What is your biggest fear about a POTUS whose a "Mormon"?
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
October 12, 2011 4:41am CST
Do people out there really think that if a Mormon becomes president of the US, then the US will somehow be controlled by the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?
If that is your fear, I'd like to know why you would think that. Look at the reality in some of our current crop of US politicians who happen to be Latter-Day Saints. Can anyone seriously say that all the Mormons in politics think and vote alike?
Sen. Reid, Sen. Hatch, John Huntsman and Mitt Romney are all Mormons. If they are taking marching orders from Salt Lake City, Utah, then they must be getting conflicting orders. :~D
Sen. Hatch has always been against abortion on demand, while Sen. Reid is a staunch supporter of it. Mitt Romney (on the other hand) has changed his view of abortion several times.
The fact is, every election season, our church leaders put out the same statement. It reaffirms that the LDS church as a group backs no party or candidate. Even though many church buildings of other faiths are used for political meetings and even polling places, no one is allowed to use our buildings for election or partisan politics.
Most of you know that once in a while the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints do take a side on specific issues. However, even when that happens, members are free to vote however we want.
No one goes into the polling place with us to "check", and none of our local leaders are allowed to ask... Even if we volunteer the information, there is no "punishment" for "voting wrong". Although, like most other groups, there may be social consequences (which, btw, depending on where the member lives, could be to the left or to the right).
so really, what is there to fear from a president who happens to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints?
4 people like this
12 responses
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
13 Oct 11
Ted, I think that people get crazy when it comes to religion, and they just over react. It is very hard to find any proof of religion playing any part in presidents decisions (except for maybe Bush's faith based initiatives, which was BS from the start). Someone's religion really doesn't effect my personal voting, but there are some out there that do.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Oct 11
Well, even with Bush's faith based initiative, it wasn't confined to any particular faith.. also, knowing the strings that almost always come attached to federal involvement, most denominations (including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) didn't bother.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Oct 11
I don't think it helped much in his re-election, since I'm guessing the people in the churches that did participate would have voted for Bush over Kerry anyway.
1 person likes this
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
16 Oct 11
Ted, you are correct that some churches didn't bother, but some did, and we all know that it helped him in his reelection. But, you are correct that it wasn't a certain faith, but you will notice that majority who received money were Christian churches, but that could be because there are more of them out there.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
12 Oct 11
Hi ParaTed, I don't think that politics and religion mix, and religion should be left out of the equation altogether. I know that the Mormons are fundamentalists but so are a lot of other right wing Christian churches. Keep the persons religion out of it altogether. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Oct 11
It would surprise a lot of people (including fellow Latter-day Saints) how many moderates and liberals there are in our church.
1 person likes this
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
13 Oct 11
While I don't hold to these views that their would be anything wrong with having a Mormon or a person of any religion for that matter as POTUS. I mean really the president does have some policy making abilities but a majority of the actual government as far as Bills go and such is from Congress the President is the Weaker of the whole system because the Founders didn't want a King or Queen of the United States.
But here is some of the ideas of which people have that may make them very anti mormon President.
Mormons aren't Christian because they believe that Go. Isn't the only God. The LDS believe that God ascended to his position by following the Mormon teachings.
Mormons are actually Pagan.
The Bible says that a Church will come that will be very similar to the Christian Church and will sell lies (This is inserted to be pointing to the Mormon Church.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Oct 11
Hmmm, where in the Bible does it give you or I the authority to decide who is and isn't Christian?
All members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints must accept Jesus Christ as our person Savior at baptism and throughout our lives. So while I respect your right to think whatever you want about us, for me, I'll believe what the Bible teaches and leave judging my acceptance of Christ to the only one qualified to make that call.. Christ Himself.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
14 Oct 11
Well, I think I'd shy away from getting my information from someone who is openly antagonistic about anyone's religious beliefs. I know I wouldn't go to a former Buddhist to learn what you believe.. even if their new religion was the same as my own.
I have found a lot of people who aren't Latter-Day Saints who are willing to be fair and unbiased, but in most cases, they remind me of a very nice Muslim man in Saudi Arabia who tried to teach me the "truth" about Christianity. While it was a lot of fun talking to him, and I learned a lot about what Muslims teach about Christ, it was nothing to base my own beliefs on.
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
14 Oct 11
Well as I said I don't personally hold these beliefs but I remember watching a video on Youtube that included VenomfangX who is a big Christian Vlogger on Youtube. He has more subs than the Vatican and most other Christian Vloggers.
I am follow the Buddhist teachings in most of my life so I am not going to be attacking anyone else's religion or Belief system unless it is harming people who are not consenting to the harm. I was just trying to give you the information on what I have heard on Youtube and other places about the Mormon Church that where negative.
