Latter-Day Politics
Mitt Romney is not the first Mormon to run for President. Nor is he the highest-ranking Mormon in politics (that would be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid). Yet his campaign to earn the Republican nomination has triggered endless discussion about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The former Massachusetts governor talked with CT associate editor Collin Hansen about doctrinal differences and common values.
Growing up in Michigan, how did you get along with evangelicals?
In a state like Michigan, there's very little attention paid to the different faiths of different people.
I went to an Episcopal school where maybe 15 to 20 percent of the student body was Jewish. But I didn't really know who was Jewish and who wasn't.
So no evangelicals ever tried to convert you?
No, I don't recall that ever occurring.
How do you think relations between Mormons and Trinitarian Christians have changed during your lifetime?
I don't know that there's been a significant change relating to doctrine. [But] several months ago, not long before he died, I had the occasion of having the Rev. Jerry Falwell at our home. He said that when he was getting ready to oppose same-sex marriage in California, he met with the president of my church in Salt Lake City, and they agreed to work together in a campaign in California. He said, "Far be it from me to suggest that we don't have the same values and the same objectives."
Have you seen changes between 1968, when your father ran for President, and now?
In terms of the relationship between the faiths, I don't see any particular differences. I know the media today focus far more on people of faith. In some circles, the bias against believers is pronounced. There are some people who would like to establish ...
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Dan Bruce
As a citizen, I would have no problem voting for a Mormon, such as Mitt Romney. He seems to be a decent man, although he is too dedicated to making excessive amounts of money for my taste, more Mammon than Mormon. As a Bible-bliever, though, I cannot vote for Romney and remain true to my faith. I believe that the Book of Mormon is a manmade addition to Scripture, something warned against in the Bible, and thus I believe that Mormonism is a “Christian” cult. So, the question becomes, at its most basic level: Would I vote for a cultist for president? And the answer is, of course not. As for President Obama, I believe that he is a true Bible-believing Christian, and that he has demonstrated many attributes of living the Christian life, most notable that of publicly professing Jesus as his Lord and Savior, and he seems to live it in the respectful way he interacts with others.
Matt
I'm hesitant to place Mormons under the Christian umbrella. Mormons are very good at making you think that they believe the same thing you do, despite that there are some major differences. However, I'll be sure to check out some of those websites everyone has posted, as this is a subject I know little about.
Zarry
Further related debate can be found here: http://www.plnewsforum.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/24282/ I would also recommend you to the following: http://www.bookofabraham.info http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/testingthebookofmormon.htm http://www.lhvm.org/dna.htm http://www.i4m.com/think/ http://www.irr.org/mit/Books/BHOH/bhoh1.html http://www.exmormon.org/tract2.htm (investigating Mormonism) Let me finish with this: It is the orthodox of any religion who get to decide who is or is not part of their religion. There is a religion called FLDS which revere Joseph Smith as a prophet, and believe in the Book of Mormon and all other Mormon scriptures. He would tell you that the FLDS are NOT Mormons. He has that right, but he cannot have it both ways. If he wants to say that Mormons are Christian, then he has to admit that FLDS are Mormon. Personally, I think the Mormons should be proud of their differences. They should not try to use the name "Christian" to gain credibility.