They Shoot Mormons, Don't They? Religious Bigotry, alive and well today

“I wouldn’t vote for a Mormon for dogcatcher, much less President of the United States!” There’s a lot of that kind of hateful rhetoric going around since Mitt Romney decided to throw his hat in the ring – as if Mormons are some kind of hideous evil monsters. The loudest anti-Mormon shouts, sad to say, are coming from America’s so-called “Christian right”. How can Mitt Romney hope to get a fair shake in this spiritually polluted atmosphere?

There was another man running for President who faced the same dilemma – John F. Kennedy – only he was the target of anti-CATHOLIC bigotry. In his 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, JFK said the following: “. . .I believe in an America where religious intolerance will someday end - where all men and all churches are treated as equal - where man has the same right to attend or not attend the church of his choice - where there is no Catholic vote, no anti-Catholic vote, no bloc voting of any kind - and where Catholics, Protestants and Jews, at both the lay and pastoral level, will refrain from those attitudes of disdain and division which have so often marred their words in the past, and promote instead the American ideal of brotherhood.” John F. Kennedy Library & Museum (Speeches, 1960). By the way, if you listen to the audio version of JFK’s speech, you will hear the hurt and frustration in his voice and the unfair treatment surely must have caused many a sleepless night.

Fast forward to 2007 where JFK might as well have been “whistlin’ Dixie”. The hostility toward Mormons today, in my opinion, is even worse than that suffered by JFK. Although it is said that JFK lost about a million votes to religious intolerance, Romney stands to lose even more if the anti-Mormon evangelicals hang together.

According to Media Matters for America - “. . . a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media” - FOX News is not reporting accurately on the level of evangelical hostility to the Romney run. Media Matters for America points out that among evangelical leaders rejecting Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson (National Day of Prayer and Focus on the Family, respectively), the Southern Baptist Convention (collectively), Pat Robertson (Christian Broadcasting Network), and Dr. D. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Florida). “Among many conservative evangelicals – who comprise a significant part of the Republican base – Mormonism is considered an un-Christian cult.” Media Matters for America (2007)

While stumping in Florida, a man in the audience stood up during the Q&A portion and said the following to Romney: “You, sir, you’re a pretender. You do not know the Lord. You’re a Mormon.” Media Matters for America (2007). This is the kind of un-American, disrespectful treatment Mitt Romney will apparently have to endure throughout the entire campaign – as if just being a Mormon is reason enough to open the floodgates for free flow of pent-up hatred and vindictiveness.

For the record, the Mormon bashers know full well that the official name of Romney’s church is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” and the members should rightfully be called “members of the LDS Church” but the words “Mormon” and “Mormonism” have an aura of negativity so they prefer to use the “M” word as if it were dirty.

Less than five minutes cruising around the official LDS website (LDS.org) will show anyone who’s interested that the Church is a Christian organization, with Jesus Christ at the Head. There are no paid clergy – all are volunteers. Humanitarian aid is legendary. Members of the LDS Church believe in strong family values; they are patriotic, they are law-abiding upstanding citizens of their community. Many LDS young men right out of high school go on two-year missions – you know, the guys on bikes – and during their mission they don’t date, read newspapers, go to movies or watch TV; but rather they dedicate two years of their lives to serving others. Many women go on missions as well, and couples, only theirs is 18 months in length but the obligations are basically the same. Most members do not shop or go out to eat on Sundays – reminiscent of the good old days when shops and stores were closed in obedience to the Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy”. If they can help it, LDS Church members do not work on Sundays, either, preferring to spend the day at church and with their families. Church members are encouraged to store up a year’s supply of food and water so they will be able to care for their families in the event of an emergency. The LDS Church believes in self-sufficiency and self-reliance but in the event of a financial hardship the Church distributes food and supplies through their welfare (Bishop’s Storehouse) program. Members of the LDS Church do not drink alcohol nor do they use illicit drugs; they do not drink coffee and tea. A Mormon in good standing, therefore, will not be found in a drunken stupor puking her guts out at 3 a.m. anywhere in the world. Furthermore, members of the church are encouraged to dress modestly, be polite and courteous. And members of the LDS Church are faithful tithe payers. Come on, people, what’s not to love?

