They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious Bigotry, alive and well today

“I wouldn’t vote for a Mormon for dogcatcher, much less President of the United States!” There’s a lot of that kind of hateful rhetoric going around since Mitt Romney decided to throw his hat in the ring – as if Mormons are some kind of hideous evil monsters. The loudest anti-Mormon shouts, sad to say, are coming from America’s so-called “Christian right”. How can Mitt Romney hope to get a fair shake in this spiritually polluted atmosphere?

There was another man running for President who faced the same dilemma – John F. Kennedy – only he was the target of anti-CATHOLIC bigotry. In his 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, JFK said the following: “. . .I believe in an America where religious intolerance will someday end - where all men and all churches are treated as equal - where man has the same right to attend or not attend the church of his choice - where there is no Catholic vote, no anti-Catholic vote, no bloc voting of any kind - and where Catholics, Protestants and Jews, at both the lay and pastoral level, will refrain from those attitudes of disdain and division which have so often marred their words in the past, and promote instead the American ideal of brotherhood.” John F. Kennedy Library & Museum (Speeches, 1960). By the way, if you listen to the audio version of JFK’s speech, you will hear the hurt and frustration in his voice and the unfair treatment surely must have caused many a sleepless night.

Fast forward to 2007 where JFK might as well have been “whistlin’ Dixie”. The hostility toward Mormons today, in my opinion, is even worse than that suffered by JFK. Although it is said that JFK lost about a million votes to religious intolerance, Romney stands to lose even more if the anti-Mormon evangelicals hang together.

According to Media Matters for America - “. . . a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media” - FOX News is not reporting accurately on the level of evangelical hostility to the Romney run. Media Matters for America points out that among evangelical leaders rejecting Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson (National Day of Prayer and Focus on the Family, respectively), the Southern Baptist Convention (collectively), Pat Robertson (Christian Broadcasting Network), and Dr. D. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida). “Among many conservative evangelicals – who comprise a significant part of the Republican base – Mormonism is considered an un-Christian cult.” Media Matters for America (2007)

While stumping in Florida, a man in the audience stood up during the Q&A portion and said the following to Romney: “You, sir, you’re a pretender. You do not know the Lord. You’re a Mormon.” Media Matters for America (2007). This is the kind of un-American, disrespectful treatment Mitt Romney will apparently have to endure throughout the entire campaign – as if just being a Mormon is reason enough to open the floodgates for free flow of pent-up hatred and vindictiveness.

For the record, the Mormon bashers know full well that the official name of Romney’s church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” and the members should rightfully be called “members of the LDS Church” but the words “Mormon” and “Mormonism” have an aura of negativity so they prefer to use the “M” word as if it were dirty.

Less than five minutes cruising around the official LDS website (LDS.org) will show anyone who’s interested that the Church is a Christian organization, with Jesus Christ at the Head. There are no paid clergy – all are volunteers. Humanitarian aid is legendary. Members of the LDS Church believe in strong family values; they are patriotic, they are law-abiding upstanding citizens of their community. Many LDS young men right out of high school go on two-year missions – you know, the guys on bikes – and during their mission they don’t date, read newspapers, go to movies or watch TV; but rather they dedicate two years of their lives to serving others. Many women go on missions as well, and couples, only theirs is 18 months in length but the obligations are basically the same. Most members do not shop or go out to eat on Sundays – reminiscent of the good old days when shops and stores were closed in obedience to the Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. If they can help it, LDS Church members do not work on Sundays, either, preferring to spend the day at church and with their families. Church members are encouraged to store up a year’s supply of food and water so they will be able to care for their families in the event of an emergency. The LDS Church believes in self-sufficiency and self-reliance but in the event of a financial hardship the Church distributes food and supplies through their welfare (Bishop’s Storehouse) program. Members of the LDS Church do not drink alcohol nor do they use illicit drugs; they do not drink coffee and tea. A Mormon in good standing, therefore, will not be found in a drunken stupor puking her guts out at 3 a.m. anywhere in the world. Furthermore, members of the church are encouraged to dress modestly, be polite and courteous. And members of the LDS Church are faithful tithe payers. Come on, people, what’s not to love?

