So what do you discuss with the modern day Giddianhi?

hahahaha

I wonder why Bush is meeting with leaders of the LDS church a few months before the general election?

Great!
Maybe the LDS leaders can knock some sense into him.

So, the Olympics were four years ago? In 2002? This is 2008, isn't it? Let's see, if I do my math...carry the one...um, I got a different number, but I was never very good at math : )

How special....LDS leaders bending over backwards to welcome the WORST president (and most evil) in our nation's history. I wonder what the chances are of President Thomas S. calling Dubya to repentance for his Gadianton Robber-like actions? Probably the same odds as me voting for Johnny Boy McCain. Unfortunately, it looks like four more years of same 'ol - billions of dollars pumped into the Iraq war disaster and war contractors bilking U.S. taxpayers out of billions with their phony services.
It's no surprise that McCain is now expected to get better than 2/3 of the Utah vote for Prez....baaaaaa

If the LDS church supports the Bush policies and wants to make sure they are continued in the McCain administration, it's time for me to look elsewhere for inspiration.

When the republicans try to get people worked up because of abortion, gay marriage, or any other number of flash point issues, I just wonder to myself about the real policies they promote. Things like tax breaks to the rich, taking services from the poor, ruining the enviornment, and lying to get into and stay in a preemtive war. And then I think about gas prices, home mortgages, food prices, and responses to natural disasters in poor regions of the county.

The LDS church can't be so blind as to be supportive of all of this so you wonder if they are complacent in these policies. If they don't want to appear complacent, they need to invite the democrats to meet with them and maybe they could show they are truely nonpolitical or even show sum support for a party that practices values that are much more in line with the scriptures.

Once again the Mormon Church tacitly endorses the Republican candidate for President. Ummmm, Lets see, Medal of Freedom -- quid pro quo for the Cheney honorary doctorate? But of course, the coporate Church takes no partisan side in national politics.

Shame on me. How could I ever contemplate such a thing?

Two peas of a pod.

Mr. Hodge and Instereo,

The First Presidency meeting with the President of the United States is not an endorsement for him, all his policies, nor some of his policies. President Hinckley met with Bill Clinton in the 90's. Does that mean the Church endorsed him, his party, and his policies?

Why would you come to the conclusion that a visit is an official (or unofficial) endorsement of the Church?

Utah going to the GOP in November is not an issue - but keeping some standards of decency in the land are. If GWB for all his faults and mistakes has managed to keep that value system at least - then that's great . The detractors would Hate him if he had won BIG both times and there was no Military engagement anywhere.

The LDS unlike many Southern Baptist & Black Church's and even a few Episcopal ones stears clear of full involvement in Politics. They also don't turn over any $$$$$$$ to Candidates like numerous Black Churchs did for Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988.

Some of these coments are ridiculous. This article does not say anything about the church supporting McCain or the republicans. The church is neutral and will continue to be so. I am sure the church leaders met with Bill Clinton when he came out to Utah when he was president, and everyone didn't freak out saying the church was supporting democrats.

First, the wrost President of all time wasand still is Carter.
The common ground for Bush and the LDS Church leaders is complete blanket amnesty for all ILLEGAL ALIENS.

Instereo, I think you mean "complicit," not "complacent." Better look the word up.

To All of the Above: Don't you suppose this is a friendly visit with no agenda for the lst Presidency? Perhaps Pres. Bush has an agenda, but you know the leaders will not openly support any candidate.

Perhaps you won't vote for McCain, but let me warn you, you will rue the day you voted for Obamanation!

So, a few months ago, was the LDS church endorsing Barak Obama when leaders met with his wife? The LDS church leaders extend a hand of friendship to all world leaders regardless of partisan politics.

People who see this as some sort of political collusion ignore the fact that LDS leaders have and will meet with anyone (including the Clintons) to build bridges.

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS church has met with, and will continue to meet with presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, ambassadors, and ruling heads of state to encourage and persuade them to govern in righteousness, and uphold laws that preserve freedom of religion, support morality, preserve family life and traditional marriage. In short support those laws that give people the freedoms they require to worship God and keep his commandments.

In Nov of 1995, The First Presidency met with President Bill Clinton (D), sharing 'The Family: A
Proclamation to the World, and discussing it's importance, and urging its support.