So what on earth is their beef, the anti-Mormon zealots? Why is there such disdain for the LDS Church and its members? In Hugh Hewitt’s book, “Mormon in the White House?” he states his thesis that the fierce anti-Mormon sentiment among main-stream Christians stems from one or two or all three of the following factors (in order of importance):

3) “If there is a Mormon in the White House, Salt Lake City will call the shots, at least on the biggest issues.” Hewitt (2007, p. 221-227)

Hugh Hewitt has written an exquisite book about the Romney campaign and overcoming the “Mormon problem.” It’s a good read and I highly recommend it. Of the three problem points listed in the previous paragraph, Hewitt believes – unless some unforeseen blunder destroys his chances – none of the three is insurmountable for Mitt Romney. (Plus, he has the best hair.)

Well, I’m no Hugh Hewitt, not even close; he’s an icon on the conservative radio talk show circuit. Hewitt could talk circles around me (I’ve seen him in action in Sacramento); he’s brilliant; he’s well educated, well read, no doubt a genius, plus he’s kind of cute. I’m basically a “nobody” – an overweight grandma – but after having researched for this paper, I have come to a totally different conclusion as to why there is such in-your-face angst over Romney’s religion of choice: It’s all about money, power and control (in that order). I think they’re (the evangelical religious bigots, that is) scared half to death and are revving up their attacks, not to save souls, but to save their reputations (which if tarnished would lead to financial ruin).

As I said, all one must do is browse around the LDS official web site to see what the LDS Church believes and stands for. Any reasonable person would conclude that Mormons are not evil monsters at all. In fact, they are God fearing, Christ believing, Holy Ghost following people going about doing good. “You will know them by their fruit” and the LDS has plenty of fruit and they are willing to share.

Earlier, I stated that some high-powered ministries have publicly condemned Mormons: Shirley and James Dobson, the Southern Baptist Convention, Pat Robertson, and Dr. D. James Kennedy – just to name a few. There are hoards of others. Sunday after Sunday, preachers, evangelists, reverends and ministers from all Christian denominations pound the pulpit with anti-Mormon rhetoric. I heard the message loud clear when I was a Baptist and when I tiptoed through evangelical/Pentecostal territories. Was I ever miffed when I later learned for myself the Gospel truth about the LDS Church.

Just think about it, please. If Dr. D. James Kennedy, for example, who wrote the book, The Wolves Among Us, were to admit he’d been wrong in labeling the LDS Church a “cult” that leads unwary ignorant people astray (to hell), what would become of his multi-million-dollar ministry? Suffice it to say, there’s big money to be had by sale of books, tapes, CD’s, videos, and other anti-Mormon propaganda, not to mention speaking engagements and world-wide religious crusades. We’re talking trillions, all told. I realize the anti-Mormon aspect of these ministries is but a small portion of the business, but if the truth came out, that they had been using falsehoods about the LDS Church as a cash cow, their entire empires could tumble.

The ABC News program 20/20 aired on March 23, 2007, exposed the lavish lifestyles of some of the top evangelical preachers – million dollar mansions and personal jets. ABC News - 20/20 (2007) (Again, the LDS Church has no paid clergy.)

