I admire Mormons for their hard work and commitment, but the religion is pretty weird.
They believe that Jesus was once a human like us and was 'promoted' to God status. If we humans buckle down and do the right things, then we get similar promotions, and eventually we can get our own planet to populate.
That said, I wouldn't refuse to vote for someone because he was a Mormon. I'd vote for an anti-abortion Mormon ahead of McCain or Giuliani any day!
And as to this: They believe that Jesus was once a human like us and was 'promoted' to God status. If we humans buckle down and do the right things, then we get similar promotions, and eventually we can get our own planet to populate.
That's...kinda right. I just got finished reading this book that was a collaboration between a professor at BYU and a Protestant professor about what Mormons believe, how it's different, etc. I'm not sure that it's quite a fair interpretation that Jesus was once just like us and was promoted, (Jesus's status is all over the place, I do know they believe that since he's fully man and fully God, he's essentially two different beings in one) and they made it clear that, while yes, we do get 'promoted' and have our own planet, that we still wouldn't quite be like God, and that we'd have to answer to him and worship him still...
So yah, their religion is a bit weird. But I'm like you, they seem to do just fine here on earth, and while their theology might be all messed up, they at least seem to believe in some concept of grace and needing salvation. So I'll vote for them when it's appropritate and let God sort out their eternal questions as to their salvation.