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Mormon Twentysomething: Ward list used for political smear campaign?

Provo Dan | 7:37 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Good article. The author should be aware that this kind of thing happens all of the time. On one hand the Church takes the official position that it is politically neutral, but one the other hand ward lists, membership, etc. are used for political purposes all of the time. It happened last Sunday in my ward, even.

True Blue | 7:42 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

This is just politics as usual in Utah.

Adano | 8:08 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Misusing membership lists for political purposes is nothing new. Back in 2006 I was living in San Diego, where there was a special House election to replace Rep. Duke Cunningham. I received a letter urging me to vote for a Mormon candidate. The letter was specifically addressed to LDS voters and played up the candidate's strong LDS faith.

I voted against him based only on this letter. I don't need a candidate who will misuse church lists, contrary to church policy, even while claiming that he's a good candidate who can be trusted with much bigger things than a membership list.

Comments continue below

California | 8:32 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

My street name is misspelled on our ward list. If I get a mailing with that error in the address, I can guess where they got it. Same goes for people peddling scripture videos and other products targeting LDS families.

socal Gal | 8:41 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

The Church did this with Prop 8.

Slush Fund | 8:50 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Mckay wrote:

"But can we, as Latter-day Saints, really justify exploiting our own faith in order to win an election?"

Mckay is being a little naive. The Church has a LONG and glorious history of doing this exact same thing. Just look at the last couple of major political issues and how the Church became involved and tried to involve its members.

Grace in South Jordan | 9:04 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

To California 8:32,

It is interesting that you get mailings from various peddlers for scripture videos. Two weeks ago, the Mormons on both sides of my street received junk mail from the "Living Scriptures" video. My non-Mormon neighbors didn't receive any mailings, only the Mormons received the mailings. This leads me to believe that someone leaked the ward membership to these vendors. I was pretty upset.

The Truth | 9:17 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

This is why I always request from the the Bishop that my family's address and phone number never be allowed to be published on any ward list. It's really the only way to be sure that you will be left alone from salesman, politicians and others that misuse these membership lists.

Anonymous | 9:19 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I doubt that the bishop would encourage this person to write the email...the bishop may have meant that this person should confront her/himself about having so much hate and repenting of said problem.

Ella Mentry | 9:28 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

There is no way the Church can stop this, but they have had each ward list printed with "For Church Purposes Only" on them somewhere (usually at the bottom). Doesn't stop people from breaking the rules, but does protect the Church legally.

Prop 8 | 10:34 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I can give you 20 million reasons why the Church DOES indeed try to influence local elections.

Some Advice | 10:41 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Never put your personal email on the ward list. My email has been hijacked by so many LDS related products, books and groups that I had to close my email account and reopen another one.

Johnny One | 11:16 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

End tax exemptions for all religions and other so-called non-profit entities. To do otherwise is to continue evil socialism!

La from Vegas | 11:34 a.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I think it is so sad, that the headquarters of the church area has so many Un Christ Like people when it comes to political issues. No wonder the good people won't run. Shame on those who make a bad name for those who try to live the gospel in all aspects of their lives.

Ella Mentry | 12:27 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Grace in SJ, When I was in college during the 80s, I worked for one of the scripture video telemarketing companies in Utah county. We DID get ward lists with the "For Church Purposes Only" blacked out at the bottom and that's what we used to call from. We were encouraged to call them "Brother" or "Sister" too. Granted, I was only there a few weeks (felt too ookey to me to work there) and I understand they have now stopped doing that, but it really left a bad taste in my mouth about these companies.

Bill | 12:32 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Living scriptures get their information from members who have subscriptions to the Church's magazines. This doesn't come via the ward listing. Anyone who is a member of a certain ward can get their ward listing off of the Internet. To state the Church did this in California for Proposition 8 is wrong. The Church sent a letter to all of the Stakes and they in turn gave it to the Bishops/Brank Presidents to read. Some members may have done this but that is their choice. It is wrong but they have to answer for that not me.

As an active member of the Church I have no problems with the Church magazines, Desert Books or Living Scriptures giving me information pertaining to the Church. That is fine with me. I make up my own mind with out the Church being part of it as far as elections go. If I lived in California I would have voted for Proposition 8, I would have donated my time and money to pass it. So what, that is my civic duty to do so, not just as a church member.

Another SoCalGal | 3:58 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

Not a problem here. I rarely see our ward list misused. For those who do misuse lists, shame on them. Using the lists for political purposes is definately against church policy, but it's impossible to stop every single person who wants to do so. Often and unfortunately it can only be done after the fact. Many members honestly don't realize it's wrong. I remember once during a local election that a member of our Relief Society tried to announce her desire that everyone vote for a member of our ward. I had to stop her the minute I saw where she was going and explained that we could not do that. I further explained that everyone should definately plan to vote and to vote for the candidate of their choice, WHOEVER that might be.

As far as Prop 8 goes, get over it. Everything was legitimate and we participated in the political process just as the anti prop 8 activists did. We, however, did not participate in harrassment, persecution and hate as many on the other side. You lost. Get over it.

michaelm | 10:29 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

I work in marketing and advertising and list and circulation is one of the areas I have worked with for many years. Don't assume that just because you get LDS marketing related materials that each time is comes from the Ward or Church. Once you have been picked up by one list or direct retailer your name gets passed around to many other lists. Every time you buy online or from a catalog your information is tracked and profiled in ways you would think only the Feds could do. Actually retailers do it better. I can go online right now and profile anyone and get your address and other details. I can put in criteria such as LDS church members, or women of a certain age who buy yellow shoes and also at some time used eBay and bought a Stephanie Meyers book in the last 30 days. I'd have no problem figuring out what you do where you shop, worship and the kind of dog food you buy. Point is segmenting out an all LDS list is very easy to do and I don't need a Ward list to do it.

Anonymous | 12:46 p.m. Nov. 7, 2009

Everything was legitamate in Prop 8? Your being a little presumptuous seeing that the investigation into LDS wrongdoing is still ongoing....in what, it's 12th month? If there was nothing wrong to investigate they would have stopped the investigation long ago.

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