It’s nothing new. Severe harassment and persecution has been the lot of the LDS Church since it’s inception in 1820 when a 14-year-old boy named Joseph Smith saw visions and communed with heavenly beings. Rather than discuss the spiritual aspects of the LDS Church, however, let’s stick to facts of history. Taken from a college-level early American history textbook, Joseph Smith, upon experiencing the visions and visitations, believed “that God had work for me to do, and that my name should be for good and evil among all nations, kindreds and tongues.” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 292). The textbook continues, “They were met with hostility virtually everywhere they went . . . . As the movement gathered momentum, hundreds of people joined the church; entire congregations of churches of other faiths joined . . .” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 293)

During the dark time of American history when slavery was flourishing and when Native Americans were forced from their lands, the pioneers of the LDS Church also suffered at the hands of unscrupulous politicians, governmental leaders, and angry hate-filled mobs. “In the face of relentless persecution, Joseph Smith, the founder of the church, had led his flock to Illinois. There they had established the town of Nauvoo, which by the mid-1840’s had become the largest city in Illinois with over 15,000 people. . . In June 1844, a mob of non-Mormons broke into the jail where Smith was being held and killed both him and his brother. . .The Mormons abandoned Nauvoo in the spring of 1846 as anti-Mormons pounded the town with cannon, destroying the Great Temple. In a well-coordinated migration, 15,000 Mormons moved in stages to the Great Salt Lake.” Ayers, Gould, Oshinsky, and Soderlund (2004, p. 334-335) Many walked all the way and many died along the way, including innocent babes.

Joseph Smith at one time was tarred and feathered by a mob. No jury, no trial, no judge – and they had planned to castrate him, too. On October 27, 1838, the then governor of Missouri issued an “extermination order”: “The Mormons must be treated as enemies, and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary . . .” Far West History (n.d.) Please note that the order called for exterminating “Mormons” making no distinction between men, women and children, and indeed women and children were subject to the extermination order.

In an event known in LDS history as “the Haun’s Mill Massacre”, precipitated by the extermination order, 30 to 40 LDS families were surprised by some 200 to 250 militia. After the smoke cleared, seventeen LDS people lay dead including a ten-year-old boy. Thirteen LDS members were wounded including a woman and a seven-year-old boy. “A few Missourians returned the next day and took plunder.” LDS FAQ (n.d.) No Missouri militiamen were killed but three were wounded. Just a few years earlier, the LDS folk who died that day had been members of other churches - Congregational or Methodist or Baptist or Presbyterian.

In l976, Governor Bond of Missouri officially rescinded the extermination order and presented apologies for the “unfortunate developments” it caused. Quoting from Governor Bond’s Executive Order: “WHEREAS, Governor Boggs’ order clearly contravened the rights to life, liberty, property and religious freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States, as well as the Constitution of the State of Missouri; and . . . Expressing on behalf of all Missourians our deep regret for the injustice and undue suffering rescind Executive Order Number 44 dated October 27, 1838, issued by Governor W. Boggs. . .” Far West History (n.d.) The individuals who harassed, abused, and even murdered Mormons in cold blood were never tried for their crimes.

I read Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail and it really touched my heart. There he was, suffering for the Lord in jail, and these religious leaders with highfalutin titles on the outside wrote an open letter (“A Call for Unity”) in which they criticize King’s tactics and basically blame King for the racial turmoil of the time. Though you can tell King is upset and hurt by the attack – made worse because he’s stuck in jail and can’t confront the religious leaders face-to-face – his response is gentle genius. “I wish you had commended the Negro sit-inners and demonstrators of Birmingham for their sublime courage, their willingness to suffer, and their amazing discipline in the midst of great provocation. One day the South will recognize its real heroes.” Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 881)

King has a few choice words for the Church, too: “If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.” Barnet and Bedau (2005, p. 880)

There’s an eerie commonality between what JFK and MLK endured at the hands of the religious bigots of their day and what Mitt Romney is facing today. I hope and pray that Romney will be able to fend off these undeserved attacks from the religious hypocrites with the same grace, dignity and God-inspired resolve displayed by the other two.

A few popular bumper stickers read: “Honk if you love Jesus” and “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” or “Jesus is my co-pilot”. Yet, apparently, these same bumper-sticker Christians are the ones waging war against Mitt Romney’s run for the Presidency solely on the basis of his chosen faith in a Church that bears the name of the Savior of the world.

