Mormon Life - Politics & Faith tag

The tenets of Mormon faith read like a list of reasons to elect a Mormon

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:55:00 -0600

source: cleveland.com

Mormon Life says: This letter to the editor talks specifically about Mitt Romney, but it implicates Mormons in general for living by good principles for our times. While Mitt Romney continues to hold respectable leads in most Republican polls for president of the United States, he still has numerous critics who find fault with his faith: Mormonism. In a world full of turmoil and conflict, corruption and dishonesty, hate and moral decay, and a serious questioning of governmental leadership capable of changing our course of direction, perhaps his faith -- Mormonism -- "is" a strong reason he should definitely become the Republican nominee and the next president of the United States.

Mitt Romney's character, attitude, and example and his governmental and economic experience speak volumes about his ability to lead our troubled country and will have far-reaching influence in Washington and throughout America.

WSJ: Romney Isn't Planning Another Mormon Speech

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:19:00 -0600

source: wsj.com

Mormon Life says: A lot of people have said he should address the issue again - but Romney (understandably) just seems to want to get beyond the "Mormon" issue. Mitt Romney told an Iowa audience on Thursday that he has no plans to deliver another speech about his Mormon faith after a Dallas pastor raised the issue earlier this month.

“I think the great majority of American people want to select the person who’s the most capable of getting our country going again, with strong values and a strong economy and a strong military,” the Republican presidential candidate said at a campaign event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thursday afternoon. “Among the things that are unique and exceptional about our country is the fact that, in America, we recognize and appreciate differences in faith.”

Jews view Mormons favorably; what it means for Mitt Romney

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:12:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Should Mitt Romney win the Republican presidential nomination, it is unlikely his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be as big an issue in the general election as it has been in the Republican primary campaign.

That's the opinion of authors and researchers David E. Campbell and Robert D. Putnam, who wrote in the Wall Street Journal that a survey they have conducted about the feelings of Americans toward different religious groups suggests that "a Mormon politician like Mitt Romney may not face an impenetrable stained-glass ceiling after all."

Campbell, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame, and Putnam, a professor of public policy at Harvard, co-authored "American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us." They explained in the Journal that although Latter-day Saints generally scored low on their survey, "Mormons aren't viewed negatively by everyone, and the religious group that gives them the highest rating of all may come as a surprise: Jews."

A Mormon's guide to surviving the presidential election

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:03:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: This is well known blogger C. Jane's response to the publicity and talk surrounding Church members right now. This week I watched as Mormons flocked to their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts to throw down at the comments left by Pastor Robert Jeffress.

The reaction was everywhere.

"I AM A MORMON AND THIS IS NOT A CULT!" the tweets screamed.

Facebook was on fire with embedded links to Anderson Cooper's interview with the pastor.

"I AM A MORMON AND A CHRISTIAN!" the comments claimed.

I get it.

We're the world's most misunderstood religion, right? We are so tired of terms like "cults," "non-Christian" and "brain washing." It hurts to hear the missiles directed at what we hold true, doesn't it?

But here's the deal: We've got to calm down.

Responding with love to the 'Mormons aren't Christians' debate

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 11:54:00 -0600

source: deseretnews.com

Mormon Life says: This has lots of good talking points. Another great resource is Michael Otterson's recent column in the Washington Post, "How do Mormons answer 'not Christian' claims?" Given the current political climate, members of The Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are seeing an increase in the "Mormons aren’t Christians" debate. These tips may help members of the LDS Church soften the rhetoric and respond with the spirit of love.

'Mormons aren’t Christians'

The common refrain of "Mormons aren’t Christians" sings one of two discordant notes: We either aren’t Christians at all, or our "brand" of Christianity is cultish and unacceptable. To this shrill song, a soft answer can turn discord into harmony.

Senator Joseph Lieberman to speak at BYU

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:31:00 -0600

source: news.byu.edu

Sen. Joseph Lieberman will speak at a Brigham Young University forum Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 11:05 a.m. in the Marriott Center. A question-and-answer session will immediately follow the forum.

The title of his address will be "Faith and the Public Square," related to his recently published book, “The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath.”