Shunning a president (as you seem to be suggesting they do), doesn't give much opportunity to influence them, encourage and urge them to lead righteously.

Further, the Church should not meet with Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama as you suggest. If one of them were to become president, you would find them meeting with the Prophet and the First Presidency from time to time.

Maybe the church should instead, just have President Bush meet with a couple of missionaries, and be taught some lesson's on honesty, etc.

President Bush met with the Pope didn't he? So the Catholic church is endorsing another Republican candidate. Where were all the idiotic comments then? The president meets with religious leaders all the time. Does that mean every Catholic has going to vote for McCain? I know it is hard for all the anti-mormons to comprehend but the LDS church does not tell its members who to vote for. That's the truth and they never have. You are ignorant if you think otherwise.

The leadership of the church meets with politicians all the time. I have seen the stories of them meeting with a lot of democrat and republican leadership. It is considered courtesy to visit with the leaders of the church when they are in Utah. Just like when the Pope came to the US, he meet with the President. Does that mean the Catholic church endorses the republican party?

The majority of these comments are unbelievably ignorant or just plain stupid.

The LDS Church meets with every President of the United States when they come to Utah - Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, Roosevelt ....

I am somewhat amazed at the idiotic nature of these comments. Assuredly, most of the people who made them live on the East Bench, have a bumper sticker on their Prius that says "I'm straight but I'm not narrow" (because they one time met a gay person and therefore feel they need to "take on the cause" and fantasize about "the glory days" when they protested President Bush with Rocky Anderson and the several homeless people present in the park that day.

Fight on you "liberated" souls - fight on.

Bush and McCain have their problems but compared to Obama and Clinton, they both are just fine in my book. I think Bush and McCain are the lesser of the two evils. Obama's lack of experience and understanding in foreign affairs will put us all in danger and how does someone stay with the nut preacher for 20 years? Clinton seems to do and say anything in attempt to obtain power. When it comes to character the Republicans still outshine the Democrats.

Where is the endorsement for the Republicans here?

So when church leaders meet with leaders of the nations across the world, does that mean they support that nations policies? The church has had a long standing tradition of political neutrality, just go to church and listen to their statements that are read over the pulpit. By some of the comments here, you would be saying that President Hinckley supported Pres. Clinton when he met with him during his administration... Church leaders meet with world leaders all the time to foster relationships for the church.

Recently, the First Presidency met with Barack Obama's wife while she was campaigning in Utah, does that mean they support his policies too?

The leaders also met with Michelle Obama when she was in in February. Endorsement? Probably not.

I ask one big question. Why is there even any tie between the church and politics? Why is it that everytime a prominent politician comes to this state it is headline about them meeting with the LDS leaders? I honestly don't get it. There is apparently something connected between the two. I also came to believe that there was to be no connection between church and politics. Why isn't back-door Cheney joining the party? My desire once again voters is to vote out every incumbent from both parties and rid ourselves of the corruption, and colaberating. ENOUGH.

Jonathan, I think you meant to compare President Bush to Gidgiddoni. You put down Giddianhi by mistake.

If church organizations were to lose their tax-exempt status people would no longer tithe and the organization would go under overnight.

Gotta make sure that never happens.

George Bush is by far the worst president in history. If you ask me his entire administration is a crimminal orginization!

The article's title is somewhat misleading. The first two paragraphs are about Church leaders meeting with the President. The rest is about the President going to GOP fundraisers.

I support President Bush more than I oppose him. But for those who dislike him, think about Jesus meeting with all manner of sinners. Was he endorsing their actions? No, he was trying to help them.

The fact that the Lord's prophet has a chance to meet with leaders of powerful nations--no matter which nation or party--is a relief, not a scandal.

Arrest Bush the moment he sets foot in Utah for complicity in the deaths of Utah Nat'l Guard troops in the illegal invasion of a sovereign country.

Cool. Devil meets the Lord's prophet.

Good for President Bush. It can't hurt to get a little prophetic counsel at this stage of the game. Also important as an acknowledgment that LDS are Americans too, even if evangelicals can't stand it.

Yes, Arrest the President Of the United States when he sets foot in Utah. You are a genious!