ABC News - 20/20 (2007). Philanthropic donations come from your heart, but where do they end up? Ex-money manager says "enough!" to secretive Christian Ministry spending. Glenn Ruppel & John Stossel. United States: ABC News.

Ayers, E. L., Gould, L. L., Oshinsky, D. M., & Soderlund, J. R. (2004). American Passages - a history of the United States - Volume I: to 1877 (2nd ed.). Belmont, California: Thomson/Wadsworth.

Barnet, S., & Bedau, H. (2005). Letter from Birmingham Jail. Current Issues and Enduring Questions - a guide to critical thinking and argument, with readings (7th ed., pp. 867-882). Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Far West History. (n.d.). The Extermination Order and how it was rescinded. Retrieved April 28, 2007, from http://www.jwha.info/mmff/exorder.htm

Hewitt, H. (2007). A Mormon in the White House? 10 things every American should know about Mitt Romney. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing, Inc.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum. (1960, September 12). Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://www.jfklibrary.org

Lds Faq. (n.d.). What was the Haun's Mill Massacre? Retrieved April 28-2007, 2004, from Brigham Young University Web Site: http://ldsfaq.byu.edu/view.asp?q=57

Media Matters for America. (2007). Fox News whitewashes evangelical hostility to Romney's faith. Retrieved April 22, 2007, from http://mediamatters.org/items/printable/200702280002

I am sorry I very seldom where my wordly bifocals, which is the way some folks would process your way of thinking.

As I see it you are “mind reading the Lord’s Church” and beause you assume it, does not so!

Quoting a friend: "The dems will gladly trade a Harry Reid for Orin Hatch and the White House and a filibuster-proof Senate." Any attempt to throw mormonism at Mitt will play very well with their base. Their base won't see any difference between one man of faith, George Bush, and another, Mitt Romney.

To the hardened lefties maybe, but the moderates will see right through the hypocrisy and it will backfire on them. Mitt will not only get the votes due to his campaigning, he'll get the sympathy votes from those fed up with dirty politics and political backstabbing. Because of Harry Reid, this is probably the best time possible for Romney to run.

DU, you’re wasting your time..your fondest wish has come true, NNN has been banned, I’m sure you’re very happy to know.

It is not my wish to have NNN banned, in fact, I would rather beat hin in the areana of ideas than "in default" if that is what you call it.

My father taught me something (yes, It can be done!) when I was in HS that has served me well ever since. "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinon still."

I did not ask for him to be banned.

I hope that he keeps whatever rules the mods tell him to so he can be back soon.

I for one am ashamed that my actions may have had some part in goading him to take the actions that got him banned.

NNN if you are reading, I am sorry.

but you can't possible fathom what thoughts about you are going through my mind. ;-)

Seven there were many admonitions on the other thread about personal attacks. Just a gentle reminder ;-)

No personal attacks, you can't read my mind any more than you can read Romneys. Read what you want into it, don't put words in my mouth. It was meant as humor to illustrate the point.

resty, bi-focals help you see things up close as well as far away. I indeed try to wear mine as often as I can, for I like to be able to focus clearly, even when things are right under my nose.

You’re still bashing someone who is banned? Can’t you let it go?

You can leave FreeRepublic, but you can’t leave it alone? LOL

I Didn't know he was banned yet, I am still playing catchup on this thread.

I'll leave him alone now, sorry.

Are women allowed to offer the prayers over the sacrament in the LDS church yet? They weren't when I was a member, nor were they allowed to offer the opening or closing prayer in Sacrament meeting.

Women say prayers all the time in Sacrament meeting. The blessing of the sacrament is a priesthood function though, so no, they don't. It would seem your attempt to pigeonhole the LDS as discriminating would also work against the early Church. Are you sure you want to go there? The LDS do not hold these traditions like the early saints did, but you seem to be wanting us to go back to times of old!

