Questions For Mitt Romney

Richard Packham (revised by Bonaparte) | unpublished | Richard Packham (revised by Bonaparte)

[Bonaparte]

News reports say that Governor Romney, looking ahead to the possibility of presenting himself as a candidate for the U.S. presidency in 2008, has met privately with Christian leaders to allay their concerns about the fact that he is a Mormon. (See Boston Globe, Nov 2, 2006 at http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/11/02/romney_consults_evangelical_leaders ) These leaders apparently are concentrating on areas such as Romney's view of gay marriage, abortion, and whether Romney is really a Christian. Undoubtedly Romney's answers in those areas will satisfy most of these Christian leaders.

However, not knowing much about Mormon doctrine and practices, many Christians are unaware of some of the areas in which the idea of a Mormon as president could raise serious doubts in their minds. They simply don't know what to ask the governor.

Below are some suggested questions which might profitably be asked of Governor Romney, both by Christian leaders and by journalists.

• According to Mormon scripture, the founder of your church (Joseph Smith) was told by God in 1820 that all the churches of the day were "an abomination." Do you agree with God's view of other churches, as quoted by Joseph Smith? (Pearl of Great Price, JS-Hist 1:18-19)

• According to your church's Articles of Faith, number eight, the Book of Mormon is the "word of God." Do you believe that?

• According to the Book of Mormon there are only two churches: the "church of the Lamb of God [presumably the Mormon church]" and the "church of the devil," "the whore of all the earth." Do you agree with that Mormon scripture? (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 14:10)

• According to the Book of Mormon a dark skin is a curse imposed by God on the unrighteous and their descendants as a punishment for sin. Do you agree with that doctrine? (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 12:22-23, Alma 3:6, 2 Nephi 5:21-22, Jacob 3:8, 3 Nephi 2:15-16, Mormon 5:15; references to the "Lamanites" are taken to be referring to Native American "Indians".)

• According to Mormon doctrine, the president of the Mormon church is a prophet of God, receiving revelations and commandments (God's laws) directly from God. Do you believe that? (Doctrine and Covenants , 21:5, 43:3, 58:18)

• One of the most sacred rituals for adult Mormons, performed only in a Mormon temple, is a ceremony called "the endowment." Have you undergone this ritual? If so, in what year?

• To be admitted to the temple for the endowment ceremony a Mormon must be "in good standing" in the church and undergo a personal interview with church leaders, who examine the member as to whether the member obeys church commandments, supports church leaders, pays full ten percent tithe, wears the prescribed Mormon underwear, abstains from coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco and extramarital sex, and other matters. If the member answers correctly, a pass to the temples (called a "temple recommend") is issued, good for two years. Do you have such a temple recommend now, indicating that you are in good standing in your church?

• In the secret Mormon temple ceremony Mormons take an oath of obedience to "the law of the Lord." Did you take that oath?

• Before 1990, the endowment ceremony required members to take an oath of secrecy not to reveal anything that happened in the temple under penalty of death. Did you take that oath?

• In the temple ceremony Mormons also take a secret oath to "consecrate your time, talents and everything which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints..." Did you take that oath? Would you consider the office of the presidency of the U.S. to be a "blessing" with which the Lord had blessed you?

• Mormons teach that by obedience to all the commandments of Mormonism, a Mormon may attain the highest degree of heaven and ultimately become a god, creating and ruling over his own dominion. Do you believe that? Is this your ultimate personal goal?

• Although your church presently condemns the practice of polygamy, the scripture commanding it is still in the Mormon Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132. Many early Mormons were polygamous and married ("sealed") to numerous wives "for eternity." Do you believe then that there will be polygamous families in Mormon heaven?

