The thing is I really think most LDS who support Romney have rationalized their support for him by saying there are other reasons, not because he is LDS. It is a very common thing for them to lie to themselves and others about things relating to the LDS church. I am sure that you, like me, know of the LDS view of supporting their own over Gentiles, but when I was LDS, I would not admit to gentiles, and probably not even to myself that I would almost automatically vote for a Mormon over a gentile because it was a given that they ‘obviously’ were more trustworthy since they were LDS (especially Temple LDS) and they would do their best to further Mormonism.
Most LDS are not honest with themselves, there is such a emotional and missionary need to show others how ‘wonderful’ Mormonism is. They cannot admit faults about ‘the Church’, its leaders, its doctrine or is history because it might cause them to ‘lose their testimony’, like Elsie posts ‘do not criticize LDS leaders even if the criticism is true’.
Sadly, this fear of losing their faith in Mormonism very often leads to the rationalization and lying (to themselves at a minimum) in order to hold on to their testimony. The LDS faith cannot, in any way, withstand any real scrutiny and they are constantly told not to ask questions, or read anything that is not ‘faith promoting’. Expecting a Mormon to be honest about anything relating to the LDS church is expecting too much and they may not even realize or see that they are rationalizing, dissembling or flat out lying.
How does this relate to politics and particularly closet support for Mitt? Having been LDS, I know there is a self imposed, and cultural expectation and pressure to vote for and support another LDS, especially because there is an expectation that they (like the LDS person) will put ‘the Church’ (not God, not Christ) first and that a LDS leader will benefit the LDS church if in no other way than to validate them in the eyes of others or as a missionary tool (Glen Beck is a great example of this). However, they would never admit that the are supporting someone JUST because they are LDS, simply because it might make ‘the Church’ look bad if they admitted that was the only or primary reason.
So, while we have seen more than a few know LDS on here imply or directly state they are supporting Mitt, to admit it openly would make them (or worse ‘the Church’) look bad so they won’t do it and if they do openly admit to supporting Romney they have rationalization for doing so (like he is the inevitable candidate). I’m not even sure you can blame them for this behavior because so much of it comes from the culture of Mormonism and their need to put the LDS church in the best light. I understand why they do what they do because I was the same way once, long ago and only saw the rationalization and lies I told myself and others long after I left the LDS church and became a Christian. In this aspect they are the same as liberals.
While I would love for them to be open and honest, I don’t expect it, because as I posted on another thread, once that happens a door opens that can easily lead them out of Mormonism.
Elsie, emerging from the woodwork; drags some MORMON quotes with him...
