Does Mormonism Matter?

Tony Silva

I was brought up with the saying, "politics and religion do not mix well".  That notion had to do with the fact that both topics animate people's passions to the point that people should bring up neither in polite company.  Nowhere has the wisdom of the saying been proved more clearly than at this weekend's Values Voter Summit where the pastor introducing Rick Perry attacked Mitt Romney's Mormon faith.  Some analysts promptly accused the Perry campaign of floating such attacks "under the radar" to bring to light Romney's unusual religious beliefs, alienating the frontrunner from Evangelical Christians.

If that claim is true, it demonstrates how disconnected establishment candidates and commentators are from what motivates Evangelicals in the public square -- bald faced stereotypes along the lines of the media's presumption that Christians are poor, under educated and easy to command.

According to an article on Bloomberg, the other candidates have dismissed criticism of Romney as a Mormon.   They all do well to do that.   However, with that topic out in the open -- with claims that Mormonism is a "cult", perhaps it's best that people -- including Evangelicals -- know what the differences between Mormonism and Christianity actually are.   With that as a basis for discussion of the "Mormon Issue", people can decide for themselves whether Mormonism -- or any other religion -- should matter in how we choose a political leader.  Even the pastor who started the brouhaha, Robert Jeffress, has stated he will support Romney if he is the nominee, so apparently to him, Mormonism may be a "cult", but it doesn't matter.   So why did the Perry camp have him bring it up, as media analysts charge?

So what do Mormons believe?

The basis for Evangelical claims that Mormonism is, theologically speaking, a non-Christian cult lies in the fact that the faith varies widely from orthodox Christian teachings.  Speaking as one who was raised in the Mormon faith, I can attest that if it is a "cult", it is not a Jim Jones or David Koresh kind of "cult".  Mormons worship in ward houses and temples -- not "compounds.  Mormon leaders exercise a high degree of control over their adherents but not the kind of control that leads to mass suicide or church sanctioned violation of established laws.  In short, Mormon people live out their daily lives as any other Christian people do.  The media created stereotype of Mormons with 27 wives holed up on a compound with an arsenal of illegally purchased guns is both absurd and insulting.  People of that sort are part of splinter groups that have borrowed variations of the LDS name.

"Odd Beliefs"

• God was once a regular guy like we are -- and if we adhere to the Mormon Plan of Salvation, we will become like Him -- gods in our own right
• African-Americans (actually all "black" peoples) are descendants of Cain and carry his curse -- until recently, black people could not hold the Mormon priesthood
• People can be baptized on behalf of the dead -- people who have passed on without hearing the Mormon Plan of Salvation, will be presented this Gospel in the afterlife, and if they accept it, they can "advance" to the "Celestial Kingdom"
• Baptism is necessary for salvation and is only valid if the rite is performed by a member of the Mormon Melchizedek Priesthood
• Mormonism is the only true and restored Church of Jesus Christ -- all other Christian faiths are part of the apostate church and therefore are the "false church"
• Mormon couples are married for "time and all eternity" in the Temple -- if you are not married in the Temple you cannot "advance" to the highest degree of the "Celestial Kingdom"
• Men who remarry after a spouse has died can be sealed in eternal marriage to another wife -- having two or more wives in the after life
• God sired many children in a pre-existent life with many wives and these "spirit-children" are waiting for an opportunity to come to Earth for a body where they can complete the next step of their eternal progression and become gods
• Prophesy exists today -- and the church is headed by an active prophet
• The Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants (revelations to Mormon prophets) and Pearl of Great Price are viewed as scripture in the Mormon faith.  The bible is also viewed as scripture "insofar as it is translated correctly"

 How Could Romney (or Harry Reid or John Huntsman) be Pro-Choice?

The Mormon church does not have an official position on abortion from a public policy perspective, nor does the church prescribe any policy positions for political leaders who are adherents to the faith.  This is why people with as diverse views as Harry Reid, John Huntsman and Mitt Romney can be members in good standing.  

If Romney still holds to his original liberal views and only adopted conservative positions for the sake of political expediency, he has more in common with fellow Mormons in the body politic.   One of the first candidates I worked for as a pup was Alister McAlister, a California state assemblyman who was a conservative Democrat.  McAllister passed away last year.  Contrary to perceptions, many Mormons are liberal Democrats -- more evidence that the church does not dictate political positions for its members who seek public office.  Unless voters have a low tolerance for people with peculiar belief systems, Mr. Romney's adherence to the Mormon faith should be irrelevant.  The question is whether he still holds to the same policy views as fellow travelers, Harry Reid and John Huntsman, as he did until beginning his quest for the White House in 2007.