Religion and politics: Especially for Latter-day Saints

Though many Latter-day Saints (unfortunately, in my opinion) think that the Republican party is the only one they can rightly vote for, the Church itself (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is officially neutral in political mattes and in recent years has released statements asserting that "various political parties" (or in an earlier wording "all major political parties") have "principles compatible with the gospel." (I'll provide links to even more explicit statements later in this post.)

The following statement (found at http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-
stories/first-presidency-issues-letter-on-political-participation) was issued by the First Presidency in September 2008:

As citizens we have the privilege and duty of electing office holders and influencing public policy. Participation in the political process affects our communities and nation today and in the future.

Latter-day Saints as citizens are to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are wise, good, and honest. Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties.

Therefore, in this election year, we urge you to register to vote, to study the issues and candidates carefully and prayerfully, and then to vote for and actively support those you believe will most nearly carry out your ideas of good government.

The Church affirms its neutrality regarding political parties, platforms, and candidates. The Church also affirms its constitutional right of expression on political and social issues.

Sincerely yours,

Thomas S. Monson
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The First Presidency

(See also http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/
public-issues/political-neutrality.)

In the late 1800s, the majority of Latter-day Saints preferred the Democratic party, but in order to help prepare Utah for statehood, the Church encouraged members to participate in both major national parties. For various reasons, Church membership gradually inclined more to the Republican party, and those attitudes hardened during the 1970s and 1980s, when social issues such as abortion became prominent.

By the 1990s, Church leaders were concerned about the exclusive identity of the Church and the Republican party in many members' minds. Elder Neal A. Maxwell encouraged a younger General Authority, Elder Marlin K. Jensen, to hold an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune to explain why he (Elder Jensen, who is a Democrat) believed being a Democrat was compatible with being a faithful member of the Church. The interview may be found HERE.

Also during the 1990s, Gordon B. Hinckley, the president of the Church, made statements encouraging political diversity in the Church. (I'll insert some of those here.) Unfortunately, such statements seem to have had little effect. In fact, at the time, Republican leaders in Utah tended to react with disbelief even to suggestions coming from Church leaders that faithful Church members could appropriately and enthusiastically support the Democratic party.

Now, things have gotten so bad in Utah that even many Republicans feel diversity is badly needed. I've talked to some prominent Republican leaders and have heard similar reports second hand. The excessive dominance of the Republican party in the Utah State legislature has led some to compare the Republicans in that institution to a "sick family."

In Utah County, where I live, the Democratic party has worked very hard over the past few years to let people know of its moderate stance, and the party has found a first-rate slate of candidates for various offices--many of them, I believe, clearly superior in qualifications and ability to their opponents. The Democratic candidates include former mission presidents and others whose Church credentials are unquestionable. I've met several of the candidates and am persuaded that, if only voters could get to know them, they'd be very impressed. But lacking that, many people will, unfortunately, vote for the Republicans simply because they are Republicans, and we'll be lucky to have even a single Democratic candidate elected.

The following are links that give more information on this sticky issue and also information on some of the candidates.

(1) An editorial I wrote on politics and religion (click the preceding link to see it).