Jul

7

This year, 2008, the American people will choose their new president. Mitt Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon or LDS Church), was among the candidates of the Republican party for a while. However, even if he was one of the best candidates, the fact that he was a Mormon clearly created a strong opposition even in the republican party.

It is unfortunate that prejudice against the Mormon Church is still so strong in America. However, it was a lot worse in the past.

I was reading an interesting book by Arnold K. Garr, Joseph Smith: Presidential candidate.

Joseph Smith

Why did Joseph Smith decided to be a candidate in the 1844 presidential election? It is hard to believe that he thought he could win the election, but he was not a frivolous candidate.

Joseph Smith said on February 8, 1844:

I would not have suffered my name to have been used by my friends on anywise as President of the United States, or candidade for that office, if I and my friend could have had the privilege of enjoying our religious and civil rights as American citizens…But this as a people we have been denied from the beginning. Persecution has rolled upon our heads from time to time…. because of our religion; and no portion of the government as yet stepped forward for our relief. And in view of these things, I feel it to be my right and privilege to obtain what influence and power I can, lawfully, in the United States, for the protection of injured innocence.

Clearly, Joseph Smith was trying to gain as much influence as possible to protect his people, even if he probably knew that he could not become president. In fact, he even speculated that he could be killed because of his campaign.

Joseph Smith’s platform was contained in a pamphlet titled General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States.

Among other interesting ideas, he proposed the abolition of slavery by the year 1850. His solution to the problem was to

pay every man a reasonable price for his slaves out of the surplus revenue arising from the sale of public land, and from the deduction of pay from members of Congress. Break off the shackles from the poor black man, and hire them to labor like other human beings

Was this solution economically impractical? According to Dr. Garr

…the way that ultimately the United States settled the slavery issue was through civil war – a conflict that cost more than fifteen billion dollars and more than 600,000 lives….a conflict that left the South in economic ruin and implanted bitterness and hatred in the hearts of millions…In retrospect, it would seem that Joseph Smith’s solution to the slavery was more sensible than Civil War.

Joseph Smith was killed on June 27, 1844 and obviously he never became president. The American people could not find a better solution to slavery and it went through a terrible Civil War.

I can’t avoid thinking how different could have been U.S. history if the American people has listened to Joseph Smith’s counsel.

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Mar

24

I am not an American citizen so that I can’t vote in the presidential elections. However, I am still curious and more than curious to see who the American people will choose as their president.

Being a members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also know as the Mormon Church I could not avoid being interested in the possibility of Mitt Romney become the President of the United States. The Mormon Church is in favor of a complete separation between churches and the state and it will never influence a political campaign, but individual members of the church have the duty to participate in the public life of this nation in many ways, including voting or running for public offices.

In Utah most votes go to the Republican party, but Mormons are free to vote for men and women in both parties. Probably the most prominent Mormon politician, at least in terms of office held, is currently Harry Reid, who is the U.S. Senate Majority Leader and is a democrat.

Since the beginning of the campaign, however, I could clearly realize that being a Mormon can be tolerated in a U.S. Senate Majority Leader or in a governor, but not in a U.S. President.

I noticed how parts of the Evangelical world was in strong opposition to Mitt Romney, in spite of he being aligned with many of their ideals, and without the support of the Evangelicals, it is almost impossible to obtain the nomination in the Republican party. I wonder now if they are happy with Senator John McCain, who seems to me farther removed from their ideals.

In short, it seem clear that Americans, in 2008, is not ready for a Mormon president. On the other hand, they may be ready for a woman or an African-American. This is absolutely a good sign, and I hope that in a few more years they will be ready to accept the possibility of having a Mormon for president, focusing on his or her virtues and ideals, and not on their fears and bias.

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May

29

The Rev. Al Sharpton toured Mormon facilities last Monday and dined privately with Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — the second-highest governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Al Sharpton received some criticism a few weeks ago for his remarks about Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Sharpton, is a Pentecostal minister who recently urged the firing of Don Imus after the radio host’s racially insensitive remarks. Sharpton said that his comments about the Mormon Church were taken out of context and he immediately called the Mormon Church to apologize.

“He’s simply here to learn more about us,” church spokesman Mike Otterson said of Sharpton’s visit. “We want him to know what the church does, what its work is.”

Talking to reporters after his tour, Sharpton said his visit was an effort to find “common ground” and “things we should know about each other that we did not know and areas, possibly, we can work together for the betterment of humanity.”

I am sure that Rev. Sharpton will be more careful in the future when commenting about the Mormon Church. Now he knows better!

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