The Christian Case for Mormon Values

[tsc]

This is NOT an endorsement of any politician, but rather a nice commentary about the positive influence members of the LDS church are making in the U.S., and around the world.

Here is an interesting perspective on the Mormon church by a Washington post writer...

The Christian case for Mormon values

With former Utah governor Jon Huntsman and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney both believed to be gearing up for a run for the presidency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has again
found itself answering questions about what these two prominent members believe.

Post reporter Sandhya Somashekhar wrote in a story published Tuesday that Mormon leaders see the ascendancy of these and other Mormons (such as convert Glenn Beck) as a sign "that the community has finally 'arrived,'" but added "researchers say there remains a deep mistrust of Mormons and that little has changed in public opinion to suggest that voters will be more open this year than they were in 2007." If
conservative Christian and Mormons share a political agenda, why do suspicions still plague Mormon politicians? Do media personalities such as Glenn Beck help or hurt the cause?

God works in mysterious ways to perform his wonders. Old Testament prophets complained about the instruments God chose, but God went on being God despite their complaints. 2012 is likely to give Americans two serious candidates for president that are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). Many conservative Christians, for good and bad, get inspiration and information from Glenn Beck, who is also a member of the Church.

Should Americans be concerned? Bluntly, no, though those of us who are not Mormon should be depressed that such a small group has outworked, out thought, and out hustled us. Mormon success should spur traditional Christians, who outnumber Mormons by tens of millions, to do better. Sadly ignorance of the LDS Church is widespread in our culture. Despite over a century of faithful citizenship and embracing family values, stupid stereotypes remain. Magically much of the media easily remembers Glenn Beck is Mormon, but keeps forgetting that Harry Reid is as well.

Sacred garments on Christians and Jews are normal, but sacred garments on Mormons? Of course, there is a vocal fringe of Americans who think any religious person is nuts. These equal-opportunity offenders can be ignored as invincibly ignorant. They don't respect Mormons, because they don't respect Christians, Jews, Muslims, or anybody who thinks we are more than computers made out of meat. There is another group, sadly not so tiny, that cannot be friends or co-laborers with anyone who does not share their theology or ideology.

This sectarianism is the bane of any movement, but most Americans know we can learn and work with almost anyone if they share our values in some area. There are no good reasons not to consider voting for a Mormon. Theologically, I disagree with the faith's teachings. My professional speaking has included pointed academic encounters with LDS professors about our areas of disagreement. Simultaneously, serious disagreements have not prevented our making common cause on many issues. Studying Mormonism closely did not make me a Mormon, to the contrary, but it did give an abiding respect for certain things the LDS Church gets right. They have demonstrated things worth knowing. If this is a Mormon moment in American history, there is a reason for it. Their virtues have particular civic relevance today and their theological
vices (from my point of view) do not. The LDS I know love America , urge good behavior on their members, and promote many traditional American values. If that bothers you, vote for somebody else--the LDS
will fight and die in the American forces for your right to do so.

The LDS church made North America sacred space. With Native Americans and Spanish mission builders in California , they have loved this land and made it part of their story. The Mormon revelation, whatever its
origins, is centered in North America. Part of that epic is actual Mormon history: born, bred, and thriving in
the United States of America . Mormonism is old enough by American standards to feel "ancient," but young enough to make the founding stories easy for Americans to understand. Joseph Smith received his revelations closer than four score years after the American founding.

Any literate English speaker can read founding Mormon documents without the need for much translation or scholarly explanation, but knowledge of American history is vital. Most Americans look abroad for “holy
land," but Mormons look here. This gives them a passion for this place difficult for anyone else to
match. Other religious groups must work harder to match this sense of place that the LDS Church has naturally.

A great weakness of our lives today is isolation and loneliness. Mormonism is one solution to that problem for many. LDS Church services to members and communities are a free market model for private charity.
I have personally seen LDS charity help families that were not LDS, but related to a member The charity gave work-centered help that met needs without sacrificing dignity. The commendable community found in
Mormonism should be imitated not attacked.

For good and bad, Mormonism is deeply American. Born on our frontier and nurtured in our wilderness, American values are Mormon values. And yet, no LDS swaggers into the culture assuming he will be accepted. Mormons know the imperfections of American life. An American mob murdered their founder. As a result of their history, Mormons have a thoughtful and subtle take on religion in the public square. This last week Dallin H. Oaks, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave an important speech at the Chapman University School of law in California on religious liberty.

