Is it safe to elect a Mormon as President?

Question

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a rich and powerful organization which demands perfect obedience from its followers based on the current teaching of a modern-day prophet and apostles dwelling in Salt Lake City, Utah. According to mormonism, old revelation must be interepreted in light of the new revelation coming from the current prophet. He says jump and mormons must jump. They are not permitted to think for themselves, when the prophet has spoken.

Would it not be dangerous, therefore, to elect a faithful son of the LDS church like Mitt Romney as President? Would not this secretive and hierarchical organization wield substantial power over U. S. policy with its own obedient Mitt Romney as president?

Also see http://www.message4mormons.org/

Answer 1

Having lived in Utah for 22 years as a non-Mormon, I would not consider voting for a devout Mormon as President. The Mormon religion strongly attempts to legislate their version of morality and religious views at a state level, with little separation of church and state consideration. Your statement about them not being permitted to think for themselves when the prophet has spoken is quite accurate. I could elaborate and state hundreds of specific incidents, but I'll refrain and just say that, yes, Romney would be a dangerous choice for President of the U.S.

Answer 2

I have a good web site for you, and it's written by a NON-LDS person. See first link in sources.

Also, a good one for being a GOOD anti-Mormon, not like the link you gave, which does a much better job of making our church look weird and cultish, than we could ever do.

Edit: the one article talks about Mitt's father, George Romney. I think he ran for president, might even have been a running mate or something. Anyway, in 1964, he took a stand that was unpopular both politically and ecumenically, as both the Republicans AND some leaders of the church were against it. What was it?

Civil rights for EVERYONE, regardless of color.

However, even tho one LDS apostle wrote him to tell him how wrong he was, he also said that, if this was what he believed, he must stand my his principles.

Answer 3

What could be more secretive and hierarchical than the president we now have? Let's pick the one with the best qualifications, not the media coverage or the slamming of each other going on now. The good old boy's system slamming Clinton right now doesn't seem all too good for me to select one of them for a President. I want issues discussed, not the stuff that is going on right now. AND I WANT THE TRUTH, not the political lies. Being a Mormon is not what I would ever be, and I don't believe in any of their doctrines. But I do know that there are enough checks and balances in the system that we won't have anything worse than what we have right now. Bush is total power; he is the ultimate King Baby, loyal to the worst of his friends, and led by money. Bush is obedient to no one, so how much worse would it be to have someone obedient to a religion?
Sad choices we have, bottom line. They all lie, because they are all politicians.

Answer 4

If you are affraid a mormon in office will affect things, just look at Harry Reid. He is a Mormon too, and his political beliefs couldn't be further from Mormon Mainstream. I'm ex-mormon, and don't think the church is true, but I must say the church has always stayed out of politics except on few issues like abortion, same sex marriage, and any other laws that affect families. I don't believe a mormon as president will be a problem. I plan to vote for him, because his credentials are impeccable. Why don't you people try looking at what he has done in the past instead of assuming you know what he will do just because he is Mormon?

Answer 5

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a rich and powerful organization which demands perfect obedience from its followers based on the current teaching of a modern-day prophet and apostles dwelling in Salt Lake City, Utah"

Substitute "Roman Catholic Church" for "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "pope" for "prophet", "apostles" for "cardinals" and "Salt Lake City, Utah" for "Vatican City" and you have just described the largest Christian organization in the world. This same argument was made against a Roman Catholic Candidate but was later demonstrated to be sheer prejudice.

"He says jump and mormons must jump. They are not permitted to think for themselves, when the prophet has spoken."

This is absolutely not true, in fact we are encouraged to ponder, study, pray and THEN sustain what the prophet says. In many ways I've considered myself a "radical" Mormon as many of my beliefs are variably different from the oppinions & teachings of many of the LDS prophets. It is true that a member should keep in accordance to dogma (fundamental beliefs) otherwise it shakes the very foundation of being "Mormon" (i.e. That Joseph Smith was a prophet, that the Book of Mormon is scripture, the 10 Commandments, etc). This is no different from other religions however. What would happen if you denied that Jesus is the Christ in a Protestant church? Or what if you were Roman Catholic and denied the trinity, or the dogma of transubstantiation, or that the office of the Pope has held the keys of the kingdom since St. Peter?

There have been prophets who believed that Feminism was evil and that evolution is a doctrine of the devil. I disagree full-heartedly, and express such dissagreement if asked and I have never been denied the Sacrament, access to the Temple or any callings in the church due to such.

You are foolish to think that Mormons in office would automatically see everything in the lenses of "Mormonism" and Harry Reid (D-NV) should be the best example for this:

He's the Senate Majority Leader (and the first Mormon to hold this office I must add) and even though the Church is anti-abortion, and vehemently anti-gay marriage, HE is not. He has yet to be "reprimanded" for such oppinions.

Answer 6

Well I am a Mormon and I can say that what you said is not true. You are perfectly welcome to choose that what the Prophet said is not true, most people just trust him. And he doesn't abuse the power but telling people to do stupid things like jump. Mitt Romney can choose to do as he likes, he has a brain. Just because he believes in modern Revelation doesn't make him any less qualified to be president. He is not a thereat,(most) Mormons are very patriotic people who love there country.

Also, the LDS church is not secretive, they send thousands of missionary's to tell people about the Church. You can go to any of the Sunday meeting houses, ask Mormons, or give the local missionary's a call. We would be more than happy to tell you all about our church.

Answer 7

There are Mormons all over Washington as it is.

Ronald Reagan appointed LOADS of Mormons.

The church endorses no politician and endorses no political party. It is extremely rare that they get involved in any political issue.

The church does not "demand perfect obedience". It is a church of imperfect mortals and it does encourage regular repentance like many other Christian churches.

I don't know where you get your information, but Mormons are permitted and encouraged to think for themselves. They are encouraged to seek learning and education. They actually teach evolutionary principals at BYU and how they go hand in hand with creationism.

Mormons are encouraged to obey the laws of the land. Be honest, chaste, humble, educated, morally straight, free from controlling substances, good children, husbands, wives, and parents.

.........Frankly, I can't think of a better type of person for President!

Answer 8

You really don't understand Mormonism. I'm not one to brag, but I guess the anonymity of Yahoo! Answers makes it alright! I graduated from an undergraduate institution in 5 years (4.0 GPA) with a minor in Chemistry, a Bachelor's of Science in Mathematics, a Bachelor's of Art in Portuguese Language and Literature, and a Masters of Science in Physiology and Developmental Biology. I'm currently pursuing a dual MD/PhD degree in medicine and biomedical science at a prestigious university, using complex computer calculations to aid drug discovery. Do you really think I don't think for myself?

To learn more about Mormonism, visit my site at http://www.allaboutmormons.com .

Answer 9

No, it isn't safe. Romney's first priority is, has always been and always will be to the Mormon Church. He would run the country according to the precepts set down by the 'modern day prophets' of the Mormon Church. The 'man behind the President' would be Gordon Hinckley, the present 'prophet' of Mormonism. He would be the true leader of the USA.

Answer 10

What relatively saddens me, is that there are maximum of people such as you who believe those issues because of the fact they are on a critics' website. The LDS Church would not prepare those issues, that's discovered only on those critics' sites. and that's because of the fact those critics choose human beings to believe that the LDS Church believes that and the different non-LDS stuff they profess. Take a superb examine out any actual LDS website, they do tell the reality approximately what the Church teaches and believes, opposite to what any critic will inform you.