Editor's note:  The "So You Think You Can Dance" winner will be announced tonight on FOX television.  Check local listings for times and stations.

This summer, many LDS members have enjoyed gathering their families to watch Benji Schwimmer, a finalist on Fox TV's popular program, "So You Think You Can Dance." Benji is not only a versatile and charismatic dancer, but also an active member of the Church.

As LDS fans rally behind Benji, they cheer what Benji represents ― great talent refreshingly combined with outstanding character.

Tonight, in the Fox network two-part finale conclusion, viewers will discover who among the four finalists will win ― Benji, his cousin Heidi Groskreutz, Donyelle Jones (Benji's partner for most of the competition), or Virginia native Travis Wall. When asked if he felt worried competing against his cousin, Benji said they weren't in competition.

"Heidi and I are just so honored to be together till the end [of the competition]," Benji explained. It doesn't matter who wins because, "We've already agreed to share part of the prize money if either one of us gets it. We are dance partners so there really isn't a sense of competitiveness. We're blood!"

Heidi was featured last week in Meridian.  To read her story, click here.

Benji and his cousin Heidi kick up their heels in the "So You Think You Can Dance" competition. 

Benji has been equally generous in sharing his testimony. Through phone calls and e-mail, he describes the reaction he gets to his church membership. "I've received many comments on how shocked people are to hear me say I don't drink coffee and I've never smoked or drank in my life. More then anything people are really surprised that I/we follow the law of chastity. That comes as a shock, and most people really respected that."

A comment from one of the dance judges, professional ballroom dancer and teacher Mary Murphy, illustrates the positive reaction. After finishing a spectacular solo dance routine on August third, Benji stood to hear judges' comments. Mary said, "I know you wanted this so much when you were on your mission, and here you are today (on 'So You Think You Can Dance')."

What Mary Murphy may not realize is that as much as Benji would love to win this contest, he values the gospel more. That is why, in the middle of a successful swing dance career that included winning six total and two consecutive U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships¹, with his swing partner and cousin, Heidi, he dropped everything to serve a mission.

In Mexico, he developed such a love for the people and this country that in his "So You Think You Can Dance" biography, Benji lists Oaxaca jointly with Moreno Valley, California, as his hometown.

While in Mexico, Benji found an important use for his dance talents. In fact, dancing may well have saved the young missionary's life.

When gang members threatened to hurt Benji and his companion, Elder Schwimmer felt inspired to challenge the gang leader, who knew nothing of Benji's talent, to use break-dancing instead of weapons. At the end of the dance-off with Benji, the gang leader's attitude was so changed that he asked Benji to teach him. Benji ended up teaching the missionary discussions. Benji said,
"Two [gang members] converted while I was still present and one of them is planning on turning in his mission papers by the end of summer."

Following his mission, he and Heidi again took first place in the Showcase Division of the 2005 US Swing Dance Open Championships. Then each of the cousins entered tryouts for "So You Think You Can Dance." About his decision to try out, Benji jokes, "It was a way I could get out of a slump I was feeling after being 'Dear Johned.'"

Joking aside, Benji tells Meridian readers he felt "inspired to train for the competition after seeing a video of it from the first season."

Benji and his cousin Heidi were both among the top twenty dancers selected.  Allison Holker and Jaymz Tuaileva, also LDS, made it into the top twenty with them.

Yet Benji didn't expect this outcome. Following the week-long try-out in Las Vegas, he was told he could plan to go home, but should go with his head held high for having survived the week. Then, as cameras rolled for the first "So You Think You Can Dance" episode, Mary Murphy said, "I have bad news," and started crying. To Benji's surprise, she then told him he'd made the show.

After this introduction, Benji's emotion was understandable. However, much more was behind this moment. Despite his successful mission, Benji had begun to doubt aspects of himself and his future. He'd planned to come home and get married. Now he wondered ― had he somehow not served well enough as a missionary? Was the Lord testing him as a result?

Benji wondered if he should pursue dance as a career. Since his main goals were to serve the Lord and have a family, he wondered if dancing would support one.

"Making the show," said Benji, "was a deciding factor." As the week-long tryouts in Las Vegas began, Benji said he, "fasted and prayed a lot... to know whether I should pursue dance as a career."

So when the judges announced he had made it onto "So You Think You Can Dance," Benji broke down on camera as he realized he had just gotten his answer. With great emotion in his voice, he told the judges and the viewers just a small part of the story ― the part about returning home from "a two-year mission for my church" to find a wedding announcement from his girlfriend in the mailbox.  "It was from my girlfriend, but that wasn't my face in the wedding picture," he said. 

What fan reaction did he get following this statement? Benji said, "Nothing but LOVE!"

This is the face that did not appear in Benji's girlfriend's wedding announcement.

The topic of Benji's church membership has garnered more attention than he could have anticipated. When asked how he felt about this, he answered, "At first it was hard because I felt as if people were scrutinizing me for stating beliefs on TV. But I didn't care. I had to just try and stay who I was throughout this whole time, and I think many people came around to really respecting the Church. I haven't seen much bigotry lately. That's great.  That's progress.  A lot of the competitors ask about the gospel. One of them is currently skimming the Book of Mormon ― which is the raddest thing ever!"

