A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
NRO has now posted Kevin Williamson’s excellent cover story from its most recent issue of the magazine entitled “An American Gospel.” As an active, mainstream Mormon, I recommend it. While it doesn’t address all the potential issues that arise in people’s minds about my faith, I think it addresses most of those that are likely to be relevant to Americans who are deciding whether they can support a Mormon candidate for president. I think Mr. Williamson’s answer to that question is “yes.”
Let me add a few additional thoughts. First, the argument that Mitt Romney would be the pawn of mysterious Church leaders in Salt Lake City is laughable. A few facts are worth considering. The Church does not support candidates and has a strict policy that politics are banned from its meetings. In sixty years, I have never heard a sermon by a member or a church official in a church meeting that turned into a campaign speech (compare this to hyper-political sermons of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright). If you want a dose of politics served with your religion, the Mormon Church is the wrong one for you.
Church members are encouraged to take part in the political process, but are never directed to one candidate over another. The Church, on very rare occasions, involves itself in specific issues of a moral nature, the best example of which was its call for support of Proposition 8 in California. The Church has also taken public positions in the past on gambling and a few other issues. These forays into the political world are notable for their rarity.
One particular issue is also worth a few words. Mr. Williamson cites Tricia Erickson, in his words “a Mormon apostate and professional opponent of all things Latter-day Saintly.” Her fundamental argument is that Mitt’s Mormonism is a disqualifying factor for a presidential candidate (I think she advances the old "he'll be the pawn of sinister forces" argument).
Until I read the NR article, I had never heard of Tricia Erickson, and I suspect that the vast majority of my co-religionists have never heard of her either. Nonetheless, in my six decades, I have seen several professional Mormon apostates come and go (Ed Decker is cited in the article—suffice it to say that his work has been thoroughly debunked). Any religion with a set of strong defining doctrines has this kind of critic, including former Catholics and Jews. (Is there a more rabid hater of Israel than a Jewish anti-Zionist?).
I can attest that mainstream Mormons, the kind who spend their time raising their families, working, and finding solace and peace in the Church, pay little attention to the Tricia Ericksons of the world. We find their wild conspiracy theories laughable and at odds with our day-to-day experience in the Church. We find strength in the culture, the feeling of belonging, and in the theology. Tricia Erickson and her ilk are far from our thoughts.
But, since Romney is the likely candidate, you’re going to be hearing a lot more from the Lawrence O’Donnell’s of the world. All I can ask is that you compare the wildness of the allegations to your own real-world experience with Mormon friends, neighbors, and co-workers (while giving us the courtesy of recognizing that none of us is perfect). After all, one great truth taught by Christ is that “by their fruits ye shall know them.” I believe most American Mormons are more than happy to let themselves and their Church be judged by what we do and what we are: loyal Americans who care about their country and its future.
So, as you are confronted with a few loud former Mormons, just remember the definition of a fanatic: the person who will neither change the subject nor his mind.*
I would also suggest the words of two other men. The first is the late Elder Neal A. Maxwell, formerly a member of the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and formerly an American fighting man on Okinawa. When Hugh Hewitt created his excellent PBS series Searching for God in America, it was Elder Maxwell that he interviewed (and whose interview is in the book that Hewitt wrote to accompany the series). I am one of many Mormons who continues to look to Elder Maxwell as a source of wisdom and sweetness of spirit. In 1996, he wrote these words about the “former Mormon” critics of the Church:
“They criticize the use of Church resources to which they no longer contribute. They condescendingly seek to counsel the Brethren whom they no longer sustain. Confrontive, except of themselves, of course, they leave the Church but cannot leave the Church alone . . . .” [Neal A. Maxwell, 1996]
Roger Scruton, the great English conservative and regular contributor to the American Spectator, made this observation in his memoir Gentle Regrets: “[S]acred things are intolerable to those who no longer believe in them.”
Please don’t take this the wrong way. I make no claim that Mitt Romney’s candidacy is sacred. All I would ask is that you judge him, for good or ill, on his vision for America and the specific policies that he espouses.
*[Update: On further reading, I feel a need to clarify. There is a huge difference between a professional former Mormon like Tricia Erickson (whose raison d'etre is pouring scorn on their former religion) and people like Marco Rubio and family, who were once Mormons but for reasons of their own returned to the Catholic faith. The difference, of course, is obvious: people can convert from one religion to another without hating and speaking out against their former religion. If a person finds greater solace in another religion, so be it and I wish them Godspeed].
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Dec '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
tabula rasa:
Kinda sounds like the cabinet of the current administration to me.
Good thoughts TR. While I have some definite disagreements with the LDS teachings, I admire the vast majority of Mormons that I encounter (and my little suburb of Portland has a large Mormon community). Of all of the misgivings I might have about Romney, his faith does not register.
