Transcript: National Press Club Q&A with President Gordon B. Hinckley
President of the National Press Club
National Press Club Newsmakers Luncheon
March 8, 2000
Q. Perhaps the most frequently asked question on all of these cards that I have is what role is politics going to be for the church and its members? Please comment a little bit about political activism among your church members?
A. Well, the church itself as an institution does not involve itself in politics nor does it permit the use of its buildings or facilities for political purposes. Now, we do become involved if there is a moral issue or something that comes on the legislative calendar which directly affects the church. We tell our people who are citizens of this land and other lands that they as individuals have a civic responsibility to exercise the franchise that is theirs so they become very active. But as a church, as I have said, we do not become involved in tax matters or any other kinds of legislation unless there be a moral issue which we think is of great importance or something that may be directed to the church, harmfully as we view it, and then we would become involved. We do very little politicking. We look at Washington and smile. (laughter)
Jack Cushman: We welcome smiles in Washington.
Q. A questioner said the church actively supported Proposition 22, the ballot measure banning same-sex marriage which California voters approved yesterday, and asks does the church take any credit for that result and is this a signal of an activist political posture?
A. I don't think it signals a more active political posture, but we were actively involved there. We were part of a coalition that very actively worked on that matter. We are not anti-gay. We are pro-family. I want to emphasize that. We are very grateful for all who worked so diligently and happy for the outcome of that vote, was about 61-38 (percent), by a very sizable margin that prevailed. We are very grateful because California is a bellwether state, and the fight there was very real. I'd like to add the church put no money into that as an institution. All that we spent was contributed by members of the church as individuals, and they gave of their means and their strength and their energy to win a great victory, I think, in terms of their attitude and position.
Recent comments
A kind man; a good man...
A wise man.
Thank you for sharing this.
Joe | April 7, 2008 at 8:59 a.m.
Wonderful. I have learned a great deal about the LDS church from this...
Derek | Dec. 24, 2007 at 3:19 p.m.
- Price for redistricting plan challenged 1:04 a.m.
- Basketball campers learn service 1:02 a.m.
- Parra fills in as speedskating coach 12:57 a.m.
- Center of Excellence aims to help 12:54 a.m.
- Royals rally past Red Sox 12:49 a.m.
- Phillies' offense bails out Moyer again 12:48 a.m.
- RSL hoping to earn crowd's support 12:46 a.m.
- Beelines 12:46 a.m.
- Locke leads Owlz to 7-1 win 12:42 a.m.
- Bees skipper, pitcher ejected in loss 12:37 a.m.
- Send Boozer to the Bulls?
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Okur signs two-year extension
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
- MWC, WAC rushed into BCS
- 'The Story of R.C. Willey'
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
138 - Letters: Palin mistreated
136 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
122 - Send Boozer to the Bulls?
82 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
73 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
72 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70 - Letters: Time for a revolution
69
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
In the end it was Michael Jackson, the father, who left me with a...
Blazers get the unbalanced trade they seek while not signing Millsap away...
Ricky Bobby - THE JAZZ DO NOT WANT TO TAKE BACK EQUAL SALARIES. They want to...
Despite the fact that logging has all but stopped in the pacific northwest...
My understanding of what FAIR is trying to do, is to provide well thought out...
Jazz will resign Milsap. If they don't it will be ahuge mistake. First off,...
I was waiting for it to be burned on the big metal structure right by the...
Hey Ute fan... the Utes had a good season. And keep throwing that BCS bowl...
Tyrus Thomas is in the last year of his contract too so what is the point for...
CougarKeith, people don't know how to properly retire the flag, what they did...
It is just talk but since it was brought up: IF we can get Prizbilla &...


