mormon. So is Steven Covey. And David Neeleman, the founder of JetBlue. And Mitt Romney, who is running for President.

Heck! Maybe someone you work with is Mormon.

I bring all of this up not to say Mormons definitely do make better leaders, but that there is something to be said for their mission experience. Just like there is something to be said for those who study abroad and learn about different cultures before joining the workforce.

So, the next time you crinkle your nose, think “whoa that person is weird,” or ask the person how many wives their dad had when you hear they’re Mormon, think about all the good they’ve done, both on their missions and in corporate America.

And remember, polygamy is against the law, no matter which religion you practice.

Or, is it sending you too many updates when people have conversations that have nothing to do with you? I get all of the emails so I don’t know it works for you. Please let me know! If you love it as much as I do, we’ll have a wedding ceremony.

If you’ve not testing it out, try it! Let me know what you think. And, in return, here are the top five stories for week ending Oct. 8, 2010.

5. Beyond Foursquare: The next generation of customer loyalty. FINALLY someone else talking about how location-based applications can change customer loyalty by allowing discounts and specials directed at individuals. I really believe data gathering of those who “check-in” will allow businesses to individualize a customer’s experience every day.

4. Seven ways to lead without uttering a single word. We always talk about leaders from the perspective of executives and, unfortunately, this article from Terry Starbucker is no different. BUT I think his tips are valuable for any leader within the organization. I’m a big believer in mentoring and coaching leaders at all levels and these tips work well for all of them.

3. Become reenergized at work. While this BusinessWeek article is written for business owners, it’s applicable to everyone. There are five tips for recharging your batteries, taking a vacation, and renewing your passion for your job (or business). I’m on vacation week after next so I’ll let you know how these tips work out!

2. Chipotle: Rise of a fast-food empire. I actually am not a Chipotle fan, but Mr. D would eat there every day, if he could. What I am a fan of is how quickly they’ve grown and how they maintain integrity to their core values. In this Forbes article, Steve Ells talks about not only how he got his start, but his three secrets to success, which are applicable if you’re a business owner or a new college graduate (and everything in between).

1. Why the revolution will not be tweeted. If you don’t already consume everything Malcolm Gladwell writes, start now. He has a way of telling  a story that very few people have. In this article, he makes the argument that today’s social activism, flanked by Facebook and Twitter, is reliant on weak ties and no real loyalty. While I don’t fully agree with his premise, it’s an interesting and very thoughtful read. Thanks to Mark Schaefer for bringing this New Yorker article to my attention.

And one little self-serving read…our Social Media Primer eBook. It’s pretty, it’s full of tips on how to measure and how much time to spend, and it’s only $9.99!

Have a great weekend!

Then, when I asked each of you what you’d like to read about in future blog posts, my friend John emailed me and asked, “Why is it that during tough economic times, most companies reduce marketing budgets? If marketing is of real value to a company and if marketing works for that company, wouldn’t you increase spending in tough times?”

This brings me to one of my favorite case studies: How Kellogg won the cereal wars of the Great Depression. Forbes, The New Yorker, and several other national media highlighted this story earlier this year, when it looked like the economy wasn’t likely to get better anytime soon. Following is an expert I refer to a lot when people ask me the same question John asked.

In the late nineteen-twenties, two companies—Kellogg and Post—dominated the market for packaged cereal. It was still a relatively new market: Ready-to-eat cereal had been around for decades, but Americans didn’t see it as a real alternative to oatmeal or cream of wheat until the twenties. So, when the Depression hit, no one knew what would happen to consumer demand. Post did the predictable thing: It reined in expenses and cut back on advertising. But Kellogg doubled its ad budget, moved aggressively into radio advertising, and heavily pushed its new cereal, Rice Krispies. (Snap, Crackle, and Pop first appeared in the 1930s.) By 1933, even as the economy cratered, Kellogg’s profits had risen almost 30 percent and it had become what it remains today: The industry’s dominant player.

With social media you can now heavily push your brand, your company, your service, or your product at half the cost of traditional methods. If you listen, build your communities, let your brand ambassadors spread the word, and provide value, your business will come out of the Great Recession as a dominant player, no matter your size.

So my question for you is: If you decrease your spending and no one knows you’re still in business, which creates a drop in revenue and profits, doesn’t it make sense to spend money and time on the new forms of marketing, advertising, and PR?