Oh Please that was some well thought out legal analysis - surley you went to the U of U Law School

meeting with the Pres means you support them? Well then I guess that means those cute little dudes called the Jonas Brothers think Bush is the Bees Knees. Or any other public figure, for that matter. PLEASE! They are not supporting the Republican party (they do meet with democrats too, look it up) nor does it mean they support Bush's acts. It means they support the PRESIDENCY of our great COUNTRY. Even if the guy is an idiot. REMEMBER???? They met with the biggest idiot of them all CLINTON!

Church leaders can meet with anyone they choose, but I would hope the agenda isn't just ceremonial. It will be a great opportunity to let GWB know that the church opposes torture. That should be the price of the big photo opp of everyone shaking hands and smiling that will be front page in the DN.

The sooner people accept that the LDS, Catholic and any other religions are more of a business than anything else, than the better humanity will be. Bush or any other president that visits any religious organization is pandering for support and future donations from the followers of these organizations. Religions are no different that big businesses throughout the world. Where else can the LDS Church spend nearly 2 billion dollars on restoring the SLC downtown instead of spending that money on something that matters like the homeless, disaster victims etc. It is disturbing to me when I read comments from the LDS community that the thinking should be left up to the Profit. If this was the case I wonder why you were givin your own brain and spirit to make decisions with. Use what God gave you don't put all of your trust into someone elses opinion no matter what you think they represent. Because whether you like it or not you are truly acting like sheep.

I am a democrat and I don't find it awful to support the president.
We should support our leaders and try to affect positive change in the ways that we know how.
There are many self-destructive democrats and republicans who put their party above the nation and do anything to cause problems for the opposing party, usually at the expense of the entire nation.
Lets try to accept the good aspects of either party and follow the leaders of the church by inspiring change by providing needed support...You have to admit Dubya needs support.

It's funny how DN had to mention LDS in the headline just to make this a provocative story.

It had very little to do with the story.

I suppose its just so commenters have something to feed on.

Harry Reid, the majority leader in the United States senate, is a democrat and is LDS. I believe he attended President Hinckley's funeral and has met with the leaders of the LDS church many times. Does that mean the LDS church endorsed the democratic party? Of course not. When the President of the US, or any other prominent elected official or leader, visits Salt Lake they typically visit with the President of the church. This has been true for over 100 years. Didn't Michelle Obama meet with church leaders? Some of the people who comment on the message boards to this newspaper really need to spend a little time outside of Utah to get some perspective. President Bush's visit with the church leaders is not really a big surprise, and it doesn't mean anything.

The longer I have been a member, the more clear it is to me that our church is a "business". What I mean is that they select leaders many of whom have ties to big business, they invest in non-religious entities (the SL mall project, as an example), they develop programs and motivational briefings that resemble what I see in my work (re: the recent briefing on US and Canada missionary work), they organize themselves to the point that access to leaders is absolutely forbidden, they market their beliefs and "manage" their public appearances, etc. Meeting with President Bush is "good business". Any business would want the publicity. I long for what I thought the church was.

Instereo, As I recall before the democrats took control of congress, they blamed Bush for the high gas prices and promised they'd lower them. Since they have been in office (two years) the price of gas as has skyrocketed. I guess Bush is to blame for their insane mortoriuim on refinery construction,drilling at Anwar,off US shores and resistance to nuclear power, all under the guise of environmentalism. Yep, it's Bush's fault. I blame the democrats and some republicans for the price of gas not big oil (supply and demand)! We could be energy independent if we were allowed to pursue domestic sources and alternatives. You can blame Bush, but I for one am not buying it.

Travis, it's nice to have a positive comment. We so need more cooperation, collaboration, appreciation, and respect in our country and world. Snide, suspicious, malicious remarks get us nowhere - whichever side of the aisle we're on.

I'm a Republican, I support President Bush. I don't always agree with him. I will vote for John McCain. He wasn't my first or second choice for our nominee, but I think he would be a good president. I hope he wins.

I'm also an American. If Sen. Obama wins the presidency, I will do my best to support him. I imagine I won't agree with him all the time, but I'll also try to avoid pointless name calling and hyper-criticism that only diminishes our society.

Regardless of who the president is, I think it's totally appropriate for he/she to meet with leaders of churches. I fail to see any logic in all this criticism. There is nothing at all inappropriate about this meeting. Separation of church and state doesn't mean church and state leaders can't talk and listen to each other!

Let's elevate the discussion to things that will be helpful to our great country.

To all of you who think that the First Presidency is somehow endorsing President Bush, pull your heads out of you-know-where and think logically.

