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9 September 2012
Mitt Romney: Mormon Values Led Me To Politics (VIDEO)
September 9, 2012
Huffington Post
Mitt Romney opened up about his faith on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, suggesting that the fact that America has elected its first black president has paved the way for the nation’s first Mormon president.
In response to a question from host David Gregory about whether Mormons have “gotten past a level of persecution” that previously existed, Romney responded, “I’m sure a number of members of my faith are proud of the fact that someone of my faith and our faith is able to run for president.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/09/mitt-romney-mormon_n_1868388.html
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Why No One Cares About the White Jesus of Mitt Romney’s Mormonism
September 9, 2012
Huffington Post
During the middle of the Civil Rights movement, Mormons placed an 11-foot-tall white Jesus with an exposed powerful chest at the center of Salt Lake City. Christus, as he was originally called, was raised in 1966, but he was based upon an old Danish statue from 1821. Since ’66, Christus has become a staple of Mormon iconography placed primarily in “welcome centers” all throughout the nation. He became even more poignant of a symbol after 1978, the year Mormon leadership lifted its bans on people of color from the priesthood. Blacks, Pacific Islanders and others were technically welcome in the church, but they first had to pass by the powerful white Christus.
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The Invisible Elephant in the Room: If Romney Loses,There Will Be One Overwhelming Reason Why
September 9, 2012
Although it’s usually “liberal elites” who are accused of being out of touch with the values, passions and interests of the heartland, when it comes to Mitt Romney and the Mormon question, I am finding that the entire political spectrum, from far right to far left, are in some sort of a passionate group-denial about the fact that as things stand now, millions of Americans are simply not going to vote for him because of his Mormon faith. Of course, Democrats who will be the major beneficiary of this prejudice can be forgiven for not noticing or caring about this issue, but it’s the GOP which now has 60 days to come to grips with reality and craft some sort of a strategy to counter this if they have any hope of winning back the presidency.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-joseph/invisible-elephant-in-the-room_b_1868072.html
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March of the digital Door-knockers
September 10, 2012
The Independent (United Kingdom)
For a moment I thought a friend of mine had become a Mormon. There in my news feed on Facebook, between posts from people I barely know and photos of babies (I’m 30), was a status update that read: “No matter how bad your past has been, you can change and move on.”
How nice! But the post wasn’t by or even endorsed by anyone I know: it was an advert for the Mormon Church placed in my feed (where I don’t remember ever seeing advertising) as part of an online mission of such scale it would be the envy of its most prominent believer’s presidential campaign.
After 200 years of pounding pavements all over the world, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which counts Republican candidate Mitt Romney among its 14 million followers, has put its faith in digital door-knocking. Its Facebook page has Jesus as its profile picture and “likes” by almost 650,000 people. A YouTube channel has scored 40 million video views, while the church’s UK arm calculates that its own Facebook page “reaches” 900,000 people.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/faith/march-of–the-digital-doorknockers-8120837.html
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Woodland couple says church saved marriage
September 8, 2012
The Longview Daily News (Washington)
The Mormon bishop who married John and Kathy Schmit warned them of one difference that might cause problems in their relationship: She was a Mormon but he wasn’t.
Indeed, that became an issue nine years later, when the Schmits’ marriage hit a rough patch. Their relationship smoothed out, however, after John became a Mormon and they had their marriage sealed in the Portland Mormon temple.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” said John. “I could not think of a happier life.”
“Even if I went away,” Kathy added.
“I have a deep faith in this gospel,” John replied.
Family is one of the foundations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Schmits are no exception. Both are active in church activities and the couple look forward to the time when their children are old enough to stay with relatives while they go on a husband-and-wife Mormon mission.
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On a Mission: Faith takes young men door to door
September 8, 2012
Longview Daily News (Washington)
Elder Eric Swenson and Elder Hayden Dixon parked their compact car in a Kelso neighborhood, picked up a stack of copies of the Book of Mormon, said a short prayer and start knocking on doors.
“We’re going out today to share the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Dixon told a woman who came to her door.
“Do you think God has a plan for you?” Swenson added.
The woman said she respects the Mormon church but wasn’t interested in talking with them. On the missionaries walked, knowing that few people would want to hear about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, let alone join the church.
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Mitt Romney tells ‘Meet the Press’ heritage, Mormon faith ‘made me the person I am’
September 9, 2012
Alaska Dispatch
In the minds of many voters, two things about Mitt and Ann Romney have set them apart from most Americans: their wealth and their Mormon faith. Both issues – personal and in some ways deeply private – have seemed at least a distraction from their main campaign message, which is to focus on the US economy and the way in which they frame President Obama’s failure to adequately deal with persistent joblessness.