So what on earth is their beef, the anti-Mormon zealots? Why is there such disdain for the LDS Church and its members? In Hugh Hewitt’s book, “Mormon in the White House?” he states his thesis that the fierce anti-Mormon sentiment among main-stream Christians stems from one or two or all three of the following factors (in order of importance):

3) “If there is a Mormon in the White House, Salt Lake City will call the shots, at least on the biggest issues.” Hewitt (2007, p. 221-227)

Hugh Hewitt has written an exquisite book about the Romney campaign and overcoming the “Mormon problem.” It’s a good read and I highly recommend it. Of the three problem points listed in the previous paragraph, Hewitt believes – unless some unforeseen blunder destroys his chances – none of the three is insurmountable for Mitt Romney. (Plus, he has the best hair.)

Well, I’m no Hugh Hewitt, not even close; he’s an icon on the conservative radio talk show circuit. Hewitt could talk circles around me (I’ve seen him in action in Sacramento); he’s brilliant; he’s well educated, well read, no doubt a genius, plus he’s kind of cute. I’m basically a “nobody” – an overweight grandma – but after having researched for this paper, I have come to a totally different conclusion as to why there is such in-your-face angst over Romney’s religion of choice: It’s all about money, power and control (in that order). I think they’re (the evangelical religious bigots, that is) scared half to death and are revving up their attacks, not to save souls, but to save their reputations (which if tarnished would lead to financial ruin).

As I said, all one must do is browse around the LDS official web site to see what the LDS Church believes and stands for. Any reasonable person would conclude that Mormons are not evil monsters at all. In fact, they are God fearing, Christ believing, Holy Ghost following people going about doing good. “You will know them by their fruit” and the LDS has plenty of fruit and they are willing to share.

Earlier, I stated that some high-powered ministries have publicly condemned Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson, the Southern Baptist Convention, Pat Robertson, and Dr. D. James Kennedy – just to name a few. There are hoards of others. Sunday after Sunday, preachers, evangelists, reverends and ministers from all Christian denominations pound the pulpit with anti-Mormon rhetoric. I heard the message loud clear when I was a Baptist and when I tiptoed through evangelical/Pentecostal territories. Was I ever miffed when I later learned for myself the Gospel truth about the LDS Church.

Just think about it, please. If Dr. D. James Kennedy, for example, who wrote the book, The Wolves Among Us, were to admit he’d been wrong in labeling the LDS Church a “cult” that leads unwary ignorant people astray (to hell), what would become of his multi-million-dollar ministry? Suffice it to say, there’s big money to be had by sale of books, tapes, CD’s, videos, and other anti-Mormon propaganda, not to mention speaking engagements and world-wide religious crusades. We’re talking trillions, all told. I realize the anti-Mormon aspect of these ministries is but a small portion of the business, but if the truth came out, that they had been using falsehoods about the LDS Church as a cash cow, their entire empires could tumble.

The ABC News program 20/20 aired on March 23, 2007, exposed the lavish lifestyles of some of the top evangelical preachers – million dollar mansions and personal jets. ABC News - 20/20 (2007) (Again, the LDS Church has no paid clergy.)

