Letter by LDS leaders cheers Utah Democrats

Utah Democrats are saying that a letter local LDS Church leaders are reading over the pulpit indicates you can be a faithful Latter-day Saint and a Democrat.

Utah Republicans are saying the letter doesn't necessarily mean that and that church leaders have always said you can belong to any major political party and be a good church member.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints isn't elaborating on the letter.

"The church has been making statements like this for some time," said Todd Taylor, Utah Democratic Party executive director. "But this is a good step for us" in the off-and-on-again public debate over whether faithful LDS Church members can still be good Democrats, Taylor said.

Each political season, leaders of the LDS Church send out a letter to stake leaders encouraging members to be good citizens and participate in the political process. The letter is to be read to local congregations before Tuesday. In some congregations, the letter has already been read.

Next Tuesday the party caucuses convene in Utah, when residents gather to vote for county and state party delegates, who in turn will adopt party platforms and screen party candidates before a June primary election.

This year's letter reiterates that the church does not endorse any political candidate nor any political party. But the letter this year includes some language not in previous letters, a comparison with older such letters provided by the church's public information office shows.

"Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of all major political parties. While the church does not endorse political candidates, platforms or parties, members are urged to be full participants in political, governmental and community affairs," the letter states.

Church spokesman Dale Bills said besides the letter itself, the church has no further comment.

Local Democrats — who have felt since the 1970s that local Republicans too often try to tie together their political and religious beliefs to the detriment of Democratic candidates — are saying this year's letter is a good turn of events.

"The Democratic Party, like The Church of Jesus Christ, believes there is a clear responsibility for society to care for the poor, help working families in their challenges of raising children and providing a decent income for them, and reach out to those in society who are often left out," Taylor said in a written statement.