LDS - did you see this article on Harry Reid & his visit to BYU?

Question

He was quoted as saying 'past prominent LDS Church leaders wrongly pressed conservatism on church members' and specifically mentioned Ezra T Benson & Earnest L Wilkinson...
What are your thoughts on the Democratic Senate Majority Leader?

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695217316,00.html

Answer 1

I'm from NV and most LDS members here aren't fans of Harry Reid. I don't agree with a number of his views, but I think he's a pretty smart guy. I don't think anyone should only support R's or only D's. We need to consider each person's platforms and stances, without regard to which party they claim.

Anyway, I wanted to continue the discussion about socialism, communism, democracy, etc.

I've always understood Communism to be a governmental theory, like democracy and repulics. Socialism is an economic theory, like capitalism. Communism is (or is supposed to be) based on socialism, but they are not the same thing. We read in the Book of Mormon that the best government is a theocratic monarchy. We can't live this though, because there will inevitably be an unrightous king. The next best is a democracy, but it can be either capitalist or socialist, or a mixture( which is what most countries do, included US)

Answer 2

I have mixed sentiments of Harry Reid. As a Democrat I respect him for the position in which he resides. Personally I think sometimes he has a few lose screws and as the child of Cuban ex-patria who fled due to socialism, some of Mr. Reid's political opinions scare me, but I do understand what he means. I agree that the general authorities have gone a little overboard in the past with their personal political agendas (whether this is what such GAs intended to do, I don't know. I think many of them just didn't know how scrutinized their opinions would be later on). Which GA was it that said a good Latter-day Saint couldn't be a Democrat? (I really hope that I stand as proof that this is a false assumption :). I'm not sure this is true or not, but I remember hearing from another member that there was an Apostle from the early 70's that said something along the lines of "feminism will turn God-fearing women into lesbians".

I understand that GAs are human beings and like every human being they have their own two cents to give and that a prophet's or apostle's opinion doesn't equate to doctrine or revelation. None-the-less I strongly believe that the respect of their offices REQUIRES that they be ever so careful with which opinions they share and how they deliver them. I think our current president understands this better than so many other past prophets & apostles. I've noticed so many times that when Pres. Hinckley is asked something that isn't technically stipulated in doctrine he rarely gives his own personal opinion understanding that it can be used to do great harm to this church even decades after his inevitable passing. (Just look at all the discourses of Pres. Young that are now used to "disprove" the church). It seems more often than not, that when there is no "official doctrine" on the matter he either speaks with numerous "I statements" (I believe, or I think, or I strongly advise) making such statements readily evident that they are the feelings of a highly respected, wise religious figure rather than a revelation from an oracle of God. What I admire the most about him is that he isn't afraid to say "I don't know". He doesn't feel obligated to come up with an answer or with advice for every little human concern. He rarely makes assumptions which I believe exemplifies his great humility.


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"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." This is socialism pure and simple and it will be the way the Saints will live during the millennium"

I believe this is actually communism and not socialism. Socialism from what I've been taught is a midway point between capitalism and communism because it gives "to each according to his DEEDS" (compared to needs). This means in a socialist society people who do more for the cause (true revolutionists) or those who's position requires more effort (like surgeons and researchers) will be compensated with a little more than say a cook or someone who doesn't do as much for the "cause". Also a socialist government is truly governed by the people whereas a communist government is governed by a select few.

In light of this, won't the Saints practice communism rather than socialism when the millenium approaches? I mean the power of the united order will not be delivered in a democratic manner, rather the scriptures even tell us that it takes "priesthood power" for this system to work (leading us to believe that the ultimate authority will still rest with the first presidency). Also, won't all resources be distributed to the members based upon need rather than merit (or deed)? This indicates a communist society compared to a socialist one.

Answer 3

To say that E.T. Benson was conservative is a major understatement. He was a driving force behind The John Birch Society. I grew up in Salt Lake as a Mormon is a Democratic family. When we put a Kennedy campaign poster in our front yard you'd have thought we were slaughtering babies in the basement!

An important thing to remember is that "the Prophet" is not infallible in all that he does. Political differences are not doctrinal issues. God expects us to study and pray and decide for ourselves. Unfortunately our own prejudices often get in the way and color our decisions.

KiaSister in the days of Joseph and Brigham the church practiced the "United Order", a communal living where everything was held in common. "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." This is socialism pure and simple and it will be the way the Saints will live during the millennium. Too often people confuse socialism with communism, they aren't even close to being the same.

I'm glad to see and hear Harry Reid stand up and disagree with some church leaders while remaining a faithful Latter-day Saint.

Answer 4

Yes, I read about it. He is correct that some recent leaders such as President Benson were very conservative. He is correct that members have voted across party lines and being solidly Republican is a recent phenomenon. Outside the Mountain States, Mormon Republicans are more moderate.

Brother Reid's problem is that he is that he may personally be moderate enough, but the rest of the Democractic Senators are not. He is their leader and advocates their causes. If he truely wanted to salvage a moderate wing of the party, he should abdicate and regain the high ground.

Answer 5

This is nothing more than Senator Reid's opinion. The LDS Church promotes beliefs and values, but it does not promote political parties or political candidates. It encourages it's members to study the issues and candidates, consider them carefully and prayerfully and vote. If the majority of LDS members are Republican it is because their values and beliefs correspond more closely with Republican ideals, not because they are being told or coerced to vote that way by their church or it's leaders.

Answer 6

I think Harry Reid is a dirtbag. He ran as a conservative in Nevada, got elected, and now is liberal enough to make most of the liberals squirm.

It's funny that many liberals beat on Romney for being LDS, while Harry Reid is LDS and already there and clearly NOT doing the things they say Romney would do (because he's Mormon).

Anyway, I think the spirit of his message was that "If you look the other way on abortion and Gay Marriage, then you might just agree with everything else".

That said, I think he has socialistic tenancies and I don't think that he realizes the problems with them.

Quoting Ronald Reagan:
"It's not that our liberal friends know too little, but that they know so much that just isn't true". (paraphased)

(That comes from Reagan's talk titled "A time for choosing" given in about 1964 shortly after he left the democratic party and became a republican.)

Answer 7

It does not say that he accused ETB and ELW as having pressed people into conservatism, it simply says that he acknowledged them as extremely right-wing. I wouldn't trust the Deseret NEws' take on anything that Harry Reid said, as they tend to swing just as far right as ETB. I am sure that the Senator did tease a bit about the conservatism of the church culture, as he is constantly mocked about his own liberal views.

And I love his comment about GWB being a missionary for the Dems. LOL I concur.

Answer 8

He has as much right to be LDS as I do. Liberals and conservatives have no special claim on the LDS church.

I am Conservative and think that Harry Reid to a political hack.

But he might be a gr8 member of our church -- maybe -- could be...

D

Answer 9

Conservatism is pressed on church members - it's called the scriptures!

This doesn't have anything to do with Democrat, Republican or any other party. We have beliefs that this country knows as "Conservative".

So if your quote is correct and for Brother Reid to say that, he once agian shows his lack of wisdom and understanding. But he has been wrong before, many times before.

Answer 10

Reid should never criticize anyone. He has the lowest public approval rating of any Senate leader since the keeping of such polls began.