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14 October 2012
Romney’s Mormonism is a positive in campaign
October 14, 2012
Philadelphia Inquirer (Pennsylvania)
Evangelicals who have had concerns about Mitt Romney’s Mormonism, and who make up a large portion of Republican voters, should consider Romney’s religion a positive in this election.
One of their concerns has been that Mormonism is non-Christian. Some fear that it would advance the Mormon Church and blur the boundaries between true Christian faith and its counterfeits. They think this election will force them to choose between the nation and the Gospel.
Are they right? Simply put, no. There is no Mormonization of America coming, and, in fact, though there are differences, the basic values of both Mormons and mainstream Christians are in sync.
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Jesus taught us to love everyone
October 14, 2012
Springfield News-Leader (Missouri)
This all started when I discussed the upcoming election, and observed the obvious, that some Christians will have a hard time voting for a Mormon because they don’t consider them to be Christians.
I wasn’t speaking for myself, and clearly stated that because of separation of church and state, religion should be kept out of it.
I said this: “I want to state my position on whether Mormons are Christians. Here it is. I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
Actually Anna, I do know a great deal about Mormonism and its history. But on the point of whether Mormons are Christians, I’ll leave that up to God. It’s His or Her call, not mine.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20121014/OPINIONS03/310140048/readers-opinion-letter
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Utah colleges mull impact of Mormon policy change
October 14, 2012
San Antonio News Express (Texas)
Utah State University has formed a special task force to weigh the impact of the Mormon church’s new lower minimum age requirements for missionaries.
The University of Utah and Brigham Young University also are monitoring how the historic change will affect enrollment, the Deseret News reported (http://bit.ly/Tpo3BI ).
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Gurko: Only remedy for Bible believers is to abstain from voting
October 14, 2012
Summit Daily (Colorado)
Gov. Romney is a loyal Mormon who has served as a Mormon missionary and dedicated millions of dollars to his religion. Thus he approves its reversion to the pagan concept of a multitude of Gods. Bible believers will realize that his election would deeply offend the God in whom they believe, with incalculable consequences for our country.
President Obama’s views on abortion and homosexuality are likewise unbiblical. In this election, the only remedy for Bible believers is to abstain.
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20121014/LETTER/121019930/1078&ParentProfile=1055
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For a nation that loves ‘firsts,’ U.S. in a place to elect first Mormon president
October 13, 2012
Statesman Journal (Oregon)
During an appearance on “The Tonight Show,” Ann Romney compared the election of her husband, Mitt, with the election of Barack Obama four years ago. When asked by host Jay Leno what she thought would be the significance of Americans breaking another barrier and electing the first Mormon president, she said it would show “that prejudices are being left behind.”
Ann Romney makes a fair point. In 2012, from the looks of it, the prejudices that many have against Mormons are still pretty ingrained. Representing an estimated 2 percent of the U.S. population, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is still a mystery to many Americans. Some look upon it with skepticism, others suspicion.
I would imagine that most Americans don’t harbor any personal animosity toward Mormons. But many of us have questions and we don’t have that many Mormon friends who can answer them.
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Reader addresses Mormon questions
October 13, 2012
Daily Sentinel (Ohio)
Regarding a letter you received saying the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints (slang names, “Mormon and LDS”) believe their church leader is a living prophet of God; and his or her question of how that would effect Mitt Romney if he were elected.
The person was correct, President Thomas S. Monson (the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is an actual prophet of God. The person then asked what Romney would do if elected. However, I don’t believe that was the real question. I believe the real question was what would the prophet say if Romney were President.
http://www.mydailysentinel.com/view/full_story/20478840/article-Reader-addresses-Mormon-questions
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Mormon Like Me
October 14, 2012
Red Eye Chicago (Illinois)
You probably won’t find them at the bar downing shots of Patron or at Starbucks waiting for a double-shot espresso, but if you think the closest you’ve ever been to a Mormon is a Mitt Romney bumper sticker, you’re probably wrong.
As Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, travels the presidential campaign trail, and the musical “The Book of Mormon” comes to Chicago, it’s Mormonism’s time to shine. The more than 14 million members the LDS church counts worldwide-including 4,600 members in the Chicago area-make it a prominent Christian religion, and shows like TLC’s “Sister Wives” (even if they don’t reflect actual Mormon doctrine) draw pop culture attention to the faith.
http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-red-chicago-mormons-2-20121014,0,1354318.story
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Politicians seek Hispanic votes, but our lives vote for us
October 14, 2012
Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada)
When I asked my dad 15 years ago to cite the saddest day of his life, I didn’t know how he’d answer. But I had an idea.