Jul '11
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Thanks for writing this TR. I liked the article, but felt unable to express as much at NRO since the quality of the comment section broke down in record time.
-E
Edited on April 9, 2012 at 9:24pmSep '11
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
TR:
I think your point about Mormons and politics is demonstrated by Harry Reid on the one hand, and Orrin Hatch on the other. They're both prominent Mormons, in addition to Mitt Romney, but I don't think I've ever heard any concern mentioned by anybody of any political stripe about either's mix of religion and politics.
I think the Left would dearly love to provoke alarm among evangelicals and Catholics about a Mormon president. That would achieve something they desperately need--a distraction from the abysmal record of this president. What I hope will happen, though, is that evangelicals, Catholics, Mormons, and many other people are united in the nascent campaign for religious liberty that Archbishop Dolan is talking about.
In particular, the Catholic bishops are explicitly objecting to startup churches getting kicked out of renting space for Sunday worship from New York City public schools. These are not Catholic churches--these are largely black and/or hispanic churches. That's an issue that can only hurt the Obama campaign, and will force them off this narrative.
Oct '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
And remember us Mormons tend to either support the same social issues as mainstream Christianity, or support the rights of conscience of citizens on those issues. Mormons aren't opposed to contraception, for example, but we don't think people should be forced to pay for them, either.
Apr '11
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
I have tremendous sympathy for Mormons for what they and their faith are going to be subjected to over the next 7 months. The popular culture will pull out its biggest guns of mockery, ridicule, and innuendo in order to turn the voting public against Mitt Romney.
After all, destroying Romney is all they got.
I just hope that evangelicals and faithful Catholic and anyone else who values American pluralism is able to see their bigotry for what it is.
Apr '11
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
John Murdoch: TR:
I think your point about Mormons and politics is demonstrated by Harry Reid on the one hand, and Orrin Hatch on the other. They're both prominent Mormons, in addition to Mitt Romney, but I don't think I've ever heard any concern mentioned by anybody of any political stripe about either's mix of religion and politics.
The only serious effort from SLC that I'm aware of to influence George Romney was on the mixed (for them, then) religious/ political issue of African American equality/ Civil Rights. It had a spectacularly limited impact on him; instead, he remained a political radical on the subject (by Republican standards) and moved the church towards his direction.
I don't think that there's any subject on which Mitt is as at odds with his church as his Father was; accounts of his positions as Bishop have him unsurprisingly orthodox (as a capital O Orthodox Christian, I cannot emphasize enough how lower case the o before this bracket is). Immigration is probably the biggest area they'd be keen to pressure him about, but he's got pretty strong feelings about that, and seems similarly immoveable.
May '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Interesting article. Thanks for the pointer to it. Honestly though, for me, the biggest single obstacle to Mitt Romney, as a Mormon, is Mormons. Let me explain. What I have seen, by and large, seems to me to be very much in the vein of, "I'm a Mormon and Mitt's my guy 'cause he's a Mormon, too, and so don't say bad things about him or his faith. And whatever you do, please vote for him 'cause all of us down at the local church are sure proud of him. ". (I exaggerate to make the point. )But note, if you will, that that is essentially the same reason that Blacks give for voting for Obama. Need I remind you how that's worked out?So, my advice, if you're serious about seeing your guy get elected, is stop talking about Mitt's religion and start talking about his ideas. Oh, yeah. His ideas ..... like the mandate in Romneycare. Oops. The guy needs to get a clue. If SCOTUS kills Obamacare, then 10th Amendment or not, Romney would be wise to back off the wisdom of what he did in MA. In any case, ideas is what will win.
Aug '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
That is all I have ever done, and I expect all that the great majority of voters will do.
Jun '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Tom: I hope it's an exaggeration. I live in SLC among Mormons, most of whom are conservative. I have honestly never heard a single Mormon say they're for Romney because he's a Mormon or that others should vote for him because we're proud of him. That said, most Mormons are conservative and, quite naturally, they are likely to vote for Mitt. I've had to work my way to him--my favorite was Daniels, and I still have problems with Romneycare.
My point: when the criticism is of the Church instead of the candidate consider the source and make your decision based on a comparison of the choices.
Jun '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Bill Waldron
That is all I have ever done, and I expect all that the great majority of voters will do. · 8 minutes ago
Bill: I think you're right.
Mar '11
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
I'm an ex-Mormon (left at age 20) that has huge problems with Mitt Romney, but none of them are with his religion. I just think he's a cardboard fake.
Jul '11
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Tom,
It's not unreasonable that Mormons (or indeed anyone) look favorably on Mitt because of his faith. Romney was a missionary, bishop, and stake president, all of which speaks well of him, and Mormons should know that better than any.
