Romney's speech on faith earns high marks from Utah Latter-day Saints

"I liked the fact he said he would not abandon his beliefs as president and that he would adhere to the oath he took," she said. "A 'symphony of faith' — that we could all get along together and have that work. I like the fact he said too we should not abandon religion in our public squares."

She also said it was "appropriate" he pointed out problems caused by religious extremism and was not taken back when he characterized radical Islam as dangerous. "He was not attacking Muslims as a whole but rather extremists, and I agree with that."

Brigham Young University law professor Lynn Wardle tuned in to Romney's speech as a Romney supporter — and as a supporter of fellow GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

"Huckabee is probably the main reason (Romney) is giving this speech at this time." Wardle has questions about the timing and setting of Romney's speech but said he would give the remarks themselves an "A." With that in mind, "I thought both the Kennedy speech and the Romney speech were excellent for their purpose."

"I don't think it will appease his critics. I think people who, for doctrinal or dogmatic reasons, oppose him will continue to do so. But I don't think that's the audience he was trying to reach," Wardle said.

Whether other candidates will follow with similarly motivated speeches depends on the reaction that accumulates from Romney's speech. If Romney's speech is characterized as positive, even "presidential," other candidates are likely to follow. "If it's a big yawner, if nobody cares or is negative, then they won't."

Wardle said he was surprised that, given frequent misconceptions about Mormons, that Romney didn't talk more specifically about particulars of his faith; but Wardle believes Romney might have taken the better approach. "His point was, 'Religious doctrines aren't the issue. They shouldn't be the issue, and I'm not going to let them be the issue.' I think that's the right message."

LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter said the church's only response to Romney's speech will be a reaffirmation of the church's position of political neutrality.

Posted at lds.org, the church acknowledged it has had many requests for information about its political position. "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today re-emphasized its long-standing position of party political neutrality in response to a large number of calls from the news media over the past few days.

"The Church's mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not to elect politicians. The Church's neutrality in matters of party politics applies in all of the many nations in which it is established."

The statement continues with an outline of the church's counsel to its members to be political active and restates its relationship with governments.

"Elected officials who are Latter-day Saints make their own decisions and may not necessarily be in agreement with one another or even with a publicly stated Church position. While the Church may communicate its views with them, as it may to any other elected official, it recognizes that these officials still must make their own choices based on their best judgment and with consideration of the constituencies whom they were elected to represent."

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