• The extensive interest of Mormons in genealogical research is to enable them to perform "baptisms for the dead," thus posthumously inducting previous generations into the Mormon church. Many non-Mormons become angry when they learn that the names of their ancestors - having often been faithful members of some other religion during life - have been used in this way. often without permission of the living descendants. The posthumous baptism of many holocaust victims caused considerable anger among Jewish groups, and your church agreed to stop the practice as to them (but also admitted that it was unable to do so). Do you feel that such anger is justified? (Would you feel anger if some voodoo cult was using your deceased grandparents' names in some voodoo ritual, and then announcing to all the world that they were now voodoo worshippers?)

• It is well documented that Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon Church, secretly had many wives. Some of those women were at the same time married to other men, meaning that Smith brought them into a state of adultery. Some were as young as fifteen. He claimed that he was commanded by God to enter into these marriages. Do feel that these early polygamous and adulterous marital practices of the church founder were really commanded by God? (See the book In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith by Mormon historian Todd Compton for detailed biographies of these wives.)

• Mormons believe that when Christ returns to earth, a millennium of peace will begin under Christ's rule (Article of Faith number ten), presumably as a single theocracy. Most Mormons believe that during that time, Mormons will be Christ's appointed officers and that the law will conform to Mormon teachings. Do you believe that?

• According to Mormon scripture (Doctrine and Covenants 135:3), Joseph Smith did more than any other man except Jesus Christ "for the salvation of men in this world." Do you agree with that, keeping in mind the contributions of men like the Apostles, Saint Paul, Thomas Aquinas, Saint Augustine and others?

[TAdams8591]

"Blacks and all people have the right to ascend to any hierarchical level of authority in the Mormon Church which has spread to countries all over the world, including Africa."

If the above is true of the modern day Mormon Church, whether or not the "doctrine of racial inferiority" is contained in the original Book Of Mormon (circa 1835), it follows logically it is no longer a belief of the Mormon hierarchy and no longer true in Mormon practice.

Actions speak louder than words.

[Bonaparte]

Again, you are answering a question I never asked.

The question is not, "Has Romney personally discriminated against black people?"

The question I did ask is --

Does Romney accept the cited passages in the Book of Mormon that embrace racial inferiority of dark-skinned people or does he reject those passages found in the Book of Mormon?

You see? It's a very different question, isn't it? It has nothing to do with Romney's past or present personal behavior toward black people. It has to do with whether he accepts or rejects these doctrinal points contained in his own church's holy book, points that very clearly present belief in the racial inferiority of dark-skinned people.

[Vigilanteman]

Interesting that this extreme anti-alcohol idiocy is happening in tolerant, liberal New Jersey and not Mormon-infested Salt Lake City, isn't it?

Come to think of it, isn't smoking still legal in bars in Utah, but not next door in Allegheny County? But we gotta disqualify any Mormon from political office, don't we? < / sarcasm >

[Bonaparte]

... whether or not the "doctrine of racial inferiority" is contained in the original Book Of Mormon (circa 1835)..."

Did I mention the "original" Book of Mormon? I've reviewed all of my posts and can't find a single reference I've made to the "original" Book of Mormon.

OTOH, I have referred to the recent edition of the Book of Mormon. Are you sure that's not the one you mean?

And (oh yeah), I didn't ask the question you're providing an "answer" to. I asked, very specifically, whether Romney accepts the points of doctrine found in the modern Book of Mormon concerning racially inferiority of black people or does he reject the doctrinal points of his own church's holy book?

You see, Teri? That's what I actually asked -- not the question you keep putting in its place, the question about Romney's personal behavior toward black people.

I have faith that eventually, you will see the difference between your question and the question I did, in fact, ask.

[To Hell With Poverty]

So tell me, Bonaparte, are you a Christian, and as a Christian do you believe the Biblical story of Noah? Do you then believe that black people, as the descendants of Ham, are an accursed race? I ask because that's what's in the Old Testament, and if you believe in the Old Testament, this will undoubtedly affect your behavior as a citizen and as a poster here on FR (therefor we have a right to know). If you don't believe wholeheartedly in the literal truth of the Bible, and therefor believe that blacks are an accursed race, because of the sin of Ham, how can you call yourself a true Christian? Hmmmmm?

