During his recent whirlwind stop in Sacramento, Jimmer Fredette made a point to speak with some of his biggest supporters: local members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Along with the usual questions about basketball, they asked the Kings draft pick about his plans as a church member. Fredette said he would become active in his ward. He said he'd speak at Sacramento area church youth group meetings. He told them his faith is an important part of his life.

His audience liked what they heard.

"A lot of people who may have gone to a game or two are now buying season tickets," said local businessman and active church member John Stone, who attended the gathering at Power Balance Pavilion. Others listened via conference call. "You can't underestimate how popular he is in the church."

Though he has yet to knock on anyone's front door, Fredette, 22, has been called the greatest Mormon missionary in the world. He may some day become the face of the Kings franchise, but he is already one of the most visible faces of his faith.

Fredette joins a growing list of other Mormons in the media spotlight. Two presidential candidates – Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman – are members of the church. Radio talk show host Glenn Beck has written about his conversion, and author Stephenie Meyer said her faith has influenced her popular "Twilight" saga. (The latest film in the series, "Breaking Dawn, Part 1," is set to open later this year.)

A Tony-award winning play about Mormon missionaries, "The Book of Mormon," by "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, is also bringing attention – though not the kind faith leaders hope for – to the church.

Church leaders are taking advantage of what has been called a "Mormon moment" by educating others about their faith.

They responded to "The Book of Mormon" with a billboard campaign called "I'm a Mormon," in major U.S. cities. They also released this statement: "The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the Book of Mormon as a volume of scripture will change people's lives forever."

The fast-growing church has about 6 million U.S. members, with about 800,000 in California. Members aren't sure what to make of the attention.

Pam Peterson, co-owner of Folsom Lake Ford, attended college with Romney and volunteers for his campaign. She has mixed feelings about the publicity and how people react to the faith.

"It's good news because a lot of people want to learn more about us," she said. "But some people want to believe negative stuff … I don't know why it's OK to make fun of Mormons."

Though church members serve on boards and hold elected offices, polls show many have their doubts about voting for a Mormon president. In a poll released in June, 25 percent of Americans said they would be less likely to vote for a Mormon candidate for president, according to the Pew Research Center. Sixty-eight percent said the religion made no difference.

Officially, the church is not picking a candidate. Last week, LDS leaders released a statement reminding members that the church is neutral in politics. "The Church does not endorse, promote, or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms," it read.

That does not mean the church will not speak up for issues that members say are important to them, say church experts.

"The church will never back away from principles it's trying to defend," said Gary Lawrence, a political pollster and author of "How Americans View Mormonism." The church was a major supporter of Proposition 8, the California initiative to ban same-sex marriage.

Lawrence believes the publicity has been positive for the church, which has had to fight "an image of a bunch of men running around in the backwoods wearing long black coats and beards."

"Which is the greatest hindrance to the growth of our church – antagonism or apathy?" Lawrence asked. "If it gets the name out there, then maybe people will be interested in finding out what Mormonism is about."

Many hope Fredette brings attention to the faith. Fredette was unavailable for comment, but his father, Al Fredette, said he's focusing on basketball, despite the NBA lockout, and being a good church member. "That's the way he has always been."

Fredette will play in the upcoming celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe next week, according to Greg Drennan of Folsom, co-chair of the Brigham Young University Alumni Association, Sacramento Chapter. Drennan has arranged for housing for the Fredette family in Tahoe. And a contingent of LDS members plan to make the trip to see him.

In the meeting with members of the LDS community, church members said they wanted him to know he has a lot of supporters here.

"There's a big BYU community and they plan to buy a lot of Kings tickets," Drennan said.

Al Fredette said he expects his son to devote time to his church and his faith. The basketball player attended home study seminary every morning before school as a teenager.

"He knows everything is easy when things are great. And it's hard when your shots are off and you have a nagging injury," said Al Fredette. "His faith will help him get through those times."

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