Mitt Romney and Mormonism

This article concerns the religion of Mitt Romney, Mormonism, and the religious issues brought up as the public considers Romney's attempt to run for the presidency of the United States. Because Romney's candidacy raises public interest in the Mormon faith, it is important for Christians to use the opportunity to think over questions of doctrine, worldviews, and the Christian duty to responsibly vote. Whether one votes for or against Romney, a Christian should do so well-informed of the teachings of Mormonism and how they relate to a person like Romney. It is very important for Christian leaders and pastors at this time to distinguish Mormonism, a counterfeit-Christian cult from the beliefs of the Bible.

"My fear though is not with Romney or with the LDS, but with American evangelicals. We tend to want a candidate we can identify as a 'good Christian.' Whether he is or not, we make him so in popular myth. My denomination's publishing house published Carter's 1976 campaign biography, 'Why Not the Best?' There are books in Christian bookstores throughout the nation celebrating the faith of Reagan, though a track record such as his on church attendance and astrological dabblings would be cause for church discipline in a healthy congregation. We have Internet urban legends about President Bush leading a young man to pray to receive Christ in a receiving line. I fear, if Romney is the conservative alternative to John McCain and Hillary Clinton, we might do the same thing, baptizing Mormonism as just another expression of Christianity. It is not. I suppose the possibility of a Romney presidency might be a test for American evangelical voters. Would we be able to go to the White House and ask for pro-life, pro-family legislation from a pro-life, pro-family president and then share the Gospel with him before we leave?" - Russell D. Moore^[1]

"Romney has tried deflect [questions about his Mormonism] by focusing on the broad principles of his faith, as well as family values and traditional marriage."^[2]

This article is not a comprehensive guide to Romney's political views, nor does it endorse or denounce him as a candidate.

This article is a stub. Please edit it to add information.

Multimedia Mitt Romney and Mormonism (Google Video) Mitt Romney on the Charlie Rose Show (Google Video) - Starting at 14 minutes, 13 seconds some issues of Mormon doctrine are brought up Senator Edward M. Kennedy on Romney's Religion (MP3) Can a Mormon be President? (Windows Media) - KTVX Salt Lake City Documentary maker backs Mitt Romney, looks at Mormon issue (Windows Media) - KTVX Salt Lake City

Contents 1 Interview on the Charlie Rose Show 2 Polygamy 3 White Horse prophecy 4 Are Mormons Christian? 5 Mainstreaming 6 Mormonism's atheological tendency 7 Cobelligerence 8 Quotes 9 Notes 10 External links

[edit] Interview on the Charlie Rose Show

Judy Woodruff, a substitute interviewer on the Charlie Rose show, said to Romney:

"But there are some aspects of Mormonism that many Americans might not understand: the belief that Jesus Christ will appear again in the state of Missouri; or that God has a material body; that he God was fathered by another god. Are these legitimate issues for people to ask you about?"

Romney responded:

"Well there's a leap of faith associated with every religion. You haven't exactly got those doctrines right. But if you have doctrines you want to talk about, go talk to the church, because that's my job. But, uh, the most unusual thing in my church is that we believe there was one a flood upon the earth, and that a man took a boat, put two of each animal inside the boat, and to save humanity by doing that... Look, there are unusual beliefs associated with each faith, and I'm proud of my faith, and happy to talk to people about it." ^[3]

[edit] Polygamy

Romney is the great-great-grandson of a polygamist.

"The practice of polygamy is abhorrent, it's awful, and it drives me nuts that people who are polygamists keep pretending to use the umbrella of my church... My church abhors it, it excommunicates people who practice it, and it's got nothing to do with my faith." ^[4]

This raises questions of how committed Romney really is to his Mormon faith and heritage. According to Mormon history, Joseph Smith was commanded by God to enter into the practice of polygamy. D&C 132 calls it an "eternal principle".

[edit] White Horse prophecy

While belief in this prophecy persists somewhat at a folk level in Mormonism, the Mormon organization generally distances itself from it. It is highly unlikely that Romney seriously considers himself as a fulfillment of this prophecy.

See main article: White Horse prophecy

[edit] Are Mormons Christian?

This section is a stub. Please edit it to add information.

Comparison between Mormonism and Christianity

[edit] Mainstreaming

[edit] Mormonism's atheological tendency

[edit] Cobelligerence

See main article: Theopedia:Cobelligerence

[edit] Quotes

• "Romney's views on these social issues are completely out of step with official LDS positions, and Romney, who is a moderate Republican, would not necessarily have an easy time winning a local race in Utah -- one of the most conservative and Republican states in the Union... Romney’s problem is not that he is LDS, per se, but that his political stances are not in harmony with his own faith." - Stefani Stone[3]
• "I've met with a number of leaders of very diverse faiths: Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Charismatics, Southern Baptists, and so forth. The leaders of those groups have quite consistently expressed their willingness to support a candidate who agrees with them on the issues, and they're not terribly concerned with the particular brand of faith someone might have, mine included. "Recognizing that my theology and, let's say, a Southern Baptist theology are very different, the leaders I met with are far less concerned about the differences in theology than they are about views on major issues. As one of them said, 'You wouldn't be running for pastor-in-chief.' So while I anticipate that it will be an issue, it won't be a factor in peoples' decisions." - Mitt Romney^[5]

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• White Horse in the White House, by Carrie Sheffield - "Will a Mormon candidate fulfill Joseph Smith's prophecy?"
• Romney says he's religious, but won't discuss Mormon doctrine, by Steve LeBlanc - "Gov. Mitt Romney says he would be willing to talk about his Mormon religion in broad terms should he run for president but would shy away from debating specific beliefs."
• Mitt Romney's Polygamous Heritage, by Todd M. Compton
• The Ancestors of Mitt Romney, by William Addams Reitwiesner
• A Bigger Tent, by Damon Linker - "Why religious conservatives are ready for a Mormon president"
• Who's afraid of a Mormon president in the United States?, by Russell D. Moore (Senior V.P. for Academic Administration, Southern Seminary)
• 'Pres. Romney' sounds good to many (Deseret News, an essentially Mormon newspaper)
• Voting for an LDS prez not an option, 43% say, by Thomas Burr (Salt Lake Tribune) - "53% of evangelicals say they wouldn't consider it, bad news for likely '08 hopeful Mitt Romney"
• Can a Mormon be President?, by Mike Allen - "Why Mitt Romney will have to explain a faith that remains mysterious to many"
• One-Issue Politics, One-Issue Marriage, and the Humane Society, by John Piper
• Why Vote If You Are Disillusioned?, by John Piper