The forum will be broadcast live on the BYU Broadcasting channels and online at byub.org. Rebroadcast and archive information will be available at byub.org/BYUforum or speeches.byu.edu.

The Media’s One Word Obsession

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:40:00 -0600

source: asoftanswer.com

Mormon Life says: This is great. Make sure to click through and see the roundup of magazine covers that Romney has been on. Mitt Romney has essentially been running for president for five years. By now, you would think that those who knew of him would identify him with some of his accomplishments: successful businessman, salvaging the Winter Olympics, governor of Massachusetts, heck even “Romneycare.” Perhaps a proposed policy initiative or a campaign platform.

And yet the Washington Post seems surprised that among poll respondents asked to define a candidate by a one word description, Gov. Romney is overwhelmingly known as a “Mormon.”

Christians Are Better

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:29:00 -0600

source: slate.com

Mormon Life says: This goes beyond the surface of the Rev. Jeffress debacle and looks more deeply at what he said: Americans should vote for a Chrisitan over a non-Christian, even if that person is moral. What do you think? In Tuesday’s Republican presidential debate, Rick Perry was asked whether he would repudiate the anti-Mormon comments of Robert Jeffress, the Baptist pastor who introduced Perry at the Oct. 7 Values Voter Summit. “I have said I didn't agree with that individual's statement,” said Perry. But Mitt Romney pressed the point:

With regards to the disparaging comments about my faith, I've heard worse, so I'm not going to lose sleep over that. What I actually found was most troubling in what the reverend said in the introduction was [that] he said in choosing our nominee we should inspect his religion, and [that] someone who is a good, moral person is not someone who we should select; instead, we should choose someone who subscribes to our religious belief. … And it was that principle, Governor, that I wanted you to [answer], “No, that's wrong, Reverend Jeffress.” Instead of saying, as you did, "Boy, that introduction knocked the ball out of the park," I'd have said, "Reverend Jeffress, you got that wrong. We should select people not based upon their faith.

Romney is right. The problem with Jeffress isn’t what he said about Mormonism. It’s what he said about religion as a voting issue. That statement was made onstage at the Values Voter Summit right before Perry spoke. And Perry has never clearly addressed it.

Politics obscure Mormon doctrine, church differences

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:29:00 -0600

source: therepublic.com

Mormon Life says: Two LDS scholars talk about what most non-LDS people mean when they say "Christian." When the pastor of a Dallas megachurch called the Mormon faith a "cult" and a "false religion" at a recent political rally in reference to the faith of two Republican presidential candidates, he sparked a media firestorm.

But while the Rev. Robert Jeffress used inflammatory language when he endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry for the nomination, his words highlight real differences between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant churches.

"To a Mormon, the claim that they aren't Christian is baffling and hurtful. They will say that we have the name of Jesus Christ in our church. How can we be perceived as anything other than Christian?" said David Campbell, a Mormon and an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame. He's a leading researcher on faith in American life.

It's time for Americans to put Mitt Romney's religion aside

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:28:00 -0600

source: kansascity.com

Mormon Life says: The writer is not LDS, but is very impressed with the Christian ideals of Mormons and argues that Mitt Romney is more fit for president because of his beliefs. Mainstream Mormonism is no cult, and Mitt Romney is more fit to be president for his work in the church.

Growing up in New York, my family and best friend, John, visited the Mormon Pavilion at the World's Fair in 1965. My mother and John filled out a card to learn more, and before long, missionaries - classically attired in white shirt and tie - arrived at our door steps. My mother and I did not have much interest, but John soon began a journey completed by becoming a Mormon at the age of 17.

Impressed by his sincere faith, I made it my business, while attending a secular college, to learn about Mormonism - not from a missionary looking to score a convert - but through courses about religion in society and research papers.

Mormonism is not something I could accept as a faith - you will never get the Catholic out of me, even if I attend an Episcopal Church in Georgetown.

