Is it wrong for me not to vote for a Mormon?

Question

I wouldn't not vote for an LDS member just because they don't agree with me; I have no problem voting for someone who is Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, and even Muslim (as long as they aren't extreme). I just can't vote for a person who believes such goofy stuff. If the book of Mormon says that the descendants of Cain and Ham were cursed to be black, why would I vote for someone who believes that? Why would anyone believe that all of the biblical stories took place in the Americas when that goes against the research of historians and anthropologists? How can someone believe that the real Israelites are actually the Native Americans? The whole man becoming gods thing and starting their own planets just sounds like 19th century Scientology. The only reason why the LDS abandoned polygamy was so that Utah could become a state and they excluded blacks from priesthood until 1978, conveniently after the Civil Rights Movement because of a "revelation from God".

And [God] had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people, the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them. And thus saith the Lord God; I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities." (2 Nephi 5:21, emphasis added)

Having separated themselves from the people of God, the Lamanites had regressed into a state of ignorance and iniquity and, by doing so, had cursed themselves and their posterity. The black skin represented their spiritual blindness and constituted the mark of the curse (see 2 Nephi 30:6).

These are directly from the Book of Mormon which you can read on www. lds.org. When I ask missionaries about this, they lie to my face.

i read to those quotes from the scriptures section of http://www.lds.org.

Did I ever say that Mormons violated the civil rights of blacks? No. And blacks were barred from priesthood until 1978; I didn't say membership. Also, DNA testing has shown that Native Americans are not the descendants of the Israelites.

Answer 1

I don't think it is wrong unless you are voting for them just because they are a mormon and without thorough knowledge of what mormanism is. You seem to have a pretty good idea, so no, it's not wrong. Just like I would never vote for an NRA memeber, you would never vote for a mormon.

Answer 2

You can vote for whoever you want, although it might be a better choice if you were to read his views on political subjects rather than religious. Yes his religion will influence his decisions, but you say his beliefs are goofy? What religion doesn't have strange things? Ask a real Mormon about those things you are concerned about. You don't have it right at all, the bible and the book of Mormon are two different books, why would god only give his teachings to one people on the entire earth? Did he hate the native Americans? It makes more sense to me that he would have given something so them as well. All the prophets in the bible where polygamists, the only reason for them to stop polygamy was not only to become a state. It would help you a lot if you could ask a real Mormon, you really don't have any of your facts about them right.

ADD: What did the missionaries say to you that you think is a lie? Missionaries should not lie to you, and I don't believe that they did.

Answer 3

Sounds like you get your information from Ed Decker, too. (The Godmakers?)

The Book of Mormon talks of the Lamanites, not Cain or Ham. The Lamanites were, at first, wicked people and, to keep the Nephites, who were righteous at that time, from mixing with them, the Lamanites were given dark skin. Has nothing to do with blacks and Ham and Cain. TOTALLY different thing.

The church never violated anyone's civil rights. Blacks were members of the church before 1978, when the preistood was extended to all worthy male members. If they believed the church was violating teir civil rights, why did they belong to the church in the first place?

As for man becoming gods and starting their own planets, well, we do believe (as did Paul in the Bible, BTW) that "as God is, man MAY become". Not sure what all that would entail, but it's true, none the less.

The church did not abandon polygamy to become a state, they were excused from the practice to keep the government from totally destroying the church. The Edmunds-Tucker act allowed the feds to disenfranchise the church, take over most of the church's real estate, put most of the leaders in jail (those who they could find), created a lot of illegitimate children by declaring that all second and subsequent wives were never married, and the husband/fathers were not allowed to even take care of their women and children. Some women were even jailed if they refused to renounce plural marriage, or help find their husbands. I guess the feds decided that they could put aside the First Amendment for the Mormons. It's all there, if you look for it.

What did the Missionaries "lie to (your) face" about?

Answer 4

What does a person's religion have to do with their capability of being elected to a position? So you are saying that we should analyze a person's religion and its beliefs before we vote for them? What if you have wrong information? You would be eliminating a good person.

I think some of the beliefs of Jehovah Witnesses are pretty strange. So I shouldn't vote for one since I think it's wrong that they think that only 144,000 get into heaven? I think that's very close minded.

There is one Mormon I would never vote for, because of his radical ideals - Harry Reid!

BTW, you don't really know what you are talking about regarding LDS beliefs. Changes regarding polygamy and the blacks DID NOT HAPPEN due to outside pressure. Civil rights was a hot issue WAY BEFORE 1978. Please get your facts straight.

Answer 5

You have some weird ideas about Mormons! So with your "logic" I should never vote for a Catholic since they believe in things I don't agree with.

Hum, I though religion was a personal thing and a candidate's personal life is their business. The Bill Clinton supporters kept saying that after Bill was screwing around in the Oval Office. So it only applies for some people/religions?

Answer 6

You are going to find weird and illogical stuff in every religion. The main thing is, how do the vast majority of the people who practice that religion behave? How does the particular individual who you are thinking about behave? I work with some Muslin guys who are great guys. I don't lump them in with the crazy ones that are responsible for 90% of the terrorism that we see these days.

Answer 7

Right now we've got a president who is a MORON. So, what's the problem with another 'M'? It may stand for Mentally Able. That 'M' could be all that Bush needed.

Answer 8

You're not wrong to not vote for a Mormon. That's your decision and I don't think it's an altogether unreasonable one. However, all the religions you listed have some crazy crap in their holy books, as well. Ultimately, you can't know if the candidate agrees with every aspect of his religion unless you ask him.

Answer 9

You're free to vote against anyone you want.

Answer 10

you can vote for whomever you want.

However, the Book of Mormon doesnt say what you claim it says.