[Spiff]

I really hope that Romney’s answer to those questions is “Nunya...”

[TAdams8591]

"But we gotta disqualify any Mormon from political office, don't we? < / sarcasm >"

And, unfortunately, the unspoken point of this thread.

[TAdams8591]

Very smart AND funny reply! LOL!

[Bonaparte]

You see, there are good reasons that I would ask Romney the questions posed.

It's because he has a long-term habit of changing his account of events when it suits him.

[TAdams8591]

That talent doesn't come naturally, you know. I learned from Seinfeld's Jackie Chiles.

[To Hell With Poverty]

Thanks. But, sheesh, “Christians” used that story to justify slavery for hundreds of years! Yet no one would think to ask that of any mainstream Christian running for office these days.

[TAdams8591]

It’s a good point. : )

[Bonaparte]

"... Do you then believe that black people, as the descendants of Ham, are an accursed race? I ask because that's what's in the Old Testament... "

Teri may think this is "clever," but those who have some familiarity with Scripture know that what you have claimed here appears nowhere in the Bible.

In other words, you are a liar.

[CheyennePress]

Fair enough. But Romney has specifically stated that he is not going to talk about issues relating to his personal theology.

As he has correctly noted, nor have other presidential candidates in recent elections. He, of course, has a reason for that. The moment that he does, the Chris Matthews of the world are going to endlessly start quizzing him about it.

For example, there was an incident where he was Governor of Massachusetts and doing an interview in which he expressed his belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman. Matthews seized on the word one, and asked him why that word was important to him. Romney played it well and wouldn’t bring the issue to the forefront until Matthews just outright brought out the whole polygamy thing.

As a journalist, Matthews had every responsibility and every reason to know that polgyamy was made heretical in the Mormon church over a hundred years ago. But he still went for it. And that’s the way it’s sadly going to go.

I don’t even remember Bush getting this much scrutiny over his faith, and he was far more vocal about it.

[Bonaparte]

Here, educate yourself. Come out of your state of ignorance and stop making such a fool of yourself on this thread.

You don't know the first thing about the Old Testament and yet you presume to offer instruction to others who do. So you're not just ignorant on the subject, you're arrogant as well.

[TAdams8591]

Some interesting reading regarding race and the Book of Mormon

[Bonaparte]

Finally, I get a sane, courteous, truly thoughtful reply!

Thankyou, CP!

Romney is right to not expose himself to the depredations of hyennas like Matthews.

But there is nothing to stop Romney from answering these questions from an interviewer who will not do such things. Perhaps someone like Charles Colson, who will show Romney the same respect any of us are entitled to.

Once Romney had put these questions to rest, he could reply to the Chris Matthews types that their questions have already been asked and answered by [Colson or whoever] and the published interview is available for anybody to examine.

That way, Romney would not be evading and would also protect himself from the banshees of the liberal media.

Just because someone like Chris Matthews might badger Romney in an interview is no excuse to evade legitimate questions that a responsible and civil interviewer might want to ask.

[TAdams8591]

Well, it is true, I’m not as familiar with the old testament.

[onja]

I’m a very devout Christian and do not in anyway intend to bash Christianity. But, one could reasonably say that we support ruthless genocide since the Old Testament Jews were told to kill every single man, woman, child, and animal in Canaan. It is not advisable to judge a modern religious person based on random, outdated quotes from their scriptures. You do support genocide and killing of gays, adulterers, et cetera, right?

[Bonaparte]

Thankyou for providing that link to a Mormon apolgist's commentary on Mormonism and race.

Since we're "fair and balanced" here at Free Republic, I will return the favor with...

THIS LINK

... to scholars (full disclosure -- former Mormons) who present the opposing view concerning Mormonism and racism. Fully sourced and footnoted, btw.