Posted on 06/08/2007 10:35:59 AM PDT by Colofornian
WASHINGTON - It's Mormon lore, a story passed along by some old-timers about the importance of their faith and their country.
In the latter days, the story goes, the U.S. Constitution will hang by a thread and a Mormon will ride in on a metaphorical white horse to save it. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says it does not accept the legend - commonly referred to as the "White Horse Prophecy" - as doctrine.
The issue, however, has been raised on those occasions when Mormons have sought the Oval Office: George Romney was asked about it during his bid in 1968, Sen. Orrin Hatch discussed it when he ran in 2000, and now Mitt Romney.
"It is being raised," says Phil Barlow, a professor of Mormon history and culture at Utah State University. "I've heard it a bit lately."
Romney says he doesn't believe in the supposed prophecy, nor did his father when he ran.
"I haven't heard my name associated with it or anything of that nature," Mitt Romney told The Salt Lake Tribune during an interview earlier this year. "That's not official church doctrine. There are a lot of things that are speculation and discussion by church members and even church leaders that aren't official church doctrine. I don't put that at the heart of my religious belief."
The disputed prophecy was recorded in a diary entry of a Mormon who had heard the tale from two men who were with Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Ill. when he supposedly declared the prophecy.
"You will see the Constitution of the United States almost destroyed," the diary entry quotes Smith as saying. "It will hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber."
Not only will the Mormons save the Constitution, under the prediction, but the prophecy goes further, insinuating that Mormons will control the government.
"Power will be given to the White Horse to rebuke the nations afar off, and you obey it, for the laws go forth from Zion," the prophecy says.
The LDS Church denounces the premonition, which was recorded 10 years after Smith's death. A church spokesman pointed to a quote from the faith's sixth president, Joseph F. Smith, who called the prophecy "ridiculous."
"It is simply false; that is all there is to it," the church prophet was quoted saying.
Joseph Smith, who Mormons believe found ancient gold plates and transcribed them into the Book of Mormon, ran for president in 1844, a year after he supposedly told of the White Horse Prophecy. Smith was murdered by a mob shortly thereafter.
So far, it hasn't been overtly discussed in reference to Romney's bid, but he told The Tribune previously that it was raised in the 1968 presidential run of his father, George Romney.
"It came up in the race, but he didn't believe in it," the younger Romney said in 1999.
In fact, George Romney said there are different interpretations of what Smith and Brigham Young, another Mormon prophet, were saying, according to a 1967 edition of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought:
"I have always felt that they meant that sometime the question of whether we are going to proceed on the basis of the Constitution would arise and at this point government leaders who were Mormons would be involved in answering that question," George Romney was quoted as saying.
In the 2000 presidential race, the prophecy again made news during Hatch's failed bid for the White House. The Utah Republican and Mormon commented on the Constitution hanging by a thread during a radio interview, fanning thoughts of whether he was referring to the prophecy. Hatch says he was not referencing the premonition.
Mitt Romney has faced a barrage of questions about his religion from the news media but few in public from voters. One man in New Hampshire last week told Romney he wouldn't vote for him because Romney's a Mormon. But the guy added that he was a liberal and voting for Hillary Clinton.
On the trail, Romney talks generally about his belief in God but does not engage in doctrinal debate over details of his faith. He declines often to go into the specific tenets of the Mormon religion, saying that he is not a spokesperson for his church.
Ann Marie Curling, a Mormon in Kentucky who backs Romney, knows of the prophecy but puts no stock in it.
"It's definitely not playing into why I support him," says Curling, who runs a pro-Romney blog.
She says the few who believe in the prophecy are in the "extreme" fringes of the faith. "I don't see it being the reason everyday LDS persons are supporting him."
While the LDS Church does not accept the White Horse Prophecy as doctrine, several former leaders of the faith have spoken of the threat to the Constitution at various times, according to research by George Cobabe, who studied the prophecy's origins for the Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research. The group's mission is to defend the church and correct misunderstandings.
He says the concept of religious people saving the Constitution in the last days is a common theme for many faiths, but adds the White Horse Prophecy is bunk.
"I don't think the White Horse Prophecy is fair to bring up at all," he says. "It's been rejected by every church leader that has talked about it. It has nothing to do with anything."
Barlow, the Utah State University professor, says probably 10 percent to 20 percent of Mormons in America have heard of the prophecy by name but that many more have likely heard bits and pieces of it.
"It's dubious whether this originated with Joseph Smith but it seems to have a life of its own," Barlow says. "While most Mormons may not have heard of it, there are some themes that have some currency."
The main theme is the apocalyptic end of the world and the phrase that the Constitution - which Mormons believe was divinely inspired - will "hang by a thread."
Still, Barlow says it's doubtful the so-called prophecy will make a big splash during the campaign.