–Ans, –Ites and –Isms

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:20:00 -0600

source: millennialstar.org

Mormon Life says: Politics seem to be on the mind of many lately; this is an intriguing essay discussing the challenges with choosing one party, and how that relates to his/her LDS beliefs. For a long time, I have wrestled with the notion that I need to commit to a political party. Every time I have gone to declare an allegiance of one kind or another, something has stayed my hand. I have been ashamed of this for some time, thinking that perhaps I was too wishy-washy, too uncommitted, too weakly opinioned. I have been enticed by several political ideologies, most notably feminism and libertarianism, and have come close to choosing one on several occasions.

But again, something has kept me “aloof from all these parties” despite engaging in their several discussions as often as I felt drawn to them. Finally, I believe I have reached the root of the issues I have with choosing a political party.

I admire many people who subscribe to an ideology of some sort or another. (Many of whom are permas here at M*.) They have passion and conviction. Their ideas are well-reasoned, and generally based on good principles. Above all else, they tend to be thinkers, people who are dedicated to ferreting out truth and right. And I love spending time with these sorts of people. I love being challenged to look from new perspectives and being drawn to passionately defend one’s viewpoint against another’s.

On Mitt Romney Mormon Insult, Republicans Miss Mark

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:09:00 -0600

source: deathandtaxesmag.com

Mormon Life says: Another piece on last night's debate question about faith. According to this writer "only Romney had the right answer." A handful of Republican candidates were asked during last night presidential debate about Rick Perry backer Reverend Robert Jeffress‘ recent comments that Mormonism, Mitt Romney’s faith, is a cult.

“Should voters pay attention to a candidate’s religion?” asked debate host Anderson Cooper.

Rick Santorum was asked to reply first, and the candidate — a former Pennsylvania Senator who flogs “traditional” values and homophobia like a dead horse — responded that voters should pay attention to “what the [candidate's] faith teaches with respect to morals and values that are reflected in that person’s belief structure.”

CNN debate Tuesday night broaches Mormonism

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:58:00 -0600

source: asoftanswer.com

Mormon Life says: Includes a transcript of the debaters' answers to a question about whether a candidate's faith should shape the debate; interesting to read the direction they each take it. THe GOP debate last night in Las Vegas brought up the issue of whether it is fair to consider a candidate’s religion. I liked Sen. Santorum’s and Gov. Romney’s answers the best. I would say faith matters but only as it translates into values that may affect policy. Debating theology is a horrible way to select a president.

From the transcript, here’s the relevant part:

COOPER: And welcome back to the CNN GOP debate live from the Venetian in Las Vegas. Let’s continue. We’ve got an e-mail question that was left at cnnpolitics.com. This is from a Mike Richards who says: “With the controversy surrounding Robert Jeffress, is it acceptable to let the issue of a candidate’s faith shape the debate?”

[Click link to see rest of transcript excerpt . . .]

Opinion: Mitt's Persistent Mormon Problem

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:07:00 -0600

source: thedailybeast.com

Mormon Life says: Another opinion piece on Romney answering questions about faith - this one from a non-LDS person who asks a couple questions of his own. Mitt Romney can’t quite shake the Mormon question. My Daily Beast colleague McKay Coppins obtained some emails from a Perry evangelical adviser to a “leader in the development of Christian talk radio” showing that at least some within the Perry camp want to keep the issue, as they say, alive. The New York Times reported lengthily Sunday on Romney’s years as bishop of the Boston LDS temple. Christopher Hitchens has now declaimed on Mormonism’s “weird and sinister” belief system (rather tame adjectives, for Hitch). Is all this fair? Or, as Romney and his backers have it, is it religious bigotry? I’m not an expert on religion. But I do think I know a thing or two about politics, and from a nakedly political perspective, Romney definitely has a couple of questions to answer. Religious bigotry has nothing to do with it.

Let’s begin with the obvious background. In 1960—121 years after Joseph Smith had an audience with President Martin Van Buren to lay before him the case for action against the persecution of his flock—John F. Kennedy famously established the idea in his Houston speech that there should be no religious test for the presidency. I support this. We all should.

But confusion has arisen in more recent years about what this should and should not mean.

