You mean that Bush believes that pandering to the LDS church officials would influence Utah voters to vote for McCain? I'm shocked.....and awed.

You might want to say "Those fundraisers are scheduled for 12:00 ON THE 28TH" to clarify or reaffirm the separation of church and state! Or you might want to address the fundraisers in a separate article.
Just to be sure there are no misunderstandings!

I am so glad that President Bush will meet with the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints during his trip there. It's not the first time a great leader met with the First Presidency, or with the "secret society of some 90 men" in Utah. Let's hope it's an "open meeting", and we all will know what was said in and at it to.

I have never been told who to vote for by the church.

To Writer Beware, exactly how is meeting with church officicials (So the Pres. meeting with the Pope is okay with you? Because he's met with him several times, as well as other church officials, non LDS, as well as pretty much every Pres. we've had since this country was formed.) a violation of "church and state?" He's simply meeting with them. Is Bush LDS? HARDLY! Will he start insisting on laws being passed that make your pitiful life miserable because they somehow cater to mormons? HARDLY! Your definition of "seperation of church and state" isn't even close to the REAL one.

Ok, conspiracy theorists, you can all crawl back into your closet now that you've spouted your fearsome conspiracy about the LDS church and the government. Hopefully someday you can wake up from your nightmare of an existence and realize that the world is not out to get you. For your own sakes, please come back to reality.

Believe it or now, it's perfectly normal for the leaders of government to meet with leaders of a church or a community.

All you ignoramuses who like to spout off about "separation of church & state" should study where this term comes from and what is the real meaning - your credibility will be greatly enhanced and as a bonus, you will be less confused.
Oh, i'm just here to help.

So your bishops are all Republican. Your church leaders are all Republican. Your church leaders meet with a Republican president. And you've never been told how to vote? Maybe not directly. But you have been told how to vote. If you can't see that, what a pity.

Hopefully Pres. Monson will give Pres. Bush a copy of Pres. Benson's writing called, The Proper Role of Government.

All sides of the aisle should Google this article and read it and live by it.

I've yet to see any written so clearly and correctly regarding the role of government.

Hello I’m Bush leader of the Free world, I don’t have time to help 400+ members of a unpopular faith whom are victims of a out of control State , but I do have time to have a cup of tea with a popular religion, welcome to your Free country where your leaders care.

Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) is LDS. Is he being told how to vote too?

Tom in CA- Thanks I get so tired of people jumping on seperation of church and state, when they don't know where it's from. Oh and for those of you who think this is rare please read Prophets and Presidents, you'd be amazed at the amount of interactions that the US presidents have had with each prophet. Even Bill Clinton had a prophet visit him and warn him to take care of his family and the nation, just a few days before Monica was hired at the White House. (Not saying he saw the future at all just sure not many people knew of this visit.)

President James Faust was Utah's Democratic Party Chairman. I consider myself a devout member of the LDS church and a staunch Democrat. If a member of the First Presidency holds true to the Democratic Party, why can't I?

This is politics. Leaders meet with leaders. Leaders of large corporations meet with leaders of small charities meet with government officials meet with leaders of churches meet with leaders of large corporations... Whoop-de-doo. It's neat to see the President coming to Utah and I hope he enjoys his stay.

just because people of the same faith have the same values and ideas and typically vote for the same party has nothing to do with being told how to vote. that actually makes complete logical sense. before this primary season our "neighborhood" received a letter from the first presidency saying that there are values that reflect the mormon faith in both parties, so study the issues and figure it out on your own how to vote.

the church never tells anyone how to vote, but this article does not directly tell why they are having a meeting. I just want to know what they say

I am just asking, but does anyone know if the First Presidency in favor of the Iraq war?

It would be great to see the President meet with Ron Paul, a man who i believe stands by his principles a lot more than President Bush. Check out Ron Paul's record, he has the integrity like no other politician.

The prophet and apostles can meet with the President, but Ron Paul does have a lot more integrity and is a rare gem when it comes to standing by principles. It may be wishful thinking, but i would love to see it in my lifetime.