Perhaps you'd better tred different waters?

1 CORINTHIANS 14:

34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

No, I’m not hung up with the Father having a body, I’m saying that since you believe the Father and the Son are one and the same, then Jesus’s resurrected body to you should be draped all over the Father.
The Nicene creed is so hard to understand, yet alone comprehend. Jesus clearly made a great deal of effort to prove to the apostles that he was resurrected. The saints that rose from the dead at his resurrection also made an effort to “appear unto many” It’s a crucial doctrine of Christ, and He wanted us to know it. He didn’t appear unto the apostles as a “spirit” to prove to them he was a spirit. He wanted them to know he was risen! What a glorious message of hope for all of us!

Last time I check the Utah Capital was not a THEOCRACY. In fact it IS the government of all those various demomination and not just the Mormons......ISN'T IT? But a Christian organization is not a governmental body. They may exclude whomever they want, can't they?

Color, you may want to follow the whole thread. SD was talking specifically about the "California Republican Assembly" where a Mormon was passed over to pray.

>What were you, a mormon, doing in those churches? :)

My mom and Dad were Methodists before they joined, and we had to go with my Grndma and uncles and stuff when we went to visit, so I was “Exposed” early. Had discusions about diffrent religions with my Mom and Dad, so they knew I would not be blind sided by any thing. I never got used to brining money tochurch to put int eh plate, it seemed kind of strange.

My mom and dad did not worry about me going, They knew I had a testimony of my own. I had a deal with smoe of my friends, I would go with them to church one week, they would come to church with me tha next (the had no ieda that Mormons went to church for three hours LOL)

Remember, these are the Prophets of Mormonism speaking, the supposedly had a direct connection with the Holy Spirit. I wonder how Bishop Mitt is going to explain that away with a “revelation” that only came in 1978.

I wonder how many people care about ANY statement by ANY religious leader back in those days when discrimination happened as a matter of course. It certainly wasn't limited to LDS. Perhaps you should ask Gladys Knight, she may enlighten you on what that '78 revelation was all about.

Prove it does. I want a list of all of the churches in America where this very morning the pastor stood up in front of the congregation and preached against Mormonism.

Um, first of all it's Saturday.... (grin)

Second, now that I live in Utah, I don't know of any here, but when I lived in Fairfield iowa, Vinton Iowa, Boone Iowa and Ogend Iowa (ogden is really close to Boone) I could have told you which churches, but it's been over 25 years... so I don't even know if those particular churches are still in the same place. But my statment stands that I saw it happen.

Prove it did not.

I would say that unless ther is a movement toward Mormanism happening in their midst, they probably don't have these kind of meetings. (no Mormons around to join = No meetings to try and stop them)

Mormonism teaches that the Bible is corrupt.

Mormons don’t teach that the Bible is corrupt. We love and honor the Bible and the records of truth it contains. We believe it to be the word of God, and we also believe that it has been tampered with. We believe that all truth is from God, and he speaks to all his children, in all times, and doesn’t leave us alone with just a 2000 year old collection of writings that divides Christianity into so many thousands of different denominations and sects because they all interpret the bible differently.

This sums up our feelings about the bible.

http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_ne/29/

I'm saying that I would be very wary of giving the power of the Presidency to someone whose first loyalty is to ANY institution other than the U. S. Constitution. And, I am very aware of how seriously mormons take their temple oaths. I am also aware of the power of Executive Orders.

I would be very wary of Giving the power of the presidency to nyone who did not believe in a higher power, specifically a Higher power that would judge him for his actions while in office.

JM.02

“Is there any point at all where you would consider religion a disqualifier?”

[Speaking for myself, no.]

I am glad you are able to vote for a Muslim for president, someone whose religion states all kafir should be enslaved or dead. It shows you have lost all faculty for reason since you don’t even have a basic sense of self preservation..

Read the verse again Color. Here, let me help.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

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