Maybe the day he held his stillborn daughter in his hands. Perhaps the day he had to drop out of the eighth grade to help support his family. Or quite possibly that day in the ’50s when he carried his dead infant brother from graveyard to Southern Utah graveyard, hoping to persuade a Mormon cemetery to bury a Catholic baby.
http://www.lvrj.com/living/politicians-seek-hispanic-votes-but-our-lives-vote-for-us-174082801.html
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Should Christians Vote for a Mormon?
October 14, 2012
Expert Click
Recently, someone asked me, “Should Christians vote for a Mormon?” Evangelists like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have long insisted we vote for conservative, Bible-believing Christian candidates. Suddenly in recent months, evangelicals have flip-flopped, abandoned their principles, to insist that we should vote for Mitt Romney, a Mormon, instead of Obama, who by all indications is an orthodox Christian. Why are they doing this? Should we ever vote against a Christian in favor of a Mormon? I’m a minister, but I believe we should not let religion dictate how we vote. There might be a time when I would vote for a Mormon. Just not THIS Mormon! Let me explain.
http://www.expertclick.com/NRWire/Releasedetails.aspx?id=42008
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Church members better Galena Creek park
October 13, 2012
Reno Gazette Journal (Nevada)
A local congregation of the Reno Nevada Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently spent a Saturday morning helping to work on improvements at Galena Creek Regional Park.
More than 70 members of the church worked under the direction of park ranger John Keesee digging post holes, building new railings, upgrading barbecue areas, installing a new pipeline watering system, removing pine needles from parking areas and undertaking other cleanup efforts.
Church members reside near the park and wanted to help improve its appearance.
http://www.rgj.com/article/20121014/LIV/310140050/Church-members-better-Galena-Creek-park
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Winstead leaves slashers for ‘Smashed’
October 14, 2012
San Francisco Chronicle (California)
Growing up in Mormon country, Mary Elizabeth Winstead never saw anyone take a drink, let alone fall down drunk. That changed dramatically when she moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and fell in with young women in the industry for whom imbibing was a way of life.
http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Winstead-leaves-slashers-for-Smashed-3941048.php
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Mitt’s Jesus, Barack’s Jesus, and Why Christ’s Color Matters
October 14, 2012
Religion Dispatches
Four years ago, America was on the verge of electing the country’s first African American president–a stunning marker, for many, of the promises of progress fulfilled. This year, Barack Obama faces a Mormon challenger, and religion, not race, fuels at least some of the suspense of this close presidential contest.
But religion and race in the US share a profound and tangled history–one that Ed Blum and Paul Harvey bring forth vividly in their new book, The Color of Christ. What did a white Jesus mean to a population of enslaved Africans, or to Native Americans? Why were Mormons in particular so committed to a lily-white god? What can we read into the shattered image of the stained-glass savior in a Birmingham church?
http://www.religiondispatches.org/books/culture/6509/mitt‘s_jesus,_barack’s_jesus,_and_why_christ’s_color_matters/
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Crime History: Noted document forger becomes killer to hide scheme
October 14, 2012
Examiner
For years Hofmann tricked the nation’s top document collectors, creating counterfeit writings of Mark Twain, George Washington and Mormon leader Joseph Smith.
When his scheme began to unravel, he built two pipe bombs to divert attention. Killed in separate explosions in Salt Lake City were document collector Steve Christensen and Kathleen Sheets, wife of Christensen’s former business associate.
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Black Christians: Shame! Shame! Shame!
October 14, 2012
American Thinker
So, black Christians, tell me Romney’s stated anti-Christian agenda. Grasping at straws, some will say Romney is a Mormon and Mormonism does not jive with Christianity. Well, you may have a point. However, Romney has not attacked Christianity or pledged to force Christians to betray their faith. Obama is boldly and dictatorially implementing his anti-Christian agenda. Regrettably, many of you black so-called followers of Christ realize who Obama really is and what he is doing. And yet you will vote for him anyway because of your sick addiction to racial politics.
I have also heard Christians say, “OK, I admit that Obama is destroying America, but I cannot vote for a Mormon.” Such thinking is illogical. Imagine: your home is on fire, and your family is trapped inside. The Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang arrives at the scene, offering to go inside to rescue your loved ones. How absurd would it be to reject their “God-sent” help because you disapprove of the Hell’s Angels’ lifestyle?
http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/10/black_christians_shame_shame_shame.html
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Marriott is mainstay for Romney campaign
October 14, 2012
Washington Post
The candidate has made the hotel chain the semi-official innkeeper of his presidential campaign. From Iowa to Ohio to New York City, Romney has wheeled his carry-on bag into Marriott lobbies and passed the omnipresent portrait of J. Willard Marriott and his son, John Willard “Bill” Marriott Jr. — a Romney contemporary, fellow Mormon scion and, along with his brother, a donor of more than $1 million to the Republican’s effort.
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