There is nothing about the beliefs of Mormonism that strikes me as any stranger than the beliefs of other religions if one views them objectively. I’m not denigrating any faith but they all have elements that don’t succumb to reason in an objective sense.
Oh really? Check out the ritual that mormons must undergo in order to gain "exaltation" and sit next to their god in a made-up kingdom.
Pay attention to the "law of consecration" which Mitt has sworn to uphold, which dedicates everything he will ever have to the mormon church.
Elite mormons, which Mitt is, can have their salvation guaranteed while they still live!
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 305:
Calling & Election To Be Made Sure
Contend earnestly for the like precious faith with the Apostle Peter, "and add to you faith, virtue," knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity [D&C 4]; "for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Another point, after having all these qualifications, he lays this injunction upon the people "to make your calling and election sure." He is emphatic upon this subject--after adding all this virtue, knowledge, etc., "Make your calling and election sure." What is the secret--the starting point? "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness." How did he obtain all things? Through the knowledge of Him who hath called him. There could not anything be given, pertaining to life and godliness, without knowledge. Woe! woe! Woe to Christendom!--especially the divines and priests if this be true.
Salvation is for a man to be saved from all his enemies; for until a man can triumph over death, he is not saved. A knowledge of the priesthood alone will do this.
Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:325-353.
But in the most express and proper usage of the terms, "The elect of God comprise a very select group, an inner circle of faithful members of the Church.... They are the portion of church members who are striving with all their hearts to keep the fulness of the gospel law in this life so that they can become inheritors of the fulness of the gospel rewards in the life to come.
"As far as the male sex is concerned, they are the ones, the Lord says, who have the Melchizedek Priesthood conferred upon them and who thereafter magnify their callings and are sanctified by the Spirit. In this way, 'They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.' " (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed., 217.) See Commentary 2: 267-269, 271-278, 283-285.
[4] What is meant by making an election sure?
It is with election as with calling: the chosen of the Lord are offered all of the blessings of the gospel on condition of obedience to the Lord's laws; and they, having been tried and tested and found worthy in all things, eventually have a seal placed on their election which guarantees the receipt of the promised blessing.
[5] What is meant by having one's calling and election made sure?
To have one's calling and election made sure is to be sealed up unto eternal life; it is to have the unconditional guarantee of exaltation in the highest heaven of the celestial world; it is to receive the assurance of godhood; it is, in effect, to have the day of judgment advanced, so that an inheritance of all the glory and honor of the Father's kingdom is assured prior to the day when the faithful actually enter into the divine presence to sit with Christ in his throne, even as he is "set down" with his "Father in his throne." (Rev 3:21.)
I don't know of any other religion with such beliefs.
I agree with your conclusion and note that this country has among its many values as provided under the Constitution, freedom of religious belief. I don’t belief as Mr. Romeny does, but unless he would attempt to impose his religious beliefs on me or others, that is, and should be, irrelevant to the presidential race. Any attempt by him to force his beliefs on others in his capacity as President would violate the First Amendment, in my view.
That does not mean that his religious beliefs have no impact on his policy positions, but that is true of anyone. Is there anything about his Mormonism that would take away from important policy positions regarding: the economy, foreign affairs, immigration, etc.? That would be a valid discussion, but to attack Romney, or anyone, on account of his faith strikes me as wrong-headed.