Benji is definitely staying who he is, even finding time to spread the gospel. Still, competing on "So You Think You Can Dance" is a challenge equal to or greater than a dance-off with a gang leader.

Benji describes his schedule this way: "I see family and friends after every show for dinner and that's it. I'm dancing 24/7, although I always sneak out and attend church. The wards I go to are great. I have to do everything by cab because we're not allowed to drive while on the show and the closest building is near the LA temple. So it takes a good 45 minutes to get there, but it is very worth it ― better then a [pioneer handcart]."

Although Benji isn't pushing a handcart, he has been working very hard. Despite illness and injury that has put him into the hospital twice during the competition ― the latest time just this week ― Benji continues to dance for hours each day.

For the first stage of the competition, Benji was paired with Donyelle Jones, a hip-hop dancer and an African-American. The respectful and friendly partnership many fans came to call "Benjelle" gave Benji another opportunity to show the Church in a positive light.

Benji and his partner Donyelle Jones perform a Spanish dance.  Judges commented throughout the competition that Benji and Donyelle had the best chemistry on the dance floor.

One viewer wrote, "I actually talked to some Mormons in another thread [internet forum] about some things I heard about [the Mormon Church] and how they feel toward black people. They were very kind, gracious, and eager to talk. Now I really know why those guys in the ties ride through the neighborhood all the time! I'm going to have to start letting them in my house now that I know a little more about them."

On the show, all dancers are challenged beyond their own areas of skill and training (mainly swing for Benji and Heidi). They learn and perform complicated routines in areas such as contemporary dance, hip-hop, Broadway, pop, waltz, and jazz.

Benji and his partner Donyelle Jones dance a hip-hop routine.  Hip-hop was only one dance style that Benji had to learn for the competition.

Benji's versatile, charismatic and professional dancing has earned him judge recognition and a huge following all on its own. Following Benji's first solo in the finals, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe commented on his Fred Astaire-like footwork by asking, "Have you got wheels on your
shoes?"

And as described earlier, judge Mary Murphy had high praise for Benji. One Wednesday night, she had said he had backbone, wishbone, and funny bone. During the Thursday critique, she explained this comment. "Your backbone is your professionalism and the way you attack every single style. I think you're very versatile."

Her definition of wishbone was looking forward to his future in dance while serving his mission.

"Your funny bone [is] on and off the dance floor.  Everyone that comes in contact with you is laughing and having a good time, but of course you are very professional on the other side as well."

Following Benji's first solo performance on July 19th, Nigel Lithgoe raised both hands and said, "Thank you!" The executive producer found it refreshing that Benji, who is not allowed to choose costuming except in solo dances, had his shirt buttoned up to his necktie. This was a refreshing contrast to some of the other male dancers, who wore their shirts open or even went shirtless during their solos.

For several reasons, performers commonly do not wear the temple garment on stage. As commonly recognized in ballet, dancers wear clothes that show the artistic line of the body. In addition, Benji describes dancing as similar to other high-movement activities such as professional basketball or swimming. Still, Benji remains true to his standards. "I wear them every possible chance I can without disrespecting ― and revealing them," says Benji. Nigel's comment implied that some dancers had used their costuming not for art, but to attract attention. On the contrary, Nigel told Benji, "You were there to dance ― no gimmicks, nothing else." There was nothing negative to say, Nigel's comment implied.

And it's hard to find anything negative about Benji, as some of the comments from the viewer forum illustrate:

• He has the best personality I have ever seen. I wish I could have him as a friend. His parents should be very proud of the good job they did in raising him.
• He just lights up the whole stage.
• Benji is responsible for the show's outstanding success this summer.

Both audience and judges have noticed something very different ― and, as another judge put it, "very special" ― about Benji. He has an inner light that others recognize, even if they don't understand the gospel source that ignites it. Many LDS fans understand that this glow emanates from his testimony and love for the Savior. It is the reason other people feel so good around him.

For many LDS fans, Benji is an example of what it means to pursue a dream while still honoring one's membership in the Church.

Benji has great plans for the future. A week after he came home from his mission, he founded his humanitarian organization, D.E.M.A.N.D., which stands for Dancers Everywhere Making a Difference. He hopes his dance experience on the show will help raise awareness for this organization, which he says is a way "I could get dancers, who normally don't make much money, to come together and give back to those that are less fortunate" and gain a better sense of faith while serving their fellow man.

"We visit with those that are less fortunate in indigenous parts of Mexico, as well as helping dancers who have been vital to the arts who may have had illness or tragedy befall them," he explained.

Beyond that, he plans to find a spouse and marry in the temple, have children, and someday serve another mission, "all the while dancing my heart out."

This Wednesday night will be a great opportunity to watch Benji, a performer who both lives and dances with great heart.

Notes:

¹  In addition to competing on his own in swing dance competitions, Benji also choreographed for thirty other champions