It is just a meeting. The First Presidency is not holding a fundraising event for the president.

Granted, this president has not been the best, and I do not like this president any better than any of you, but you guys are grasping at straws trying to make the LDS church sound as if it were a large GOP organization (which it is not).

The church has RARELY ever put out an official stance on political issues. The only one that I can even recall reading about was Prohibition. The church has a long history of staying out of politics, as a church anyways.

If you think that, could you tell me what party those members that live outside of the US belong to? Because you do realize that they make up a majority of the members of this church now, right?

I love the ignorance of people. Yeah, Bush is the worst president ever. He is making it so extreme haters of our nation aren't killing us at will, protecting your family, seeking out those ruthless murderers in their own country, and being the only world leader brave and bold enough to fight extreme evil and hatred.

Some people are totally clueless. Hilary supporters no doubt.

When Benson (I think) met with Gorbachev? from Russia, he was clearly interested in Russia's secret works. The prophet is clearly up to something. Give me a break people.

Wake Up and Interesting... you both are draped in absolute idiocy. Where do you think that profit goes? That's right, to feed the homeless and the poor and disaster victims. Some people just talk simply for the sake of tearing the Church down because they had some gripe with some member years ago.

You don't like religion? That's fine. You don't like the beliefs of the LDS church? That's fine. But please don't give me the, "they are the cause of all the world's problems" rant, because you're driving your already weak crdibility right into the ground

Wake Up, I hope I never hear about you going downtown when the renovations are complete... because if you do, you'll be considered the biggest hypocrite on planet earth. Having said that, I know you'll be down there enjoying all the improvments like the rest of us

Well for the person that thought that Bush was the worst president that we have ever had, I guess you have not heard of President Clinton.
I am with you Russell. Everyone that makes a negative comment about Bush has to come from the East bench!
Also he is the President of the United States. He won, face it! If you don't like it move to Canada!

Improvements are fine in downtown SL (although I almost never go there, I don't like big city downtown areas...that's just me though), but could that money have been spent better (good, better, best...)? Could a hospital have been built in Africa to treat the poor? Could a school have been built in Mexico to educate the poor? Personally, just MY opinion, I think tithing monies (and the SL Mall monies were from tithing, donated long ago, and "invested"), should go for the building up of the kingdom (pay for missionary monthly expenses, help out poor members, etc.). I know that a tiny fraction of the total monies go for charitable causes (there have been good analysis indicating this is the case), but apparently some of it is left over and goes into "investments". I just don't like that.

President Clinton was a lousy person but a good President. President Carter was a good person but a lousy President. George Walker Bush is both a lousy person and a lousy President (in fact he doesn't even deserve the title, due to his failure to protect and defend the Constitution . . . warrantless wiretaps, etc.). And then there's McCain who, in violation of the Code of Military Conduct and in betrayal of his country's interests, offered and gave military information to his captors for personal gain (just so he could get medical treatment he thought he should have -- something that he admitted doing so in both an interview with US News and World Report and in his autobiography FAITH OF MY FATERS). A pox on all of them!

There certainly is a lot of ignorance about the worst US presidents. Andrew Johnson, US Grant (great general but horrible president), Herbert Hoover, and Tricky Dick all have GW beat -- hands down.

Bush has handled the Iraq war terribly because it has taken 4 years to find a general who could lead it for him (shades of Abe Lincoln). He's mishandled and more often than not ignored the media, who in turn have panhandled a very skewered view of W to the public. Unfortunately, rather than trying to do anything about it he is now just hunkered down for the duration. A few more months and he can make the big bucks -- write a book or go on a lecture series.

Anyway, for those lost souls here who think GWBush is our worst president -- get educated! When historians are writing about him in 50 years, he'll be a lower middle of the pack kind of president.

the sky is falling! the ground is shaking! fire and brimstone is raining down on all of us! people are fleeing for thier lives!

*looks around*

oh wait my bad. looks like a normal meeting of any head of state. man i thought something sinister and serious was happening.

its not of course and despite the conspiracy theorists dreams and wishes this is nothing more than a standard visit.

Kristen, I know this debate is somewhat heated (after all, it is about politics at this point)... But I don't think we need to be so extreme as to suggest people submit themselves to the horrible existence of life in Canada. Don't nobody want to be a Canadian.