December 5th, 2007 - On KVNU, 610AM here in Logan, Utah last night I was privileged to hear a discussion about Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his planned "Mormon" speech. The broadcast titled "For the People," hosted by Ryan Yonk and Tom Grover paid special attention to the way that Romney's opponent Mike Huckabee responded to questions posed to him about Mitt Romney's Mormon faith. As a non-Mormon living here in Utah, I am hoping that by writing this I can help my Mormon friends and neighbors along with both program hosts who are each professed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints, understand why many Evangelical Christians might have reservations about electing a Mormon as president. I certainly don't want to offend or defend anyone's particular beliefs but would like try to give a broader understanding of this subject by injecting a different perspective.

Mr. Yonk and Mr. Grover each have affirmed on their program a general belief that in this day and age a person's religious affiliation should have no bearing on a particular candidate's qualification for elected office. While they are correct that the government is prohibited constitutionally from disqualifying any member of a particular faith from seeking office simply because of their religion, voters are completely free to make their decision on whatever basis they see fit. Furthermore, I believe that voters should make their decision on a wide range of variables, including religious affiliation. While I know that many Mormons who are reading this just had the defensive hairs rise up on the back of their necks, please give me a chance to explain. A person's religious affiliation is often a shortcut to understanding the core principals and values by which they live their lives. It is arguable that members of the LDS faith exhibit some of the strongest conservative values of almost any religion in the country. By voting for someone who is Mormon many fellow Mormons find comfort in the likelihood that the individual will be upstanding, honest and share their individual value system. If it can be argued that it is perfectly fine to vote for someone because of their religion, it is equally justifiable that an individual can vote against someone for equal but opposing reasons. For example; would any devoted Mormon feel like a religious bigot for choosing say Mitt Romney over a Radical Muslim Cleric who professes a desire to enforce Islamic Laws across the country? Even closer to home, I would like to ask how many Utah Mormons would feel comfortable voting for a follower of the Polygamist Mormon sect run by Warren Jeffs should one ever run for say Governor. Now I know that many will take issue with me comparing Mitt Romney to a radical Muslim or a member of a polygamist Mormon sect member. Unfortunately, these comparisons hold water, especially in the case of the later, once you understand how the Evangelical Christian community sees the LDS Church.

It is true that most Evangelical faiths do not accept the LDS Church as a form of Christianity. To Evangelicals Christianity is best defined by the three primary creeds or confessions of faith held widely by Protestant and Catholic faiths alike. These creeds are the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Apostolic Creed. These three creeds profess one God in three persons (a Triune God), and the remission of sins through a risen savior Jesus Christ. It is the fact that Mormons reject the notion of a triune God that causes the majority of Christian faiths to declare Mormonism a non-Christian sect. While I know that this may sound bizarre to most Mormons who proudly hold the name of Jesus in the very title of their church, it should be stressed that mainstream Christianity puts a large emphasis on the divinity of Christ. It should also be stated that most mainstream Christian faiths accept that members of other mainstream Christian religions are "saved" souls. In that same tone they also believe that every individual converted to Mormonism is conversely a "lost" soul. Much like Mormons believe that their Church is the one true Christian church on earth and that salvation comes only through membership in that Church, mainstream Christians believe that salvation comes only through their similar belief.

This brings me to the regular charge of bigotry that seems to get levied against anyone that might oppose Romney's candidacy because of their religious convictions. Notice that I didn't say, "because of Mitt Romney's religious convictions." By nature when someone makes a declaration of faith they are not only telling the world what they believe but they are also saying that anyone who believes anything different is wrong. This may seem a little harsh and intolerant but is an inherent part of anyone's religious conviction. Now when the Mike Huckabee was asked recently whether as a Baptist minister he thought Mitt Romney was a Christian are not, he responded in the only polite way he could by declining to discuss the matter. This refusal to declare the LDS Church Christian really seemed to upset Mr. Yonk and Mr. Grover of KVNU's, "For the People."

If I told you that as a Baptist Minister Huckabee doesn't believe that Mormons are Christian would it make any of my Mormon Neighbors and friends feel any better? Of course it wouldn't, because nobody wants to be told by another that their faith is wrong. It's insulting and rarely done in polite circles. Likewise, mainstream Christians need to hold their feelings a bit when told by missionaries that the LDS faith is the only "One True Christian Church." Doesn't that mean that

basically every non-Mormon Christian is not a "true" Christian? What Mr. Grover and Mr. Yonk failed to recognize was the fact that the question was a loaded one designed by the reporter to drive this very wedge between Mormons and Evangelical Christians. It would be similar to the media asking Mitt Romney about whether or not he believes that blacks are members of the cursed race of Cain. I imagine that most LDS members would find this a loaded question that tries to take out of context the history of the church and brand it's members as bigots. Many reporters already now the answer to their own questions and are only trying to divide conservatives.

