Why Utah Mormons' distaste for Trump could turn a red state reluctantly blue

The aversion to Donald Trump is so strong among Utah Mormons that if the Republican frontrunner secures the party’s presidential nomination, it could produce a general election outcome that has not happened in half a century: the state could go blue.

“The Bible says if you’ve got a wicked leader, the nation suffers,” said Chris Herrod, a former Utah state representative and a Utah campaign coordinator for Ted Cruz. “I’m not saying Donald Trump is wicked, but for most Utahns, the moral character of a leader makes a big difference.”

At the state’s high-stakes GOP caucuses on Tuesday, political experts say many conservative Mormon voters like Herrod will be motivated by their distaste for the real estate billionaire’s vulgar style, bombastic comments and outlandish anti-immigration policies – fueling an “anyone-but-Trump” mentality that has spread across the political spectrum in the very red state.

A new Deseret News/KSL poll found Trump would lose to Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in Utah, while Kasich or Cruz would both win the state by sizeable margins against either Democrat.

Not me. I have family that are Mormons, grew up in an area with Mormons, live in an area now with Mormons. I found it is just better for me to get along with them if I don’t go there. I was working on genealogy years ago and because I cook and sew my Mormon brother-in-law told me I would be a good Mormon...he has no idea how I feel about the religion.

I do respect the way of life Mormons support- hard work, close family ties, helping those in need, being self sufficient, thrifty. I was raised that way myself, their religious beliefs, no can do. I have been close enough to have them tell me things without the caution they usually do with non Mormons...nope, no can do.

I would rather not, but most things they consider important in their religion is done away from non Mormons for good reason, if you are not raised with it I don’t understand how you could accept it. My sister married a Mormon and seemed to do fine, but I sure couldn’t.

The thing that still gets me now several years after my sister passed away is there were basically two funeral services for her. A public one for family and coworkers that are not Mormon and another ceremony of some sort at the temple. I just feel if something has to be a secret from someone’s family even after their death it doesn’t sit right with me. I as her sister could not go to her Mormon service- whatever it was.

The only way to keep a family together is if all are Mormon and all are in good standing.

Or...

...if all are Mormon and all are NOT in good standing.

(They just be on Level Two.)

Heck; the don't even HAVE to be Mormon; for they'll STILL end up on Level Two!

HEAVEN-The Mormon church teaches there are three levels of heaven (three "degrees of glory"):

Celestial - for Mormons who have kept ALL of the laws and ordinances of their church.

Terrestrial - for religious people who aren't Mormons and for Mormons who have not met the requirements of the Church.

Telestial - where unbelievers go

HELL: A place of torment from which the worst of sinners are resurrected (if they repent) into the Telestial kingdom; only a limited number remain in hell forever, - the devil and the demons and apostates who consciously reject and work against Mormonism.

SALVATION: A word that Mormons qualify in one of three ways: unconditional or general salvation is simply resurrection from the dead, granted to all through Christ's atonement; conditional or individual salvation involves entering the celestial kingdom through works of Mormonism; full salvation means exaltation to become a God as a result of temple ceremonies and other works. The word 'salvation' can have a two-fold meaning: a) forgiveness of sins and b) universal resurrection:

"There will be a General Salvation for all in the sense in which that term is generally used, but salvation, meaning resurrection, is not exaltation" (Stephen L. Richards, Contributions of Joseph Smith, LDS tract, p.5).
"All men are saved by grace alone without any act on their part, meaning they are resurrected" (Bruce McConkie, What Mormons Think of Christ", LDS tract, p.28).

The Mormons have several different levels of "salvation".

General salvation- in Mormon theology, the death of Christ ransoms men from the effects of the fall (Mormon Doctrine, p.62), except for a few sons of perdition who fell with Lucifer. Thus, all mankind will eventually receive general salvation because all men will be resurrected.
Individual salvation - to obtain individual salvation, the standards set forth by the Mormon church must be met. This comes by grace plus baptism plus works.
Exaltation - different degrees of exaltation
Eternal life on the other hand is reserved for the elite few who qualify and are found worthy of this "honor" or "reward" and who will move on to be "exalted." This salvation is in fact the personal "exaltation" or the fast track of the "eternal progression" process in attaining your own self-made status of godhood in order to people your own planet.

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Attention Mormons that I aggravate on FR...