I have been to Salt Lake City and the big church their I didn't see anything but a huge church like a Roman Catholic Church. I have no issue with the Mormon faith or any other faith unless it supports the harming physically or mentally of another person with out their consent.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
12 Oct 11
I don't have a problem with Romney's religion. He could be a Pagan for all I care. He could be purple with orange stripes and I'd vote for him if I thought he could save this country. But I don't want him because he's not a real conservative. He still thinks his health insurance plan was a good thing and he leans toward the left while saying he's conservative. He flip flops on issues, he's a chameleon. Sure, he has business experience but it's mostly in finance--Wall Street, not Main Street.
I will vote for Romney if he's the nominee but I would prefer Herman Cain. Religion does not enter into it--if anything, I would vote for a devout Mormon over a lukewarm Baptist or whatever. Mormons have good solid values and 99.9% of them practice them in everyday life. A Mormon would be much less open to corruption, I think, than most people.
Are you old enough to remember the fear about Kennedy being president? People thought he'd be consulting the Vatican for every decision! 
The whole idea of not supporting Romney because of his religion would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetic.
The whole idea of not supporting Romney because of his religion would be laughable if it wasn't so pathetic.1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Oct 11
Nope, in fact, I was one of the few Americans born during the Kennedy administration. But of course, I am familiar with the historic fact that people questioned whether a Catholic can be a good president.
"If a Catholic becomes president, they might as well just move the White House to the Vatican." Which, of course, wasn't any more true about Kennedy as the same type statement would be about Romney.
Like you, Herman Cain is my first choice for now. If Romney wins the RNC nomination, I'll have to look at some of the 3rd party candidates before choking down a Romney vote.. but if the 3rd parties fail us too, then I might have to.
1 person likes this
@danrunsfast614 (1396)
• United States
15 Oct 11
I'm not a mormon, but I find it sad that we are judging his leadership qualities on his religion. I personally would probably not vote for him, but it's his policy opinions that make me disagree with him. His religion is not important, and it should not be.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
12 Oct 11
I remember when everyone worried about JFK being a Catholic. Everyone worries that the person entering office might have his/her own agenda and hopes that is not true. I think just looking at the candidate and what he stands for is more important than what church he might go to.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
13 Oct 11
By reading most of the responses here, I am willing to bet it is not the average citizen who has a problem with him being a Mormon. It is the media once again trying to influence public opinion.
I have a lot of political discussions at work and I have yet to find somebody that doesnt like Romney for this reason. A lot of other reasons but not his faith.
I actually like the idea of a person of faith with strong moral character to be in that office.
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
19 Nov 11
First, I know this discussion is now a month old but I've been so busy lately with my family, my cats and...wait a minute, I'll think of it...ohhhh, what the heck is the third thing? It got away from me, I guess! Sorry...oops! I guess I have too much stuff twirling around in my head...lol!
NOW I remember - I want to learn to speak Cuban so I've been trying to find a way to learn, without much luck so far I might add.
Anyway, I have no fear about a Mormon President; I have no fear of a POTUS of any religion or NO religion as long as those beliefs don't dictate how he or she leads. I guess the only one that would scare me is Dominionism with their "7 Mountain Mandate" which basically means they want their particular faith to take over 7 areas of our culture including education, business, family media, arts and entertainment, government and religion.
http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2010/11/27/christian-dominionism-watch-what-the-7-mountains-mandate-means-to-dominionists-and-what-america-will-be-like-after-dominionist-takeover/
Annie
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
19 Nov 11
I think we should all be forced to learn Austrian. :~D
Funny stuff, Annie! Thanks for a good laugh!
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
19 Nov 11
Well, living in Wisconsin I'm having to learn Americanadianish yet.. don'tha know...der hey...
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
12 Oct 11
Nobody has ever been able to articulate to me what is wrong with having a Mormon president, or what's wrong with Mormons in general. They're not known to be criminals, studies have shown they know the bible better than most Christians, I have never heard of them committing terrorist acts, or calling this country the enemy. The most I've ever heard anyone manage to say was crap like "I've known a few Mormons and they were jerks" as though nobody has known anyone of any other faith who was a jerk.
The nonsensical baseless fear and hatred really isn't much different than antisemitism.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Oct 11
The only time Mormons as a group called the US "the enemy" was back in the 1800s when the US government declared war on them. Even at that time though, when the US Army requested volunteers from Brigham Young (during the Mexican-American War), over 500 Latter-Day Saints volunteered (including my Great(5) Grandpa, Erastus Bingham). While they didn't get to the battlefield before the end of the war, they accomplished two historical things. The longest forced march (over 2,000 miles on foot); and the only religious based regular Army battalion in US history.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
13 Oct 11
Also, the trail created by 500+ marching boots became the Southwest route for wagon trains.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
14 Oct 11
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
