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Bush is a Methodist. Has he done anything in his public life to help the Methodist denomination? I don’t think so. He doesn’t inject Methodism into his public life, though he does pray for guidance in his actions.

Ah, but there is one small advantage to having a Mormon president for SLC. When you send your missionaries overseas and they ask you what a Mormon is or who is a Mormon, you would be able to point at the U.S. president, the most powerful individual in the world and the most famous international figure globally.

Not that we Baptists are worried. But we do observe your missions activity, a natural given our own historic focus on missions. You are no doubt aware how we move into an area quite often after Mormon missionaries have been there.

Well, we Baptists are never afraid of any fight over scripture. Given we have nothing else to offer, we have little choice anyway.

I just thought I'd point out the one benefit that a Romney presidency might bring to Salt Lake's proselytization efforts, particularly overseas.

The advantage is quite minor. I doubt the Methodists have benefited much from Bush. I don't think it has made much difference to us Baptists to have had the names Carter and Clinton to bandy about (and those two were an embarassment to us domestically anyway). Still, it probably doesn't hurt. Well, unless your president happens to start bombing their country.

Ah, but there is one small advantage to having a Mormon president for SLC. When you send your missionaries overseas and they ask you what a Mormon is or who is a Mormon, you would be able to point at the U.S. president, the most powerful individual in the world and the most famous international figure globally.

You know, honestly this had never occured to me.
I may have to switch back from supporting Fred Thompson /Sarc. (Go Fred)

I just thought I'd point out the one benefit that a Romney presidency might bring to Salt Lake's proselytization efforts, particularly overseas. The advantage is quite minor. I doubt the Methodists have benefited much from Bush. I don't think it has made much difference to us Baptists to have had the names Carter and Clinton to bandy about (and those two were an embarassment to us domestically anyway). Still, it probably doesn't hurt. Well, unless your president happens to start bombing their country.

Had the Olympics been in say, Tennessee [isn't that home of the Southern Baptists?] instead of Salt Lake City, I'm sure the So. Baptists would have had a formidable Olympic presence. But it wouldn't quite compare to the SLC spin machine it had going for the SLC Olympics put forth by the LDS church headquarters.

Secondly, ya gotta remember that the LDS church only had about 300 missionaries mid-20th century and has been fairly culturally isolated in the West until this last generation coming forth. That means it has been held in more obscurity than mainline and evangelical Christian denominations.

LDS would have more to benefit from in shedding this than say, a mainline or evangelical president.

That is true; as uncomfortable as it may be for little ol’ me to be part of a group that is about to go under such a microscope, it is fantastic publicity. For many, it’s their first real encounter with the LDS Church. Those who are looking for what we have to offer will be better able to find it.