There's really no comparison between Mormon support for Romney to Black support for Obama. Beyond the color of his skin, Obama has nothing in common with Black Americans, whereas Romney is an almost archetypal Mormon. Furthermore, Romney's leadership in the SLC olympics made him a household name among Utahns. Granted, this ignores the critical issue of ideas and policies, but it does speak to his character and accomplishments.
I'm sure that there are those Mormons out there who only see his religious affiliation and base their support on that. However, they are in a small enough minority that I've never spoken with one. Here in our Tyler, TX ward a number of members (including myself) were very disappointed when Perry didn't pan out and have decided to back Romney only as a 2nd or 3rd choice.
-E
Jun '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
I don't worry about the bigwigs in Salt Lake. I worry that Romney has five sons, three of whom are pretty much clones of the old man. Heaven forbid we start another Kennedy-type dynasty. The big family photo full of ambitious Romneys scares me--not the Book of Mormon.
Jun '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
This may be the most substantive point made on this thread. I too dislike dynasties (unless, of course, I'm part of one--sadly, thus far it hasn't happened).
Feb '12
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
However you may wish voters to choose candidates, the personal identity of the candidate will always play a large part for some. For instance, GWB received the evangelical vote in the 2000 primaries, and it wasn't because of his eloquent orations and profound press releases. It's simply human nature to gravitate toward the candidate who is more personally similar to oneself.
Mar '12
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
I have to believe that before any Kennedy-type dynasty can occur for the Romney clan, one of them has to be elected to the presidency. Given the failures of Kennedy's other than John to be elected president, dynastic ambitions seem limited to people with short names, like Adams and Bush, except maybe for the longer Roosevelt, and I believe that Teddy and FDR were cousins of some sort, making for a peculiar dynasty. Perhaps the Roosevelt thing is a migration rather than a dynasty.
However if the Romney's start singing, "Hey hey, ho ho, its off to work we go," we'll have to watch them more closely.
Edited on April 9, 2012 at 11:54pmAug '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Leporello
It's simply human nature to gravitate toward the candidate who is more personally similar to oneself.
All other things being relatively equal, probably correct. But religious denomination isn't necessarily the most important variable there. I mean, I'm a Catholic but wouldn't vote for a Kennedy or Pelosi on that basis. Ultimately we are all demographic groups of size one.
Apr '11
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Bill Waldron
Leporello
It's simply human nature to gravitate toward the candidate who is more personally similar to oneself.
All other things being relatively equal, probably correct. But religious denomination isn't necessarily the most important variable there. I mean, I'm a Catholic but wouldn't vote for a Kennedy or Pelosi on that basis. Ultimately we are all demographic groups of size one. ·
That's because Catholicism is a very large, very broad, demographic. Did you read Claire Belinski's post on how Americans in, eg., rural Vietnam will instantly bond? Smaller groups, more oppressed groups, and more clearly defined groups tend to form a far more important part of their member's identity.
Mitt's not just "a" Mormon. He's the guy who made the SLC Olympics, a big deal for a lot of Mormons, a success. He was the bishop who handled the response to the burning down of their Boston church. The Romney line has been a key, defining, element of their church, and although Kevin, G. Scott, et. al. are great guys and all that, Mitt's clearly the standard bearer.
Aug '10
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Fair points, James. I have at times lived in areas where Catholics were a distinct minority, and it did indeed impact the salience of that characteristic to my identity.
Still. Harry Reid is a "successful" Mormon as well, and I can't imagine a huge overlap between his supporters and Mitt's.
Edited on April 10, 2012 at 12:47amApr '11
Re: A Few Reflections By a Mormon on a Mormon Candidate
Donald Todd: I have to believe that before any Kennedy-type dynasty can occur for the Romney clan, one of them has to be elected to the presidency. Given the failures of Kennedy's other than John to be elected president, dynastic ambitions seem limited to people with short names, like Adams and Bush, except maybe for the longer Roosevelt, and I believe that Teddy and FDR were cousins of some sort, making for a peculiar dynasty. Perhaps the Roosevelt thing is a migration rather than a dynasty.
However if the Romney's start singing, "Hey hey, ho ho, its off to work we go," we'll have to watch them more closely. ·
"Harrison" is longer than "Romney".
Romney's kids live in San Diego, Boston, and Utah, his brother (a first, if it happened), in Michigan. If a Romney state develops in the way that Massachusetts did for JFK, though, it'd probably have to be Utah, and Utah's not the greatest base from which to launch a Presidential bid. Boston's burned ground (too liberal), G. Scott is too old, and California, state-wide, also too liberal. Maybe a Representative for San Diego.