Leavitt looked to faith for philosophy of government

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | January 2, 2008 | Robert Gehrke

[Utah Binger]

By Robert Gehrke

The Salt Lake Tribune

Former Utah governor and current Cabinet secretary Mike Leavitt sought to infuse the lessons of his religion into his inaugural address and into state policy, conducting a series of "Early Morning Seminary" classes in which he and top advisers discussed how to incorporate "just and holy" Mormon principles into his governance, archival records show.

Romney promised in his recent "Faith in America" speech that, if elected, he would not take marching orders from his church leaders or doctrine. The transcripts of the Leavitt meetings, held over several days in 1996, offer a glimpse of the extent to which faith can influence political philosophy and the degree to which Leavitt incorporated his Mormon faith into his administration. The gatherings included his top staff and trusted advisers, former U.S. Attorney David Jordan; Matthew Durrant, whom Leavitt later appointed to the Utah Supreme Court; Henry Eyring, the son of the Mormon general authority; and former Brigham Young University professor Bud Scruggs.

Over several mornings in late 1996, the group delved into the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, and how they apply to modern government.

"My best thinking often occurs in conversation where people feel comfortable in trying out new thoughts and challenging each other's ideas," Leavitt said in written responses to questions. "We occasionally recorded them to free ourselves from note taking. These were private conversations among friends." A Utah Republican consultant, said they offer a fascinating insight on a figure who "always is thinking of different ways of doing things."

"This is the kind of thing I would've guessed that Brigham Young would've had when we had a theocracy here rather than necessarily in modern times," he said.

[Utah Binger]

The cat is out of the bag. Sorry to have to report this as many Mormon Freepers are in denial regarding the approach their leaders take with our political friends.

[Utah Binger]

Ping to you. I’m on European time today but back in town.

[colorcountry]

And I am awake darned it! I hope you had a very good time. I am jealous.

I already posted a precursor to this thread. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946431/posts

[colorcountry]

Many of the LDS Freepers do not live in Utah, and so don’t have an understanding of the way Politics and Religion mesh in Utah society.

We tried to warn them Bing. I hope it isn’t too late!

[Utah Binger]

Well Hell. Didn’t know that . You’re just too quick for me.

We did have a great time. We’ll talk soon.

[Utah Binger]

Very true, plus it seems they are much more devoted to the faith than a lot of Utahns. In all of the wards we lived in in California, there seems to be very few fence sitters. Matter of fact, that’s the biggest reason I left because of not being able to fit in with the seriously devoted, being a BIC non believer.

[greyfoxx39]

This was an interesting fact in the article: After inquiries from The Tribune, Leavitt asked the state archivist to review whether the transcripts should be removed from the public archives, which has been done pending the review.

Are we SURE Bill Clinton isn't a mormon in disguise?

[greyfoxx39]

Is anyone else having trouble getting their pings? I have noticed that I am losing about 1 out of 5 in my “comments” section?

[colorcountry]

I’ve noticed that too. I make sure I check on ‘My comments’ often, and I still miss posts to me on occassion.

[greyfoxx39]

Several hundred pages of material, including five days of transcripts of "Early Morning Seminary" meetings held during Gov. Mike Leavitt's administration, have been pulled from the Utah Archives on Leavitt's request. After inquiries from The Salt Lake Tribune, the former governor and current secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services asked the state archivist to review whether the material in the meeting transcripts, where participants discussed how "holy and just principles" from Mormon scripture apply to government, were public documents or a private gathering of friends. Patricia Smith-Mansfield, director of the archives, said the records have been pulled from the publicly available material pending a review, which will be completed within 30 days. In a letter Thursday to The Tribune, Leavitt acknowledged "the role of faith in public policy is a legitimate story." But he said the comments of other participants in the discussions should remain private because they expressed thoughts they "may deem to be personal, in some cases even sacred." Although the meetings included senior staffers in Leavitt's administration, including his chief of staff Charlie Johnson, his policy adviser LaVarr Webb and spokeswoman Vicki Varela, Leavitt told participants the meetings were not official state business and asked them repeatedly to keep the discussions confidential. "Can I suggest we protect these commentaries?" Leavitt asked at the conclusion of one meeting. "There are thoughts and feelings and emotions and so forth here that just go way beyond anything that I'd be comfortable having [public]." The transcripts were among thousands of pages of material from the Leavitt administration that were posted online late last year.

ROTFL.....the mantra we see ALL the time on FR, "it's not SECRET.....IT'S SACRED!"

Leavitt gets the "Flip Romney Talking Points Medal" for this. (Hat tip to big ol freeper.)

So, stories like this from Utah are supposed to convince us that Mitt wouldn't be "influenced by LDS leaders" if he were to be elected?

[Colofornian]

Your citation: But he said the comments of other participants in the discussions should remain private because they expressed thoughts they "may deem to be personal, in some cases even sacred."

Ah, I can see it now. Dateline: 2012: Certain public records are requested by the MSM for the Romney White House to be made fully public. Answer? "These documents should remain unavailable because expressed thoughts may deem to be personal, in some cases even sacred."

(You don't think his oath to Zion would be a sacred thing that he wouldn't leave at the door of the WH, would ya?)

[Elsie]

I’ve noticed that too. I make sure I check on ‘My comments’ often, and I still miss posts to me on occassion.

If I were to miss any; how would I know?

[Zakeet]

Leavitt looked to faith for philosophy of government

Nothing surprising.

Temple Mormons like Mike and Mitt have promised to fully obey Mormon teachings without hesitation and without question.

In his February 26, 1980 speech at BYU titled Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet, LDS President Ezra Taft Benson maintained the Mormon Church President spoke with inerrant authority on “any matter, temporal or spiritual ” and was “not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.”

As a Temple Mormons, Mormon Bishops and Stake Presidents, Mike and Mitt have sworn among other things, they recognize the President of the LDS Church as a "prophet, seer and revelator," and will "obey the rules, laws, and commandments of the gospel" as proclaimed by Mormon Prophets.

Both men made these solemn vows with the understanding they effect "time and all eternity."

Mike and Mitt either intended to honor their promises to follow another man’s instructions, or they lied. In the case of the former, we are entitled to know where these directives lead, and in the alternative, we should be concerned about their honesty.

Therefore, contrary to what others have said on this or other threads, I assert the teachings of the Mormon Church and its prophets are an issue of extreme importance in this election.

[greyfoxx39]

Well, Elsie, CC posted a link to a thread that she had pinged me to, but I had never recieved the ping and the thread was new to me. Also, sometimes I will be reading a thread and see a ping to me that didn’t end up in my comments.

[Elsie]

HMmmm...