It’s nothing new. Severe harassment and persecution has been the lot of the LDS Church since it’s inception in 1820 when a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith saw visions and communed with heavenly beings. Rather than discuss the spiritual aspects of the LDS Church, however, let’s stick to facts of history. Taken from a college-level early American history textbook, Joseph Smith, upon experiencing the visions and visitations, believed “that God had work for me to do, and that my name should be for good and evil among all nations, kindreds and tongues.” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 292). The textbook continues, “They were met with hostility virtually everywhere they went . . . . As the movement gathered momentum, hundreds of people joined the church; entire congregations of churches of other faiths joined . . .” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 293)

During the dark time of American history when slavery was flourishing and when Native Americans were forced from their lands, the pioneers of the LDS Church also suffered at the hands of unscrupulous politicians, governmental leaders, and angry hate-filled mobs. “In the face of relentless persecution, Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, had led his flock to Illinois. There they had established the town of Nauvoo, which by the mid-1840’s had become the largest city in Illinois with over 15,000 people. . . In June 1844, a mob of non-Mormons broke into the jail where Smith was being held and killed both him and his brother. . .The Mormons abandoned Nauvoo in the spring of 1846 as anti-Mormons pounded the town with cannon, destroying the Great Temple. In a well-coordinated migration, 15,000 Mormons moved in stages to the Great Salt Lake.” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 334-335) Many walked all the way and many died along the way, including innocent babes.

Joseph Smith at one time was tarred and feathered by a mob. No jury, no trial, no judge – and they had planned to castrate him, too. On October 27, 1838, the then governor of Missouri issued an “extermination order”: “The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary . . .” Far West History (n.d.) Please note that the order called for exterminating “Mormons” making no distinction between men, women and children, and indeed women and children were subject to the extermination order.

In an event known in LDS history as “the Haun’s Mill Massacre”, precipitated by the extermination order, 30 to 40 LDS families were surprised by some 200 to 250 militia. After the smoke cleared, seventeen LDS people lay dead including a ten-year-old boy. Thirteen LDS members were wounded including a woman and a seven-year-old boy. “A few Missourians returned the next day and took plunder.” LDS FAQ (n.d.) No Missouri militiamen were killed but three were wounded. Just a few years earlier, the LDS folk who died that day had been members of other churches - Congregational or Methodist or Baptist or Presbyterian.

In l976, Governor Bond of Missouri officially rescinded the extermination order and presented apologies for the “unfortunate developments” it caused. Quoting from Governor Bond’s Executive Order: “WHEREAS, Governor Boggs’ order clearly contravened the rights to life, liberty, property and religious freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Constitution of the State of Missouri; and . . . Expressing on behalf of all Missourians our deep regret for the injustice and undue suffering rescind Executive Order Number 44 dated October 27, 1838, issued by Governor W. Boggs. . .” Far West History (n.d.) The individuals who harassed, abused, and even murdered Mormons in cold blood were never tried for their crimes.

I read Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and it really touched my heart. There he was, suffering for the Lord in jail, and these religious leaders with highfalutin titles on the outside wrote an open letter (“A Call for Unity”) in which they criticize King’s tactics and basically blame King for the racial turmoil of the time. Though you can tell King is upset and hurt by the attack – made worse because he’s stuck in jail and can’t confront the religious leaders face-to-face – his response is gentle genius. “I wish you had commended the Negro sit-inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer, and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation. One day the South will recognize its real heroes.” Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 881)

King has a few choice words for the Church, too: “If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.” Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 880)

There’s an eerie commonality between what JFK and MLK endured at the hands of the religious bigots of their day and what Mitt Romney is facing today. I hope and pray that Romney will be able to fend off these undeserved attacks from the religious hypocrites with the same grace, dignity and God-inspired resolve displayed by the other two.

A few popular bumper stickers read: “Honk if you love Jesus” and “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” or “Jesus is my co-pilot”. Yet, apparently, these same bumper-sticker Christians are the ones waging war against Mitt Romney’s run for the Presidency solely on the basis of his chosen faith in a Church that bears the name of the Savior of the world.

ABC News - 20/20 (2007). Philanthropic donations come from your heart, but where do they end up? Ex-money manager says "enough!" to secretive Christian Ministry spending. Glenn Ruppel & John Stossel. United States: ABC News.