At last to the question of whether Mormonism is a "Cult." By every part of its Webster's definition, yes Mormonism can be considered a "cult."

cult :\k?lt\, noun, adoration, from colere to cultivate

• 1: formal religious veneration
• 2: a system of religious beliefs and ritual;
• 3: a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious;
• 4: a system for the cure of disease based on dogma set forth by its promulgator
• 5 a: great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad b: the object of such devotion c: a usually small group of people characterized by such devotion

According to my reading most every religion falls under this definition. However we as modern individual know that the term cult caries with is a very negative expression of disdain and outward warning. Perhaps that is why even the Deseret News, newspaper, a largely popular read for many devoted LDS members here in Utah, has regularly referred in their articles to non-LDS sects of Mormonism as "cults." Anyone who lives in Utah knows that the LDS Church and its members are particularly sensitive to being wrongfully associated with these fundamentalist groups, especially if they practice polygamy. What better way to do this then to brand them as a "cult."

Additionally, it would be helpful for LDS members to understand that Evangelical Christians who are almost entirely classified as Protestant have a deeply ingrained fear of anything resembling Papal authority. In the eyes of most Protestants, the LDS Presidency bares a remarkable similarity to the Catholic Pope. Most Protestant faiths have purposely decentralized their church leadership and stripped them of any real governing power. Most now use a very democratic form of governance in an attempt to guard against theological distortion of doctrine by a central authority. Much the same way that past transgressions against Mormons helps to keep current followers on guard against bigoted attacks, Protestants constantly guard themselves against similar oppression by any possible theocratic rule that may work it's way into the government. This is completely understandable when you consider how the Papacy once sought to put down the "protests" made by Protestant leaders like Dr. Martin Luther. While the current LDS leadership has decided to step back from meddling in politics it has not been so long ago since the Church authority expressed itself willing in all aspects of life here in Utah, political or otherwise. While I don't believe current fears about a return to something similar to Papal rule is justified, every bit of information the current Evangelicals can receive about current LDS structure and authority will only help to reduce unfounded concern.

It seems to me that we all should take a little time to understand each other. Now that means both Evangelicals need to read about Mormon Doctrine as well as Mormons discovering the beliefs of the Evangelicals. Fear causes bigotry and only knowledge can defeat fear. Also it is important for us all to remember that it is never correct to expect someone of a different faith to declair your particular religion to be true and right. Just as I would not expect Huckabee to make a declaration about Mormonism that is contrary to his beliefs I would not expect Romney to say that all Baptists are saved and will recieve glory in the celestial kingdom.

I do want to applaud Mr. Yonk and Mr. Grover for doing a great job on their program and would like to congratulate them for successful comparing the "beer on Sunday," issue to the current topic. It is likely that in this case, it hit just a little to close to home. I hope that this explanation helps to set everything right in their minds. For those non-Mormons who would like to learn more about the LDS faith I would suggest reading Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie. This title was lent to me by one of my neighbors and has proven incredible insightful. Also, I would encourage everyone to read my previous post on this subject titled "Voters Should use Religion to Decide."

By the way I am Lutheran and truly love my LDS friends and neighbors, regarless of faith.

- Richard Okelberry, Managing Editor

The following is a Post made to the KVNU - For the People BLOG on 12-13- 2007

Since moving to Utah last spring I have been very interested in the way that LDS members have been reacting to the Romney candidacy. Originally, I had expected that much like the Olympics coming to Utah this event would be greeted with open arms and seen as an opportunity for the entire country to take a closer look at mainstream Mormons. Instead I've sensed a profound fear that church doctrine might come under too much public scrutiny and ultimately result in embarrassment for the Church and its members. Instead of lashing out against your critics with such terms as "Bigots" and "Theocons" LDS members might find it more useful to embrace the criticisms as an opportunity to dispel misperceptions and falsehoods. I have long held that if an individual's religion is truly a central part of his or her life then it should affect all aspects of life including their political orientations and dealings. I truly believe that the idea that an individual needs to put away their religious beliefs when voting is completely wrong and disingenuous. As I recently wrote in an essay at LincolnsBLOG.com, I can't imagine that very many members of the LDS Church would be willing to vote for a candidate for Governor that also happened to be a member of the fundamentalist Mormon sect run by the polygamist prophet Warren Jeffs. Does this make these LDS members Bigots or Theocons? Ironically, the LDS Church as far more in common with the beliefs of Warren Jeffs then do fundamentalist Evangelicals have with mainstream Mormonism. I personally would not vote for Huckabee because he was a Baptist Minister. It is my religious beliefs that religious leaders have no place in politics, even leaders of my own faith. Does this make me a Theocons or Bigot? Or am I simply allowing my faith to play a complete roll in my life. There will always be those that will oppose your religious beliefs. As a Christian I must ask myself; is it better for me to compound the hatred brought against me by lashing back or defuse it by embracing it in love?

Rich Okelberry - Managing Editor LincolnsBLOG.com