Come on, It`s no secret that the majority of the LDS Church leaders are republicians.

They're all an abomination. None of the parties truly espouse principles of liberty.

Go read Doctrine and Covenants sections 98 and 134 to see.

Is that a typo? 70,000 to have diner with the worst president in history?

This comes as an absolute shock seeing as the church avoids mixing religion with politics and they have very little if any control over state politics.

Bush should be arrested the moment he steps on the soil of Utah, for causing the deaths of several Utah citizens in an illegal armed invasion of a sovereign country. He is the great criminal of the century.

Oh boy! Oh boy!
The world's gonna change for sure now!

Believe it or now, it's perfectly normal for the leaders of government to meet with leaders of a church or a community for $70,100

What is the average incom in this stae anyway?

oh man this could spell the end of civilization! run for the hills the sky is falling! bar the doors and windows the riots are coming this way! take cover its raining fire and brimstone.

oh wait *looks around*

turns out that this is a very normal thing that has gone on for many many decades. i hope the meeting goes well and the president has an enjoyable time. i am sure many things will be talked about and everything will be fine. situation normal.

I am voting for Obama.

Democrat or Republican, when the person with the most powerful job in the world comes to visit we should absolutely be the good host. Church leaders are no exception.

Does that include a round of golf?

I grew up in overcast northern cal and had plenty of bishops and other leaders who were democrats. I think you people are just trying to get a rise out of our fellow readers. Unfortunately there are more blind republicans than blind mormons.

Do the Church officals have to pay $10K to meet with him too?

I am a devout member of the LDS church and a die hard Democrat. The church has never told me how to vote or even asked me who I'm voting for. Despite what people believe we do have a mind of our own and our own free agency to act as we chose as long as it doesn't go against the teachings of the church as with any religion. Our church is against gay marriage because it is against God's law. I for one am for gay marriage because for one it is none of my business the way others live thier life and if that makes them happy to live that way then I say go for it. People should learn to stay out of other peoples business if it doesn't directly affect them.

I am happy to see that our President is coming to Utah to receive marching orders from the Brethren. Thrilled, even.

Last time Bush came to help Orrin Hatch run (so Orrin could get 95% of the vote instead of only 90%) he also met with the 1st Presidency (see "Bush leaves Utah following Hatch Fundraiser" in the desnews archives. 8 days later BYU professor Steven Jones was put on a leave of absence. (see "BYU professor in dispute over 9/11 will retire" in the desnews archives. Just an observation I made last time, which is what caused me to learn about Jones. My wife had been telling me to learn about him for a year, but until I saw that Bush shut him up, I didn't think it was very plausible. Now what is Bush doing visiting them. What's the totalitarian leader up to now?

I'm LDS and I can hardly stand Bush but I STILL acknowledge that America created his presidency even though I didn't and that the Church has reasons for meeting.

The Church meets with Democrats as much as Republicans. The Church states EVERY SINGLE TIME; We do not favor parties and that LDS principals can be found in all major political parties.

I have NEVER felt like the church has told me who to vote for.

A lot of anti-LDS people think otherwise but they are wrong. These people see a good number of people in Utah(not all, not even a majority, but a decent sized group) who are LDS and think that LDS means republican. These people ruin politics and open minded LDS thinking which Joseph Smith himself used. Joseph wasn't closed minded and rude and some people who are LDS forget that(No religion has 'perfect members only').

Anti's see this behavior and assume that it is all LDS believe. This is just as unwise as saying that 'all Blacks are stupid.' It's Bias, It's unintelligent, It's wrong.

Again, I dislike Bush and Utterly HATE his war. I still know that the church doesn't tell me who to vote for.

Drop the assumption that Mormons are Republican. My Grandmother and aunts are strong Democrats and I understand the late James E Faust, formerly a member of the first presidency, was a lifelong Democrat. I will state that "Rocky Mountain" democrats are far different than the West and East coast democrats. Many are strong NRA, hunting, and anti-Clinton. Clinton did a lot to hurt the Democrat party in Idaho. When he came into office it was about 50/50 in the State legislature. Now it's 90/10 for Republicans.