Ayers, E. L., Gould, L. L., Oshinsky, D. M., & Soderlund, J. R. (2004). American Passages - a history of the United States - Volume I: to 1877 (2nd ed.). Belmont, California: Thomson/Wadsworth.

Barnet, S., & Bedau, H. (2005). Letter from Birmingham Jail. Current Issues and Enduring Questions - a guide to critical thinking and argument, with readings (7th ed., pp. 867-882). Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Far West History. (n.d.). The Extermination Order and how it was rescinded. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from http://www.jwha.info/mmff/exorder.htm

Hewitt, H. (2007). A Mormon in the White House? 10 things every American should know about Mitt Romney. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, Inc.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. (1960, September 12). Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://www.jfklibrary.org

Lds Faq. (n.d.). What was the Haun's Mill Massacre? Retrieved April 28-2007, 2004, from Brigham Young University Web Site: http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/view.asp?q=57

Media Matters for America. (2007). Fox News whitewashes evangelical hostility to Romney's faith. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://mediamatters.org/items/printable/200702280002

“Putting aside Saundra’s poor track record on endorsements”

I resemble that remark. I’ll have you know I supported Margaret Mimms for Fresno County Sheriff and I’ll be darned if she didn’t win. Yahoo!

However, you do have a point. I did support Tom McClintock for Governor of CA and Steve Forbes for Pres. Proud of it, too. If more people had voted the right way, CA would not be quite the liberal hell-hole and our federal taxes could be filed by filling a postcard.

I've never heard a peep about Hatch's or Smith's or the other guys from Utah ethics.

And as I've previously stated on this board, I prefer LDS members for bidding on my projects. ( Just how much more I'll go for is a trade secrete)

I've had nothing but positive experiences.

However, I always thought obeying the law of the land was LDS doctrine?

And I'll never vote for Romney as he was weak in defending the Boy Scouts.

This is significant to me as I used to work in the sex crimes detail and I know what the Gay movement is all about. Perhaps it's bragging, but my conviction rate was 100%

They crave young males, the more innocent the better.

Having access to the Scouts is their dream. If Mitt was too busy making money to understand that, then he cannot be trusted.

(Good looking wife though)

“And as I’ve previously stated on this board, I prefer LDS members for bidding on my projects. ( Just how much more I’ll go for is a trade secrete) I’ve had nothing but positive experiences.”

Regarding business, they are fine until they get into positions of control, then the nepotism starts, the proselytizing, the shunning, the calls to the Bishop.

But the reason I called everyone together is so you all read the following, from end to end:

http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs/exposit1.htm

It is the one and only edition of the Nauvoo Expositor (the press was destroyed by Smith to prevent his crimes from being revealed). A fornicating, election rigging, land dealing scamster, embezzler, fugitive hiding, fraudster was Smith’s claim to fame. Anyone who reads this account and has no qualms about a Romney Presidency is nuts, cause you see the same attempts to silence the debate even now in order to coronate the Whitehorse King.

Church members saw what Smith was even then.

It’s funny that you mention the Scouts. The LDS Church provides probably about half of the boys in Scouts. I happened to attend a Cub Scouts committee meeting last night and we discussed incorporating “Faith in God” LDS program. I was told that “Faith in God” program was put in place in case the Scouts goes over to the dark side. We will have Faith in God program to fall back on.

I demonstrated against United Way in Sacramento when they cut the Scouts from their base.

The LDS Church is very very big on the Scouts and no one I know would tolerate homosexuals as scout leaders. My hubby was a Scout Master for 10 years and he is a leader of the 11-year-olds now. We are for keeping the Scouts the way they have always been.

The LDS church would drop the Scouts like hot potatoes if they ever went to the dark side.

I don’t know what you’re talking about with Mitt Romney. I’m sure it’s, as usual, some silly misunderstanding. The Romney’s have 5 sons and I would be very surprised if they were not active in Scouting. All I know is that the LDS Church is seriously supportive of Scouting.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1836855/posts?page=24#24

I’m very aware of LDS support for Scouting, and I complement them for it.
But if you pull post #24 on the above thread, it has a number of ugly facts. Please feel free to take them apart, line by line.