"It's too esoteric than bigger things like polygamy that will get brought up," he says, referring to the practice of marrying multiple wives that the church officially denounced in 1890.
asparagus, welcome to FreeRepublic.
To the rest of you, we have another n00b. You might want to welcome him/her.
This wouldn’t be the first false prophecy mormonism has put
forth... but rabid followers of any group are not dismayed
by history - and often, facts.
ampu
Oh brother. Here we go again. I just love how this silliness gets drug out as being “newsworthy” when A) it didn’t come directly from Joseph Smith—it was written years after his death, B) it’s not church doctrine and isn’t taught as such, and C) the vast majority of Mormons don’t even give it a second thought.
As for the Constitution being under attack. I think that’s a pretty common fear among most conservatives.
Is it a surprise that loyalty to the church at the time was primordial? If you had to choose between a loving, protecting community and a government that looked the other way when you’re children were slaughtered and homes destroyed, you’d put your community first. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence does not oblige its citizens to prop up an unjust government that does not follow its own consitution.
Sure was a lot of “failure to protect” wasn’t there? Persecution, persecution, persecution. Of course the mormons weren’t armed, didn’t have any way to protect themselves, never instigated any of this persecution. Welcome n00b.
Thanks for the welcome. I enjoy FreeRepublic. People here generally have intelligent things to say, even if you disagree.
OK. Who are we to believe? (can someone knowledgeable help out here) This article claims that an LDS church spokesperson says that the sixth president Joseph F. Smith, called the prophecy "ridiculous." While he may have done so, the 1912 LDS Conference Report & that LDS "prophet's" book says exactly otherwise. (So did the Trib reporter get it wrong; or was the LDS church spokesperson lying?)
Joseph F. Smith, sixth president of the LDS Church, wrote in Gospel Doctrine, p. 403--originally cited, I believe in 10/1912 Conference Report, p. 11:
Now, these are the commandments of God, the principles contained in these commandments of the great Eternal are the principles that underly the Constitution of our country, and all just laws. Joseph Smith, the prophet, was inspired to affirm and ratify this truth, and he further predicted that the time would come, when the Constitution of our country would hang as it were by a thread, and that the Latter-day Saints, above all other people in the world, would come to the rescue of that great and glorious palladium of our liberty.
You have a link? I haven't heard this, but it is an absolute deal breaker for me too. You can't say that even once and step away from it. Former Eagle Scout here; the idea that gays should be allowed to take young boys away from their parents for weekend campouts is absolutely, positively, off-the-reservation dangerous, insulting, stupid, destructive, and immoral. What parent would let that happen? It would absolutely kill the Scout troop and attract pedophiles to become Scout Masters. Bah. He really said that?
Then he decided to run for President and joined the NRA.
After the VA Tech shootings, Mitt said he supported the 2nd Amendment, except for guns that could be used against cops. What does that even mean?
What kind of fool would fall for this crap?
I'm talking about his past history, period. And I don't always agree with the NRA. Sometimes I just shake my head at some of the stuff they support. I'm not nearly as ready to compromise when my rights are at stake. But getting back to Romney, I wasn't impressed with his stories about being a lifetime hunter. And his just joining the NRA seems a bit too convenient. It all reminds me of Kerry's duck hunting trip in 2004. Romney's just a little too phony for me. The winner in 2008 will be getting AWB2 sent to the Oval Office. I need someone in there who will not hesitate to veto it. At this point, the only one of the top three that I feel comfortable with is Fred Thompson. Giuliani and Romney are too wobbly for me.
And the NRA endorsement?
Sorry, I like GOA.
That is true in theory only, at least in this forum. You can read the postings here in FR and find out very quickly how Mitt Romney’s religion is very emphatically being held against him.
No one can say for sure. But the Church did mobilize to defeat the E.R.A. in the 70’s. The Church was very active in defeating that amendment, so sure, the church has played a significant role in protecting our constitution.
Or the foal of an Ass?
in their case, it’s the FOOL of an ASS..........
Maybe they can bring up the Dannites as well...
And forced medical insurance = A TAX
After the Va Tech shooting, he was asked point blank whether he supported or opposed a new Federal AWB.
He ducked the question.
MKH [Mary Katharine Ham]: Now, you supported an assault weapons ban in Massachusetts. This tragedy is being used to push the renewal of the federal assault weapons ban. What would your stance be if that comes up again?
MR [Mitt Romney]: Well, you know, the weapon used here was not an assault weapon, so I’m not sure what the relevance is. And, that’s what we have to recognize. The people who want to remove Second Amendment rights will look for everything they can. You know, if there’s a weapon that puts our police at risk, like machine guns, of course, then that’s something I would, of course, consider. But, look, we’ve gotta fundamentally recognize the need to protect the right to bear arms and the fact that there are people who are trying to remove that right inch by inch, and we’re gonna have to defend against that. link
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