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I thought Utah Democrats didn’t like the exploitation of the Mormon Church for politics.
The Utah Democratic Party charged this week that Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is a “devout member of an anti-Mormon denomination” and questioned whether LDS faithful should vote for her.
But Palin is not a member of the church the Democrats are referencing, that church denies it is anti-Mormon and there’s no evidence of any anti-Mormon rhetoric from its pulpit.
Now, Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland is backing off the statement.
“We do not plan on making her religion an issue,” Holland said Wednesday afternoon, adding he had not seen the news release, which includes a quote by him along with several questions.
The pertinent one: “Will Republicans of the LDS faith vote for Sarah Palin, a devout member of an anti-Mormon denomination?”
Perhaps the oldest and most unanswerable question of the Bloggernacle is why do Mormons vote so overwhelmingly Republican.
I’ll try to avoid that directly, but the SL Tribune’s weekly provocateur of the dominant Utah culture, Rebecca Walsh, joins Sen. Reid’s latest lament that misguided Utah LDS so overwhelmingly align themselves with the GOP.
Democrats have been scratching their heads for years, trying to make sense of the paradox that has Reid so flummoxed: It seems counterintuitive that a state largely populated by compassionate, peaceful, faithful people who are admonished by their religious leaders to volunteer, give to the poor and live modestly and within their means should hang on the coattails of a political party that does not.
This makes no sense. Of course Mormons (and Utahns) believe in virtues such as service, charity, and sacrifice. But Walsh seems to mistakenly think that they are synonymous with supporting government action: unless the government does it, it isn’t charity.
Except she has it exactly backwards. We are taught to not wait for the government to tax and act in our place. In fact we are not performing our charitable duty unless we give and do of our own time and talents.
So where’s the disconnect? It’s in fact with Ms. Walsh. Conservative Mormons are very similar to other religious conservatives who are suspect of the government accomplishing charity and instead rely on themselves. Arthur C. Brooks has studied the poltical and religious influences on charitable giving and found that:
religious conservatives are far more charitable than secular liberals, and that those who support the idea that government should redistribute income are among the least likely to dig into their own wallets to help others.
So putting aside social issues and other sundry reasons why Mormons vote Republican, there’s no inconsistency that a people which believes in service and charity support a party that doesn’t want to outsource them to bureaucrats.
Sen. Reid keeps charming them, one state at a time:
“What is wrong with the people of Utah? They like where this president has taken this country?” asked the Nevada senator, who is LDS. “People in Utah need to wake up.” . . .
“I was thinking Idaho and Utah are very much like we were [in Nevada] 10 years ago,” he said. “It’s hard for me to understand why [Utah is] such a Republican state. Utah should be a state that believes in what we stand for.”
Obama outraises McCain in Utah:
It appears that Obama supporters are truly enthused by his candidacy and are opening their wallets to show it. Meanwhile, Utah Republicans may be suffering donation fatigue from their heavy contributions to favorite-son Mitt Romney — and have not been so free-flowing with cash to McCain after he beat Romney.
This is the third of occasional posts looking at various Mormon-related grassroots political organizations.
Although the Sutherland Institute is not strictly a Mormon organization, it’s focus on Utah and its culture invariably lends it to cover issues that are of concern to latter-day saints. The Institute has published an essay series for civic-minded LDS called Transcend for Latter-day Saints.
Katie Christensen, Manager of Public Relations of The Sutherland Institute was kind enough to respond to some questions.
1. Why and when was the Sutherland Institute formed?
The Sutherland Institute was founded in 1995 by Gaylord Swim as a way to transcend impulsive, convenient, or self-serving policies and politics by looking for truly lasting solutions – solutions that both serve the common good and that also sustain time-tested principles of freedom and prosperity.
2. What are the priorities of the Sutherland Institute?
Simply put, Sutherland is most concerned with strengthening families, promoting a culture of faith and morality, and securing our God-given liberties for ourselves and future Utahns. As such, Sutherland Institute is committed to shaping Utah law and policy based on a core set of governing principles:
• Personal Responsibility as the basis of self-government
• Family as the fundamental unit of society
• Religion as the moral compass of human progress
• Private Property as the cornerstone of economic freedom
• Free markets as the engine of economic prosperity
• Charity as the wellspring of a caring community
• Limited Government as the essence of good government
We believe that these principles will ultimately make Utah an example of good government for the rest of the nation and a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
President Bush to meet with church leaders next week in SLC.
Utah won’t be going for Obama.
McCain, the GOP’s presumptive nominee, was the choice of 65 percent of those polled over Clinton, and 62 percent when matched up against Obama. That’s a big change from February, when McCain mustered support from only 30 percent of Utahns surveyed.