And again, I find it very interesting that LDS Senators 100% support Amnesty ....has there been a new revelation about obeying the laws of the land?

Oh, howdy again. Turns out Mitt was an Eagle Scout which is very cool. He also used to sit as a Board Member of Boy Scouts of America at national level.

Now I understand what you were talking about cuz I looked it up. During the Massachusetts campaign for gov Mitt said that the Scouts should have the right to make their own rules. The media types critized Romney for being involved with the Boy Scouts, like it was a dirty business or something. Romney made a statement about how it’s wrong to discriminate against gay people. OK, there’s the rub. He said he thinks the Boy Scouts should be free to make their own rules. Period. End of story. He never said he wants homosexuals to be Scout leaders.

Methinks thou doth protest too much . . .

I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and your railing against him proves my point. Can you name one Prophet of God who wasn’t treated in like manner?

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Folks rale against liars, adulterers, and thieves, also. And when a religion is based upon the lies and false claims of a liar, adulterer, and grifter and the adherents to that religion make it a point to claim their false religion is the ‘most accurate restored version of Chrisitianity, well, you ought to see why some of us are opposing your religion openly.

Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament. It was Heavenly Father’s plan to send His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins to save us. The Holy Ghost tells me it’s true.

I am proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

“I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God and your railing against him proves my point. Can you name one Prophet of God who wasn’t treated in like manner?”

What? You mean name another Prophet accused by his own church brethren of embezzlement, fornicating with their wives (a known fact), trying to set up his own nation as a military General, claiming God told people how to vote?

I think you would be hard pressed to name a Disciple or Old Testament Prophet who was treated that way.

It seems Smith can be described as one of the money changers in his own Temple. And Smith sure didn’t go down like Jesus, asking his disciples to put down their swords in an act of love, he went out having tried to fire all six barrels of the pistol he had.

They said Jesus was a liar, a winebibber and that his followers were liars and a bunch of drunkards and whackos.

To the one, the Prophets were lied about and severely persecuted. Usually, the most vocal critics were the religious types.

So now you, as a good Mormon, want us to equate Joe Smith the grifter and proved prevaricator with Jesus The Christ. Yeah, that’s a great way to make you case, Saundra. Denigrate Jesus to raise your false prophet on high. Brilliant

It was Heavenly Father’s plan to send His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins to save us. The Holy Ghost tells me it’s true.

Does the Holy Ghost also tell you that the fall of Adam was part of God's plan? That is what your Church of JC of LDS taught me....that it was a fall upward...

You believe Jesus Christ is Jehovah of the OT and God is Elohim that they are in fact two separate personages....but you never come out and say it plainly.

I'll ask you plainly, I hope you can answer plainly. Is the above sentence true regarding Jesus Christ and God?

It is soooo sad. This need to use the same language as Christians when in fact you mean something entirely different. The beliefs of Mormonism are always couched in a way that appears they have the same beliefs as Christians. In actuality they are very, very different at their very core and you know this Saundra, don't you?

“And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment;

“They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they, wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented” (Hebrews 11:36-37)

Cruel mockings . . .

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Heavenly Father is God the Father. They are two separate personages. Why is that controversial? The Holy Ghost is God’s Spirit.

Jesus Christ prayed to Heavenly Father. Jesus taught us how to pray . . . “Our Father who art in Heaven . . .”

When we pray or give a talk or serve Heavenly Father in any way, we do it “In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior.” And everyone says “Amen”.

What’s wrong with that?

Saundra, explain the following three verses:

*GALATIANS 1:1 . . . God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) {cf. 1 Thess 1:10}
<>ROMANS 8:11 . . . the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, . . .
+JOHN 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Saundra, Who Raised Jesus From the Dead?

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