I am sure Glenn Beck would agree that more Americans should read that speech, even if it meant turning off his program. Oaks, a professor and judge, not Beck, represents the best civic face of the LDS Church. If this is, as the Washington post suggests, a Mormon moment, it is because Mormons clung to truths now unfashionable and addressed questions others ignore. They suffered exile in their own land, persecution, and the need to change important ideas to be part of the broader culture. This American experience taught them good lessons about America . Being right is powerful and most LDS are right on many of today's big issues: the nature of family, the protection of life, defense of religious liberty, and republican values.

Traditional Christians should learn from their example and patriotic Americans should celebrate their effective service. Mormons like Harry Reid will never get my vote, because his policy ideas do not match with mine, but a Mormon like Mitt Romney could, because I support his good ideas. Providence works in peculiar ways and it is particularly odd for an evangelical and orthodox Christian to be grateful for this Mormon moment in American history. But if a biblical prophet could celebrate the pagan emperor Cyrus for being God's man to free his people, surely we can praise our Mormon countrymen for sounding a trumpet call to rally America to life and liberty .

Washington post article written by John Mark Reynolds | February 9, 2011; 7:29 pm et

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Oaks, a professor and judge, not Beck, represents the best civic face of the LDS Church

I am glad he made this statement. I understand he was putting a positive spin on our faith but using Mitt, Glenn,and Harry as examples is pretty sickening. I know nothing about Huntsman so I cannot comment on that one, but Mitt and Harry are both horrific examples of Constitution loving saints. In my experience, anything positive that Glenn Beck could have contribute to the image of the Church is overshadowed by his embarrassing behavior, like this recent display

These three examples have hurt my missionary efforts. I wish Chuck Baldwin was a member of our Church, he is truly a man that loves the Lord, respects agency, understands and honors the Constitution and is a wonderful representative of a Christian faith.

[gclayjr]

I wouldn't vote Harry Reid for Dog Catcher, and I have very strong reservations about Mitt. I am a fan of Glenn Beck, and all I know about Huntsman is that he was governer of Utah and ambassador to China.

That all being said, we shouldn't let our personal disagreements with specific well known Mormons in politics draw us away from the larger point here. It is nice that others including Evangelical Christians note that while they may disagree with our doctrine, that our religion does promote the good Christian values and citizenship that will help this country (and maybe one day save it)

Regards,

George Clay

[John Locke]

Huntsman seems to be trying to distance himself from the church sadly....

[Like]

Huntsman seems to be trying to distance himself from the church sadly....

Wow that is just truly awful, is he an active member? Do you have any references or is something you feel?

[pjbrownie]

Huntsman's activity is dubious.

[lundbaek]

I remember well that during the 2007 Republican primaries, one Huntsman endorsed Giuliani and the other endorsed McCain. And more recently, of course, Romney endorsed McCain.

The LDS Church does promote good Christian values and for years promoted government in compliance with the principles of the US Constitution. But I am becoming increasingly convinced that if the Church were to promote government in compliance with the principles of the US Constitution at this time it would seriously impede the Church's efforts to promote the fullness of the Gospel. Missionary and building programs would be obstructed by powerful people intent on destroying the United States and its Constitution.

"Mormons might face situations from time to time in various countries around the globe where the survival of individuals or the very survival of the Church as an institution would seem to dictate a policy of closed-mouth neutrality." (Hübener vs Hitler, Pg. 330) (See Chapters 38 & 40 for an interesting read on this topic.)

But in no way do I suggest we ignore the disdain for moral and constitutional principles demonstrated by certain LDS members of Congress and prospective candidates for US President. We should seek out the truth, study the issues, scrutinize the candidates, and not allow ourselves to be duped by the rhetoric and toadyism.

[Like]

I remember well that during the 2007 Republican primaries, one Huntsman endorsed Giuliani and the other endorsed McCain. And more recently, of course, Romney endorsed McCain.

The LDS Church does promote good Christian values and for years promoted government in compliance with the principles of the US Constitution. But I am becoming increasingly convinced that if the Church were to promote government in compliance with the principles of the US Constitution at this time it would seriously impede the Church's efforts to promote the fullness of the Gospel. Missionary and building programs would be obstructed by powerful people intent on destroying the United States and its Constitution.

"Mormons might face situations from time to time in various countries around the globe where the survival of individuals or the very survival of the Church as an institution would seem to dictate a policy of closed-mouth neutrality." (Hübner vs Hitler, Pg. 330) (See Chapters 38 & 40 for an interesting read on this topic.)

