Comments about ‘Too many LDS are shunning Democrats’

As an active republican member of the church, I agree that this should not be happening. Leave politics at the church door.

deseret news, why are you publishing this "news"?
I love to read the obituaries. Yep, that's it. Your "newspaper"/news service is poor. I am in/of the faith. I am not pleased. Too many LDS are blah blah blah. Too many LDS are not blah blah blah. How can I take you seriously? Please step up to the plate and deliver the news.

Debbie,

I understand how you feel. I teach young mens at church and I have a young man who likes to talk politics and he makes a couple of the other boys who have democratic leanings uncomfortable. At the same time it is important to encourage members to be active in politics. The church doesn't endorse any particular party however we are expected to vote for good men and women to lead us. There is much that is ugly about politics and there are some real corrupt people getting elected to office. It is important to debate what policies are wrong and what are right for our people.

>Mormons who are Democrats

Many decades ago, the two may have been compatible, but now they are absolutely incompatible, if the Mormon actually believes Mormon theology and the Democrat believes modern Democratic philosophy.

Mormons know that Satan presented a plan that would force others to do "good." That plan is being implemented now by modern Democrats, who use the threat of violent government power to force others to do "good" (pay for the upkeep of those who either cannot or choose not--usually the latter--to do it for themselves, for example). Every honest and knowledgeable Mormon knows that totalitarian collectivism (the modern Democratic ideology) is the absolute antithesis of the Savior's plan, and that charity is only charity when it is 100% voluntary.

That's why serious Mormons shun Democrats. We view our liberty as sacred, and view those who engage in Satan's plan to remove it from us to ANY DEGREE WHATSOEVER as our mortal enemies.

Until Democrats abandon their theology of slavery, all serious, faithful, and knowledgable Mormons will continue to shun them as the decadent and destructive anti-Christian plague that they are.

I would also have a problem with other members of my ward being racist and quoting Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity in Church. I also don't agree with shunning others due to their political beliefs. However, its a two way street. How much anti-republican anti-George Bush rhetoric have we heard in the last few years? I live near Seattle and I can't tell you how many "Obama-Biden 08" or "Bush lied" stickers I see. Yes, as members of the church we are commanded to "turn the other cheek" but like the rest of humanity, we sometimes succumb to the "natural man". I'm sorry that you may have felt unwelcome in your ward due to your beliefs and members who have intentionally shunned others should be ashamed of themselves. That said, the conservatives have put up with the "Bush bashing" for years now and it seems that those that lean to the left are having a hard time accepting the fact that criticism and disagreement are signs of a healthy democracy. You criticized Bush and all of his followers for saying "if you are not with us then you are against us". Gotta love Karma.

>We don't feel like we should have to defend our political beliefs

And we don't feel like we should have to delute the true doctrines of the Church to accomodate your feelings, merely because your political philosophy is clearly and dramatically incompatible with fundamental LDS theology.

>step up to the plate and deliver the news

Where have you been? Newspapers haven't done that for decades!

My maternal grandmother a devout generous Mormon, and a staunch Democrat, (who would have loved it, if FDR had been elected to 5 administrations.)She would go vote in every election KNOWING utah would always go Republican, she would comiserate with my father a republican in VERY democratic Minnesota.
This last election with prop 8 has got to have made MANY progressive Mormons, just walk away from their Church.

newspapers?

didn't we use to have those?

My family in UT had GOOD MANNERS, and discussions of religion and politics, just weren't brought up.

Better Days

So the government helping your neighbor who is down is "Satan's plan"? It sounds to me like someone is trying to justify their material wealth, position of privilege, and greed at the expense of people who are genuinely suffering. Satan's plan was to rob me of a tiny shred of my inherited wealth in order to get food stamps to an unemployed family! Those poor people are in a league with SATAN!

Dynette, can you honestly say you're proud to be a Democrat??? Geesh, another nut case that voted for a very charismatic, articulate, arrogant moron.

Yes, sadly this does happpen, but to be absolutely honest it happens on both sides. Too many times I heard Democrat LDS slam Bush, call him a liar, say he should be tried for war crimes, how could any sensible LDS person vote republican, ad nauseam. I have been in a meeting (not church) where I was literally the only Republican. I had a right to be in that meeting due to my responsibility as a president of a teacher's organization, and I was castigated and denounced as if I were Satan myself. I finally got up and left. Every person in that room claimed to be a democrat. I told those around me I simply could not support their candidate for governor because of his extreme stance on abortion. I agree politics should stay out of church meetings, other than to encourage people to become "knowledgable" about the issues and the candidates and then put it to the Lord who we should vote, based on our gained knowledge, then encourage our friends to vote.

a democrat?

When China admonished Obama, exhorting him to slow down, stop spending, in order to conserve their US financial risk, that is a clue as to how radical he is viewed even by Communists. It is disingenuous to charge all conservative LDS of being republicans, of being political and racial bigots, or of disregarding that LDS Church abstains from political leanings. I doubt anyone approached you in Church and said, I hate you because you are democrat and voted for Obama. How utterly fallacious and polemically calculating. It may surprise you, but both partys platforms also contained elements that were NOT consistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, how immaterial. If the socialism shoe fits, wear it. Also, your Christianity and patriotism are more adversely criticized by fellow democrat atheists, agnostics and party leaders than republicans. Wasnt it Obama who said, that people like you get bitter cling to your religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them to explain their frustrations?" His remark characterized religious people as foolish and backward. It is reasonable to expect that cross-cutting cleavage and conflicts will exist against the other by both political parties.

Can't disagree without being disagreeable? Ever been married? laugh!

In the history of America, has there ever been a time when we have been more divided than we are now? Maybe during the war between the states. Even in the church abortion divides us, gay "marriage" divides us, socialism divides us, one party is for it and one is against each of these issues and yes,these are all religious issues! Where will it all take us? Another civil war? Unless we come together as a nation, some kind of "war" is inevitable! It is very discouraging to see our country decend to this level. I see rioting in the streets and violent acts of "civil disobedience" rampant in America's future between the left and the right.Some see it as good against evil-dangerous conflicts.

Anti-PC Infidel is indeed an example of the arrogance of the ignorant.

This letter represents the real feelings and experiences of a citizen of our state, and, in my case, a member of my religion. I respect her courage and honesty, and wish everyone could just calm down, and allow an honest opinion to be expressed. Incivility and intolerance are bringing this country down more than any President ever could. I am an independant, and always vote for the person, not the party, and what I am observing is that party is becoming a religion to some. Let us try to find the common ground, and if that fails, at least have some modicum of respect for one another. I fear the anonimity of the internet has made it too easy to be insulting and hurtful, and it seems to be carrying over to our daily interactions in some cases. What kind of example are setting for our children, I wonder. When I looked at the posts on the Glenn Beck thread, I was shocked at the extreme viciousness displayed by so many. I think what our country needs most right now are people willing to be peacemakers.

I am LDS, a staunch Democrat, and Obama supporter. I see no problem with that whatsoever. When people at Church are bothered by my politics I just chuckle and continue my day. (As has been noted, we should not be talking politics at Church anyway)I believe we all need to respect each other and also agree to disagree. I am glad there are at least two parties in our nation. I also feel George Bush was a decent President as well. The good thing is that all of this discussion just proves that we as Mormons are the most engaged in our political process as anyone, and that is a good thing!!


Zionweaver