Not exactly a shocker but that should put some speculation to rest.
My brother interviews Pete Ashdown, CEO of Utah’s Xmission and 2006 challenger to Senator Orrin Hatch.
Supreme Court agrees to take Utah religious speech case. Sounds like this is the flipside of most Ten Commandments cases: where once the government allows a religious monument on public land, is it required to allow any and all petitions for monuments from other churches?
The dispute stems from Pleasant Grove City’s refusal to allow the display of a “Seven Aphorisms of Summum” monument in the same park that is the home for a Ten Commandments monument donated by the Fraternal Order of Eagles 47 years ago.
At issue is whether a donated monument displayed by a municipality remains the private speech of the original donor, or is government speech; and whether placing donated monuments in a government-owned park creates a public forum or whether the government retains authority to select which monuments to display. . .
Summum, a Latin term meaning the sum total of all creation, was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City. The Seven Aphorisms refer to a notion that when Moses received stone tablets on Mount Sinai inscribed with writings made by a divine being, he actually received two separate sets of tablets — the Seven Aphorisms and the Ten Commandments.
The First Presidency has released a statement warning of financial scams:
In the letter being read in churches, the First Presidency says “reports of fraud schemes and unwise investments prompt us to again counsel members with respect to prudence in managing one’s financial affairs.” . . .
Here in Utah, authorities said a majority of the fraud cases they encounter involve some level of “affinity fraud,” which is an investment scam that preys upon members of a specific group — such as a religious or ethnic community.
Labor union terrorists bomb the Hotel Utah (now the Joseph Smith Building) in 1910. And Utah remains a Right to Work state.
Another one of society’s great institutions is coming to an end. Snelgrove Ice Cream closing in March.
[A] research and development team will determine whether any Snelgrove flavors will be transferred to the Dreyer’s line.
My grandma always had Burnt Almond Fudge. Please keep it.
Mormons can dance. Who knew? I didn’t. Maybe it’s a Utah thing.
Mormons have already won “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing With the Stars,” and two of the front runners on ABC’s current hit “Dance War” are, yes, Mormon. “Some of the greatest dancing on TV is coming out of this community,” says Kenny Ortega, director of the “High School Musical” movies, both of which were filmed in Utah to capitalize on a hotbed of dance talent that Ortega noticed while choreographing the opening ceremony for the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. “Dance is part of our culture,” says Lee Wakefield, chair of Brigham Young University’s dance department. “Mormons danced when they crossed the plains to Utah, and one of the first buildings they built was a dance hall.”
Are typically “true [red], through and through” Mormons going to go blue because their man Mitt was shunned by the GOP?
That’s the wishful thinking that has traveled parts of the Bloggernacle since Mitt Romney ended his campaign last week. And as Sen. Obama has been gaining momentum as the candidate of unity and change, it appears that his personal charm is winning over a lot of unconventional supporters (heck, this former Romney campaigner and Reaganite is now making a case that Catholics should go for Obama)
The Mormon argument for Obama seems to be that since the Republican primaries “rejected” a Mormon candidate, Mormon GOP voters should vent their anger and seek revenge by supporting the Democratic candidate of hope and optimism.
This Beehive Standard article suggests that if Obama only changed ever so slightly to the right he would be attractive to mainstream conservative Mormons and Utah - the state that gave President Bush the greatest margin of victory in 2000 and 2004 - would swing Democrat in 2008.
That will be hard for the Senator who has the most liberal voting record of 2007. As Jettboy explains very well, traditionally Republican Mormons may like Obama personally but will find his policies unpalatable.
Sen. McCain definitely lacks Obama’s charisma and appeal. He hasn’t reached out to Mormons as Obama has. But Republican Mormons are more savvy than to vote Democrat just because they feel the Republican party is dominated by anti-Mormons (which isn’t true). Wouldn’t that be the ugliest form of identity politics?
Unless McCain picks up Huckabee as his VP pick, Utah won’t go blue in November. If McCain does, then let’s talk.
As the Utah state legislature considers reforming immigration policy with regards to illgeal imigrants (specifically, drivers licenses and in-state college tuition), Elder Marlin K. Jensen repeated the Church’s call for compassion when dealing with reforming immigrant policies:
An LDS Church leader on Wednesday urged Utah’s lawmakers to “take a step back” and hold a “spirit of compassion” as they consider a slate of bills aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.
“Immigration questions are questions dealing with God’s children,” said Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “I believe a more thoughtful and factual, not to mention humane approach is warranted, and urge those responsible for enactment of Utah’s immigration policy to measure twice before they cut.” . . .“This is a human issue; it is a moral issue,” Wester said. “We must be involved.” . . .