But in no way do I suggest we ignore the disdain for moral and constitutional principles demonstrated by certain LDS members of Congress and prospective candidates for US President. We should seek out the truth, study the issues, scrutinize the candidates, and not allow ourselves to be duped by the rhetoric and toadyism.

Thanks for this post.... Thanks for all your post.... you are focused and well thought out in your expression.

[John Locke]

Huntsman seems to be trying to distance himself from the church sadly....

Wow that is just truly awful, is he an active member? Do you have any references or is something you feel?

I was trying to find you a quote I read in the newspaper a while back from him talking about how he believes in a lot of different "religions" was such a strange statement by him, just sounded like he was saying "well I was raised this way but really I believe this and this..." can't find the exact quote tho i'll keep searching. However that doesn't seem to be the only example of him distancing himself from the church as my many google searches are turning up. :ymsick:

[Like]

Huntsman seems to be trying to distance himself from the church sadly....

Wow that is just truly awful, is he an active member? Do you have any references or is something you feel?

I was trying to find you a quote I read in the newspaper a while back from him talking about how he believes in a lot of different "religions" was such a strange statement by him, just sounded like he was saying "well I was raised this way but really I believe this and this..." can't find the exact quote tho i'll keep searching. However that doesn't seem to be the only example of him distancing himself from the church as my many google searches are turning up. :ymsick:

Hey no problem John Locke, thanks for what you posted.

[John Locke]

Hey no problem John Locke, thanks for what you posted.

"With former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney also a potential White House contender, Huntsman’s entrance would add a second Mormon to the field. Romney embraced his faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his 2008 campaign, though he made efforts to stress church leaders in Salt Lake City wouldn’t control him if he won.

Huntsman, on the other hand, told Fortune magazine last year that he wasn’t “overly religious,” and added that his children have attended Catholic schools, and that one of his adopted daughters was born into a Buddhist culture and another into the Hindu faith."

thats from the Salt lake lib, still trying to find the actual quote tho...

[lundbaek]

It is an error to state that "Romney embraced his faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his 2008 campaign,..." Prehaps they forgot his statement "I don't recall God speaking to me. I don't know that he has spoken to anyone since Moses and the bush or perhaps some others." Or maybe they just remember that when contacted by ABC 4 News, Romney's campaign issued the following statement:
"Governor Romney is very proud of his faith and he endeavors to live by it."
The SLTrib also published a brief story on that.

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We are all at different levels of conversion. I do not look down at that. What I feel bad about is when someone once had strong testimony and for whatever reason they move away from it. I am home teaching a new convert and he is struggling with staying strong in his faith. Just this past year at church we have had a few members of our ward fall away. I am trying to figure out how to show the type of love and acceptance that they will respond to. It is like they are past feeling when it comes to the Spirit. I know it is present but they cannot feel it or choose to ignore it.

[lundbaek]

The statement "church leaders in Salt Lake City wouldn’t control him (Romney) if he won." brings to mind the concern during the 1960 presidential election campaigns about how much control the Vatican or the Catholic Church would have over JF Kennedy. And I'm sure that concern cost him some votes, although his being more socialist that Nixon was probabaly more important, at least to the voters I worked and associated with back then.

If I were elected to a political office you can be sure that the principles of the LDS faith would strongly influence my decisions as a legislator or in executive office. No need to delve further into that, I hope. However, if, for example, I were planning to initiate or support an action, a program, or a piece of legislation that I believed was good for the "general welfare" of the nation and in compliance with the principles of the original US Constitution, but somehow the Prophet made a statement in opposition to that plan, I would certainly do a rethink. Just how I would deal with it would depend on more diffeerent factors than I want to itemize here. But I would definitely give careful consideration to what the Prophet said on the issue. And I might even ask the Prophet privately for further clarification/explanation.

I can conceive of the Lord exercising control over a person in legislative or executive office, but not the Prophet at this time. An exception is the mission of two 70s, Marlin Jensen and another who's name I forget, in late 2007 to a Utah state legislative committee to influence the decision of the committee Re. the revocation of certain benefits to illegal immigrants.

Going back some decades, I'm confident the words of Presidents McKay, Clark, Romney and Benson were meant just as much for LDSs in Congress as for the general membershiop of the Church (including, IMO, those residing in other countries).

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People who make the "control" argument, do not understand that Church leaders understand and honor agency, and if they did not they would not be in their position that they hold. That argument is based on a false assumption. I think some of the fear comes from experiences people have with current and past LDS congress persons. Perhaps if they were true defenders of agency and the Constitution some of those fears would not be.