Take a look in the mirror before confronting bias

Mitt Romney now is officially a presidential candidate. Yet, he faces a daunting task. Several recent polls indicate a third or more of Americans wouldn't vote for a Mormon president, and in one poll a majority said they would be uncomfortable with a Mormon as president. The numbers actually may be higher because many people won't admit their religious bias.

Some may argue it is just part of being a minority religion to be misunderstood and disliked. Granted, with one exception, all presidents have been mainstream Protestants. But in recent years, the number of candidates from other religious traditions have grown. Two recent presidential nominees were not Protestant: John Kerry, Catholic, and Michael Dukakis, Greek Orthodox. And Joe Lieberman's Orthodox Jewish religion did not provoke hostility when he ran for vice president in 2000. In none of those cases was religion considered a detriment to election. So why are Mormons treated differently? For many Latter-day Saints it is just another indication that the "world" is against us because we have the truth.

A poll by Hotline conducted last month found that 39 percent of Americans had an unfavorable view of the LDS religion while only 27 percent had a favorable view. The figure was even higher among Republicans — 48 percent unfavorable. Some of that sentiment probably is due to naked religious bigotry.

However, the problem may not reside wholly on one side. I have sat in many Sunday School classes where class members have talked about how wicked the "world" is and how the "world" is against us. Those repeated statements can breed fear and suspicion toward others who aren't LDS Church members. It reinforces a certain clannishness. When LDS people think in terms of "us" and "them," we exclude everyone else and enhance a separateness from others. Our lack of contact with others or our fear of others who are not LDS prevents the kind of interaction that might break down those barriers. This distance is not necessary.

For example, news reports have focused on the doctrinal rejection of Mormons by evangelical Christians. But some religion faculty at BYU have attempted to break down those tensions by engaging in dialogue with evangelical Christians. As a result, some evangelicals now realize that, like them, Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, grace, the Bible and many other things they hold dear.