I'm voting for McCain/Romney. If I can't my donation stays in my pocket.

"I Dont Know"---I am just asking, but does anyone know if the First Presidency in favor of the Iraq war? ---

In conference (after the war started) Pres Hinckley said that sometimes people of good morals have to intercede to stop a dictator. He also warned war protesters not to do anything that was illegal or against the church.

For those that call Bush a criminal...doing things that you dont like does not constitute a crime. Why do you think the democrat controlled congress has never done anything? All the Demo house members just told you what you wanted to hear so that you would vote for them.

You're right, it's no secret, but that's a far cry from the church telling people how to vote.

And everyone else-- the money figure is a little confusing, but it should read "$70, $100-a-couple..." (it's not $70,100)

Birds of a common feather do perch together. Bush represents the values of the LDS Church leadership. It's good to be reminded what a church stands for.

I am overcome with emotion over this meeting.
This is sure to usher in The Second Coming.

The LDS Church doesn't tell it's members how to vote, and the sun won't come up in the morning. Funny how LDS people delude themselves in order to feel like they really are independent thinking, isn't it?

Anyone know information about the protest's yet? I had to miss the last ones due to a Midterm exam? But I will be there this go round

It is hard to understand whether someone is speaking ironically or not in this medium where it is so hard to express emotion. Could the brother who said "its not the first time a great leader has met with the First Presidency" really mean that? It would be more appropriate to say its about time Bush made the effort to meet some great leaders. He might learn something.

You people are seriously hurt, angry or both. There are plenty of Democrat "bishops" stake presidents and general authorities. Every President in my lifetime has met with the First Presidency, that includes Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

Democrats and Republicans are virtually the same as of now anyway. FDR ruined this country more than any other person that has ever lived, a democrat. Lincoln eroded State rights to virtually nothing, a Republican. Go on down the list, while democrats have done more to ruin this country in the past, Republicans seem to be doing their fair share of destruction to our liberties lately.

While you can argue if you Bush is a Gadianton or not (he is), I see no harm in meeting with him. Perhaps his heart may be softened by the wise counsel of these men (I doubt it).

Here come all of the good LDS people who claim that they're not sheep and not told how to vote. Isn't it funny that only LDS people from Utah believe that.

At least half the people who post on blog threads like this are either absolutely nuts or so deeply dug into their conspiratorial caves that they could never in a million years see the light of day.

Wow--what is it like to live your life like that?

How is this article news at all?

The country's president appears during a campaign year in city to do fund raising. Like-minded rich people pay a lot of money to have lunch with him. So what? He pays a courtesy visit to the leaders of a 13+ million member religion. So what?

Does anybody in his right mind really think that such meetings violate the U.S. Constitution, that during such meetings the religious leaders tell the President of the United States what to do, or that the President requests that a professor at a university be relieved of his responsibilities?

You gotta be kiddin', right?

The Book of Mormon narrated one battle after another battle. One war after another war. There is only one period of peace. Wars are considered of eternal nature by USA republicans.
The support and sponsorship of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS authorities and member to the republican party is open and voluntary.
The LDS church been one of the richest corporation on the earth supports the USA Republican party.

There have been several prominent LDS leaders who are Democrats, including the late James E. Faust, a member of the First Presidency for many years. And U.S. Senator Harry Reid, from Nevada, is a staunch Democrat. And the fact that the man who holds the highest office in the land is visiting the leaders of the most prominent religion here is no surprise either. Many presidents, from both parties, have met with LDS leaders as well as the leaders of other churches throughout the country in years past. Some people are just looking for a reason to complain.

When heads of state go to Rome, they visit the Pope. When they come to Utah, they visit the LDS first presidency. It's doubtful that the Pope has ever had his mind changed by a visitor nor have the visitors changed their mind as a result of meeting with the Pope. Same probably goes for visits in the LDS Church office building. These visits are expected and a matter of general practise. No sinsiter intent on either side.