Is the Mormon Card Played Out Yet?

May 30, 2007
2:28 p.m.

By: Joshuah Ellis

As very few people know, Mitt Romney, a Republican from Mass. is campaigning for a presidential nomination. It does seem, however, that the people who have heard of him are obsessed with one fact about him. He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yes, that is correct. He is a Mormon. The reason that this type of media attention is so irksome to me is because the more important issues are being overlooked do to this pseudo-obsession of imagining our country with a Mormon president. Recent studies have shown that 30% of the public would be less likely to support a Mormon candidate based on that fact alone.

According to Pew Forum, many misconceptions about the Mormon religion may have to be clarified when considering a Mormon candidate like Romney. ''Asked by Gallup in February what came to mind when thinking about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest number of those surveyed (18%) named polygamy, a practice the church officially discontinued in 1890.''Keep in mind that 30% percent of the people who were asked stated that they would be less likely to support a Mormon candidate based on that fact ALONE. It is saddening to me that so many people would be so inclined to base such an important decision on such faulty information. Is it not obvious that we should determine the best candidate for the presidency based on the issues that truly matter?

Before we get into that, however, I feel it necessary to clear up a few things. Though I am a supporter of Romney for his views on such issues as abortion and gay marriage (if there is such a thing), I do not agree with the doctrines of the Mormon Church. Most Mormons, if not all, believe that Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, was a prophet. It is taught by Mormons that Joseph Smith received a vision at the age of fourteen in which God told him that all churches were corrupt. Also, 3 years later, Smith received another vision in which was revealed ''the fullness of the Gospel'' by the angel Moroni, which would later be the doctrines of the Mormon faith. Mormons today use more than the Bible as scripture and consider these other sources to be ''the word of God'' This is a problem for several reasons. First, Paul wrote that the Bible was complete and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This abolishes any need for further revelation of doctrine. Also, Paul wrote that even if an angel from heaven should preach another gospel, he should be accursed (Galatians 1:8). These, though very serious, are just a few of the problems with the beliefs of the Mormon Church.

Regarding Romney and the obstacles he is facing with his campaign, why do 30% of the public seem more concerned with the fact that he is a Mormon than with the issues which are relevant to his potential presidency? Why are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, (two candidates who both support abortion, stem cell research and granting ''civil unions'' to homosexuals) so popular compared to Romney simply because he is a Mormon. It is ludicrous. Especially when Romney is in favor of upholding strong morals regarding the issues like gay marriage, abortion, and stem cell research.

Again, it makes no sense whatsoever to support or refuse to support a candidate based on hearsay and faulty information. It is our responsibility, as the American people, to know the issues, know the candidates and then take advantage of our God given gift of a democratic process (Romans 13:1).

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