Jensen said the LDS church has taken no position on any particular measure on the federal or state level.
“The current debate in our state Legislature is evidence of the very strong feelings that surround this issue,” Jensen said. He noted that LDS leaders had recently issued a “very sincere plea” to lawmakers to consider the issue with humanity and compassion. . .
“If there is a church that owes debt to the immigrant and the principal of immigration it is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” he said.
The Salt Lake Tribune adds that Elder Jensen spoke on assignment from the Church:
“I was assigned to come here by the First Presidency of the church,” he said, referring to the church’s three most senior leaders, including LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson.
The Google Street View Car is now driving around Salt Lake City including Temple Square and other temples in the area.
At least Utah Republicans were motivated
Likewise in Utah, increased interest in the Republican contest among Mormons was behind the three-fold increase in participation among Republican voters, Thurber said. GOP turnout jumped from 91,000 in 2000 to 285,000 on Super Tuesday in Utah, a state with a significant Mormon population that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney , who is Mormon, won with an overwhelming 90 percent of the vote.
Sen. Obama cancels Utah appearance out of respect for President Hinckley’s funeral:
The Illinois Democrat was scheduled to drop by the state on Saturday for a short appearance in Salt Lake City but his campaign said the visit was off.
“Last night I spoke with President Thomas Monson and expressed my deepest sympathies to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Obama said in a statement. Monson is Hinckley’s likely successor.
Classy but also clever. He can now campaign elswhere as he scrambles to cover as many states as possible before next week’s Super Tueday. Plus he just impressed a ton of Mormon Democrats.
LDS Church representatives met with both Republican and Democrat leaders in the Utah Legislature as it opens its annual session this week. It’s interesting to read the breadth of issues that the Church commented on, including immigration, the treatment of LDS Democrats, alcohol, health insurance, to the methaphetamine crisis.
While the article reads as the Church representatives are (rightfully) asking for compassionate and humane immigration legislation, it sounds more like one side of the issue is trying to speak for the Church.
LDS Church leaders have told legislative bosses that the “element of humanity” should be re-introduced to the state’s immigration debates.
Before each general session, GOP and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate sit down separately with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints special affairs committee, a group made up of church general authorities, church public relations officials and their lobbyists, to discuss any items on the minds of both legislators and church leaders.
House Minority Whip David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, said the Democrats’ meeting with church officials brought up several issues, but the immigration discussion was the most touching for him personally.
“I interpreted what was said as this: ‘Take a step back, be calm, and above all remember that we are dealing with human beings here,”‘ said Litvack, who is Jewish and has himself called for cooler heads in dealing with the often emotional issue of illegal immigration
House Majority Leader Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, a member of the LDS Church himself, said immigration issues did not take up much time in the Republicans’ meeting with church leaders. “But they did say we all need to approach this subject with compassion.”
When asked about the legislative meetings, church spokesman Rob Howe said, “We communicated our policy … The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken no position regarding currently proposed immigration legislation.”
LDS Church officials “used the word ‘call,’ they made a call for humanity in immigration” debates and legislation, Litvack said. “We should not demonize” illegal immigrants. “In some cases, the debate has become so ugly, I heard, so hateful and dehumanizing. Let’s bring back the element of humanity.” . . .
While LDS Church leaders did not support or oppose any specific piece of legislation that may come up in the 2008 Legislature, which convenes Monday for its 45-day general session, Litvack said they did say: “Take a step back, remember that human beings are involved here. As faith leaders in our community they have a concern for all human beings.
“And I certainly appreciated that. I was glad they spoke out on this topic,” Litvack said.
The third release from the Church on its membership in two days. This one briefly discusses the number of Mormons in Utah and offers some statistics to refute the impression that it is declining.
The net growth in Utah among members of the Church is growing steadily, approaching 1.8 million or 72 percent of the population according to end-of-year 2006 statistics.
That may come as a surprise to some who know that the percentage of Mormons in Utah overall is dropping because of the continued influx of non-Mormons moving into the state.
(That last paragraph seems awkward. Is it saying those who “know” are wrong and actually don’t know?)
In 2006, the Salt Lake Tribune ran a series of articles with much fanfare, heralding the end of the Mormon majority in Utah.
The often cited claim that Utah is 70 percent Mormon is not true - and hasn’t been true for more than a decade, according to the church numbers. While continuing to grow in actual members, the LDS share of the state population showed a slow but constant decline every year from 1989 to 2004.
According to the 2004 count, Utah is now 62.4 percent LDS with every county showing a decrease.
Perhaps the Tribune was jumping the gun?
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