Questions about Mitt Romney's faith are fair game

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:52:00 -0600

source: MormonTimes.com

Mormon Life says: A lot of people are speaking out saying that questions about Romney faith are fair, not bigoted. This is a Latter-day Saint's perspective on how he might answer. This isn't the first column you've read about the role of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney 's religion in the 2012 election cycle.

Given the media's fascination with the topic, it might not even be the first today. Romney's membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is among the hottest topics at America's communal water cooler.

Stories about Romney's faith often boast polling data showing an ever-shifting percentage of voters will not vote for a candidate who is a "Mormon." Sometimes the media editorializes that wary voters surely must question how Romney's faith would affect his leadership as president. Pastors of other faiths, bloggers and conservative radio hosts have also posed the same questions.

I have friends and business associates who believe these questions about Romney's faith and how it might affect his potential presidency are unfair, unwarranted and even bigoted.

I couldn't disagree more.

Perry Camp's Anti-Mormon Message

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:53:00 -0600

source: thedailybeast.com

Mormon Life says: The saga continues: it now appears that e-mails from David Lane, a "linchpin" in the Perry outreach to evangelicals, indicate appreciation to Rev. Jeffress for his comments about Mormonism. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has publicly distanced himself from the anti-Mormon rhetoric of a prominent Baptist minister who has endorsed his presidential campaign. But new evidence suggests that Perry’s team may be quietly advancing the notion that Mitt Romney’s faith should disqualify him from the White House.

The Daily Beast has obtained a series of emails that show an influential evangelical activist with close ties to the Perry campaign stressing the political importance of “juxtaposing traditional Christianity to the false God of Mormonism,” and calling for a “clarion call to Evangelical pastors and pews” that will be “the key to the primary” for Perry.

The activist in question is David Lane, a conservative Christian power broker who directed fundraising for Perry’s August prayer rally and was reportedly among the leading voices in the evangelical community lobbying for the Texas governor to jump into the 2012 race. The email thread—which took place over the past two weeks and includes discussion of both campaign strategy and Christian theology—was between Lane and Dick Bott, who heads Bott Radio Network, a self-described “leader in the development of Christian talk radio.”

NYT: Romney's role has been one of faith and authority

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 18:16:00 -0600

source: nytimes.com

Mormon Life says: A great piece on Romney's service in the Church. In fact, the author calls his religious leadership possibly his "most distinctive post." In ticking off his credentials on the campaign trail — management consultant, businessman, governor — Mitt Romney omits what may have been his most distinctive post: Mormon lay leader, offering pastoral guidance on all manner of human affairs from marriage to divorce, abortion, adoption, addiction, unemployment and even business disputes.

Bryce Clark was a recipient of Mr. Romney’s spiritual advice. Late one summer night in 1993, distraught over his descent into alcoholism and drug use, Mr. Clark, then a 19-year-old college student, decided to confess that he had strayed from his Mormon faith. So he drove through this well-heeled Boston suburb to Mr. Romney’s secluded seven-bedroom home.

As the highest-ranking Mormon leader in Boston, Mr. Romney was responsible for determining whether Mr. Clark was spiritually fit for a mission, a rite of passage for young Mormon men. Mr. Clark had previously lied to him, insisting that he was eligible to go. But instead of condemnation that night, Mr. Clark said, Mr. Romney offered counsel that the younger man has clung to for years.

Lieberman: Embrace Romney's faith

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:58:00 -0600

source: politico.com

Mormon Life says: Lieberman, the first Jewish-American to be nominated for national office, says that American is a "faith-based" initiative and calls for support of candidates regardless of religion. Sen. Joe Lieberman has a stern warning: Leave Mitt Romney’s religion out of this.

“I have been watching the recent controversy over Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith through two prisms,” the Connecticut senator said in an op-ed penned in The Washington Post. “One is the vision of the appropriate relationship between government and religion, as set out by America’s founders; the other is my own experience in 2000 as the first Jewish-American to be nominated for national office.”

“The United States of America was and is a faith-based initiative,” he said.

Lieberman, who ran for vice president on the ticket with Al Gore in 2000 and made a bid to win the Democratic nomination for the White House in 2004, said the United States is founded on the “the right of every American to hold elective office, regardless of religion,” and that every American has the right to worship as they choose.