Mormons in Politics

Discussion in 'Politics & Religion' started by lpstong, Jul 7, 2007.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. #1
    --->2.8% of Congress members are Latter-day Saints

    --->Mormons only represent 1.3% of U.S. population

    Here are some Mormons in Congress.....

    Congressmen
    Tom Udall, D-NM
    Jim Matheson, D-UT
    Jeff Flake, R-AZ
    Wally Herger R-CA
    John Doolittle, R-CA
    Howard McKeon, R-CA
    Mike Simpson, R-ID
    Dean Heller, R-NV
    Rob Bishop, R-UT
    Christopher Cannon, R-UT

    Senators
    Harry Reid, D-NV
    Michael Crapo, R-ID
    Gordon Smith, R-OR
    Orrin Hatch, R-UT
    Robert Bennett, R-UT

    And I am sure there are more within the State congress as well. But this is just a brief listing.
     
    lpstong, Jul 7, 2007 IP
  2. jmhyer123

    jmhyer123 Peon

    Messages:
    542
    Likes Received:
    25
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    Is there anything wrong with that? Most Americans agree that mormons have higher standards and would be better candidates to run the country because of their higher standards/morals/ethics etc.
     
    jmhyer123, Jul 7, 2007 IP
  3. lpstong

    lpstong Notable Member

    Messages:
    3,292
    Likes Received:
    216
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    230
    #3
    BTW - I am LDS.

    And nothing derogatory was said, written and or implied against the LDS church or those who are in politics. It was some facts being listed thats all..
     
    lpstong, Jul 7, 2007 IP
  4. ferret77

    ferret77 Heretic

    Messages:
    5,276
    Likes Received:
    230
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    do they have to wear magic underwear?
     
    ferret77, Jul 7, 2007 IP
  5. lpstong

    lpstong Notable Member

    Messages:
    3,292
    Likes Received:
    216
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    230
    #5
    lol. Yes they wear underwear but they are not magical. The underwear that endowed Temple goers are called garments.

    The special garments are only worn by the members who are endowed and can enter the LDS Temples. Generally they are members who are over the age of 18 and have been a member of the LDS church for 1 year or more. There are many requirements to wear these garments. And we take them seriously because they are sacred.

    And I am sure many of those politicians in the OP are temple worthy/garment wearing LDS members
     
    lpstong, Jul 7, 2007 IP
  6. chulium

    chulium Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,438
    Likes Received:
    70
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #6
    Interesting facts! As a fellow Mormon, I didn't even know there were that many in congress.

    Oh, don't forget Mitt Romney, of course ;)
     
    chulium, Jul 7, 2007 IP
  7. lpstong

    lpstong Notable Member

    Messages:
    3,292
    Likes Received:
    216
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    230
    #7
    And of course we can not forget Michael Leavitt. Former Utah Govenor and currently is the US Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bush.

    And also President Ezra Taft Benson(one of the LDS Prophets) was the US Secretary Agriculture under US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

    Also Dr. Martha Cannon(1857 -1932) was the 1st woman ever to be elected to a State Senate.

    So yeah there are plenty of Mormons/LDS people who were or are now serving in some compacity in US government.
     
    lpstong, Jul 7, 2007 IP
  8. tbarr60

    tbarr60 Notable Member

    Messages:
    3,455
    Likes Received:
    125
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    210
    #8
    I became very familiar with the LDS soon after I became a Christian. I was raised in a Catholic home but had too many questions primarily centered on the aspects of the church that were based on traditions and papal decrees.

    The Mormon church is somewhat similar (although some core doctrines are way off) in that they base their religion non-biblical writings and include some biblical concepts. Originally Joseph Smith declared all churches to be false but over time the Mormons have positioned themselves to be like a traditional protestant denomination. Some of us are aware that the LDS church has had strategies in place to gain influence in politics which I believe began back when the LDS doctrine of plurality of wives was causing problems for Utah to be accepted as a state.

    Overall, I certainly have a problem with the doctrines of the Mormon church but I don't have a problem with them being in a place of authority. There will be some groups that have issues with his religion but overall I don't think people know enough or care enough about it for it to matter.

    If I had to guess now, I would say that Mit will win the Republican nomination and would also win the presidency. The reasons I believe this is that we usually elect a governor, Americans like to have pork barreller for their congress man but want a guy who will do what is right for president, and they will also pick the guy that looks most presidential and Mit is clearly the most presidential looking (although from 1992 to 2000 we had an acting president who looked like a current democratic candidate :D)
     
    tbarr60, Jul 7, 2007 IP
  9. lpstong

    lpstong Notable Member

    Messages:
    3,292
    Likes Received:
    216
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    230
    #9
    I can respect your opinion tbarr60.

    And I would have to agree with a candidate looking the most "Presidential". I can't remember where I saw a poll/study at. But people will vote a person into office by their looks. And I think it also said that a majority of politicians get voted in depending on where their name is listed in the ballot. So if it is alphabetized and you have the last name Zzyzx, your least likely to be voted in. And they dont know why that is from the study.
     
    lpstong, Jul 8, 2007 IP
  10. GTech

    GTech Rob Jones for President!

    Messages:
    15,836
    Likes Received:
    571
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    I agree, very much, with your entire post. I've had the pleasure of working for and with LDS members first hand. High standards, morals and values coupled with the fact they are genuinely the friendliest/kindest people I've been around.
     
    GTech, Jul 8, 2007 IP
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.