At the Republican convention in Tampa, Fla., the Romneys’ religion was addressed more openly than it had been to date – although more so by fellow Mormons who told of Mr. Romney’s prayerful compassion and practical help in times of deep trouble than by the candidate himself.
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Romney downplays his Mormonism with ‘so many challenges ahead’
September 9, 2012
Daily Caller
Gregory asked Romney’s wife Ann, who also appeared on the program, if she thought the era of Mormon “persecution” had passed.
“I certainly hope so. I mean it’s always wonderful when milestones like that are accomplished,” she said. “And I think that was why we were all so pleased, with so many Americans, were so pleased with the last election and seeing that a black man was elected as president of the United States. It made us proud as Americans to know that those prejudices that we’ve had in the past are falling away.”
http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/09/romney-downplays-his-mormonism-with-so-many-challenges-ahead
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Mormon missionaries in Boston bask in Romney’s run
September 9, 2012
Boston Globe (Massachusetts)
If you’re a Mormon missionary, Mitt Romney’s presidential run has been pretty good for business. Or at least it has made typically standoffish Bostonians more willing to entertain your overtures.
“People are definitely more curious,” said Sister Katie Palmer. “It’s a big conversation-starter.”
Romney was allergic to talking about his faith until recently. Mormons face monumental prejudice, particularly from conservative Evangelicals. Having won the nomination, he has opened up a bit.
That’s good for Palmer and her sister missionary Carrie Williams, who rode the bus from Brighton to Cambridge on Thursday to work at a food pantry. It was hot, and the city had stripped down to tank tops and flip-flops. Williams and Palmer wore shirts that covered their arms, skirts that approached their ankles, sensible shoes and large, black name-tags. Just looking at them made you warmer.
http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/09/08/the-mormon-connection/Q18foxNuL53zoKoionKGEJ/story.html
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US election 2012: Richard Dawkins calls Mitt Romney ‘gullible fool’ over Mormon faith
September 9, 2012
The Telegraph (United Kingdom)
Britain’s most prominent atheist attacked the core tenets of Mr Romney’s religion, saying that the Church of Latter Day Saints’ founding prophet was “a fraud” and that the presidential contender was “too stupid to see it”.
“No matter how much you agree with Romney’s economic policy, can you really vote for such a massively gullible fool?” asked Prof Dawkins during an outburst on Twitter that lasted several hours.
The Oxford academic focused his criticism on the Church’s belief that its founder, Joseph Smith, was visited by an angel in 1820s New York, who guided him to a set of golden plates buried in a hill.
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A litany of virtues in Salt Lake City
September 8, 2012
Boston Globe (Massachusetts)
With former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney the Republican candidate for president, more eyes than ever are on his Mormon faith. No place is better for exploring the history and teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints than here. But there’s much more to this city of 170,000 than religion. Gone are the days when you couldn’t get a drink and nothing was open on Sunday. Liquor laws were relaxed in 2009, more outdoors and arts lovers have moved in, and in the city proper the Mormon population stands at only 55 percent. (The state, however, remains overwhelmingly Mormon.)
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Dallas siblings give up modern day for spiritual
September 9, 2012
Dallas Post (Texas)
It was 165 years ago that Brigham Young led the first company of Mormon Pioneers on an arduous, perilous trek across the Great Plains and into the heart of the Rocky Mountains.
But to Jess and Nell Adams, of Dallas, the experience felt very real and recent.
They, with 139 other teens from congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, put aside the conveniences of modern living and stepped back in time for a physically taxing but spiritually enriching local re-enactment of the great pioneer trek of 1847 in the Michaux Forest at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
http://mydallaspost.com/stories/Dallas-siblings-give-up-modern-day-for-spiritual,202725
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Pro/Con: Are voters swayed by a candidate’s religious affiliation?
September 9, 2012
Victoria Advocate (Texas)
Mitt Romney stood before the Republican National Convention in recent weeks and accepted the party’s presidential nomination.
If elected in November, Romney would be the first Mormon to assume the office of United States president.
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2012/sep/09/jp_proconintro_091012_186638/?features&faith
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Analysis: The politics of believing in America
September 9, 2012
CBS News
The challenger is the first major party nominee to be a follower of the Mormon religion, which means he is subject to voter bias that hasn’t budged much in decades in the United States. Nearly 20 percent of Americans say they would not vote for a well-qualified presidential candidate who happens to be a Mormon, a Gallup poll in June found.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-33666_162-57509063/analysis-the-politics-of-believing-in-america/
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Analysis: The politics of believing in America
September 9, 2012
Associated Press
The challenger is the first major party nominee to be a follower of the Mormon religion, which means he is subject to voter bias that hasn’t budged much in decades in the United States. Nearly 20 percent of Americans say they would not vote for a well-qualified presidential candidate who happens to be a Mormon, a Gallup poll in June found.
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