Posted on 05/15/2010 9:46:07 AM PDT by Colofornian
Republican precinct committee member Michael Law, also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Steven K. Ricks personally presented him with a binder of instructions on identifying eligible Republican voters - a packet that included ward lists of church members, addresses, phone numbers and voting histories.
"Every single name on the list was a member of the Mormon church," Law said. "He told us not to use the word 'list.' But he gave us a ward list to begin with."
The packet showed members of a "Republican Election Committee" created by Ricks how to help voters register for the primary and get absentee ballots.
The registration cards and absentee applications were to be turned over to Ricks, the District 21 precinct chairman.
Former LDS Bishop Roger B. Madsen said he is "appalled" by Ricks' actions.
"These tactics are shameful," Madsen said. "They're devious and not acceptable by any standards. The church has always said this is not acceptable."
Law's binder was eventually turned over to Craig Rasmussen, Idaho Area Director of Public Affairs for the LDS church.
Rasmussen confirmed he had received the binder, but his only further comment was an e-mail in which he confirmed that the church "does not endorse or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms," nor does it allow its "membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes."
"Clearly, using ward lists for political purposes is contrary to Church policy," Rasmussen wrote.
Ricks withdrew from his primary race against Sen. Russ Fulcher on Thursday. However, the April 12 deadline for removing his name from the May 25 ballot has passed, which prompted another District 21 Precinct Committee member to speculate that it may be "a sham."
(Excerpt) Read more at idahostatesman.com ...
Ah, the sharing of personal information for non-prayerful political purposes? I'm sure it's done all the time. In certain quarters. But Lds church members who are political leaders?
From the article: Former LDS Bishop Roger B. Madsen said he is "appalled" by Ricks' actions. "These tactics are shameful," Madsen said. "They're devious and not acceptable by any standards. The church has always said this is not acceptable."
The church has always said this is not acceptable.”
_____________________________________________
But what the “church” says and what it does has often been two different things..
Fulcher declined to comment on the controversy.
“This not about the church. This is about one man’s ambition,” he said.
The binder also included a script instructing Ricks’ troops to identify themselves as Republican Party officials.
If as stated, the LDS maybe in danger of losing its “non-profit” status (of course that’s if someone files a complaint).
"These tactics are shameful," Madsen said. "They're devious and not acceptable by any standards. The church has always said this is not acceptable."
I guess this fellow was NOT headquarters pick!
It NEVER is...
This not about the church. This is about one mans ambition, he said. ~ Fulcher
According to http://hymnsthanks.com/about.php: Steven K. Ricks, president of Celebrations In Music, Inc., the nonprofit Idaho corporation which produces Hymns of Thanksgiving, was born and raised in Boise, Idaho, and graduated from Borah High School. After obtaining an undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University in Political Science, he studied law, receiving a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Idaho. Returning to Boise, he maintained a private law practice before retiring in 1996.
So, Resty, will you sing a "hymn of thanksgiving" to the Mormon god re: this president of Mormon hymns of thanksgiving? Or are you just going to highlight his ambitions?
That is his personal adventure it has nothing to do with the Church!
Why would he & his wife write hymns if not for fellow Mormons to sing?
That is his personal adventure it has nothing to do with the Church!
Why would he & his wife write hymns if not for fellow Mormons to sing?
***
Many make musical albums but it was not a calling from the Church it was a personal desire.
Until I read it here I haven’t even hear of it!
Ward directory is for Church use only there is to be no using it for personal gain.
That Thanksgiving and Patriot album makes one wonder seems like there was a method to his madness!
Sadly it seems he is with guile...
I don’t know why all of the threads having to do with LDS are ‘keyworded’ to Glenn Beck. Granted, it’s his religion, but he’s not even mentioned in the article...that would be like linking every article on Catholicism to O’Reilly. Makes no sense to me...just sayin.
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