Every year at election time, the LDS Church sends out an official letter stating that the LDS Church does not support any particular political party. Recently, a letter noted that both parties contained elements in their platforms that were consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I am sad to report that message has been ignored.
Since the last election, Utah Mormons who are Democrats have faced increasingly vicious verbal attacks in their wards and in their neighborhoods. Those of us who were openly involved in the campaign have been called "socialists" and "terrorists." Our Christianity and patriotism have been questioned by ward members. We have been snubbed and sneered at. We have been forced to listen to political diatribes against the president of the United States in our auxiliary meetings and testimony meetings. Racial jokes are being told in church foyers.
These attacks are especially hurtful since they come from people who have been our friends for many years. These are people we brought meals to when they were sick, whose children we drove to school, and whom we served with on ward committees and in school PTAs. We sat down together at potluck dinners and ice cream socials together.
Now we are being shunned. Some of us have even stopped going to church. We don't feel like we should have to defend our political beliefs every time we step through the church doors. We don't want to argue with ward members who spout lines from Rush Limbaugh in our church classrooms. Our bishops are trying to calm things down but they aren't having much luck.
There are tough times ahead. We need to come together. During the Great Depression, it was the LDS Church that set an example for the rest of the country, creating a generous and great-hearted welfare system that served as a model for the rest of the nation. Perhaps this time we could be the first in the nation to find a way to mend our political divisions. The entire country needs guidance.
Dynette Reynolds of Ogden is an adjunct teacher of history at Weber State University.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
OpEd: Too Many LDS are shunning Democrats
From the DesNews:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Amen! Ben gets it at work too. People need to learn that you don't talk politics with friends or at church.
Well, I do think that many democrats are socialists. That said, I also think most republicans are socialists too.
Republicans and democrats that fight are like the pot calling the kettle black. Yes, both parties have elements in their platforms that are in line with the church's teachings, but both parties also have leadership and candidates that are like the Gadiantons the book of mormon warns us about.
I was a republican, then I was a democrat. Now I'm a libertarian.
Both major parties are doing a great job of destroying this country. both parties maintain a line of "Lets beat the other guys because they're bad bad people". There isn't any useful discussion in either of these parties as it has become obvious that they have both resorted to better marketing to get people to join their causes.
The best lie both parties tell us? "If you leave us you'll be unable to change things."
I would rather be powerless than be guilty of supporting both parties and those that lead them.
Well let's call a spade a spade here, here are some words from President Benson:
“Many are now advocating that which has become a general practice since the early 1930s: a redistribution of wealth through the federal tax system. That, by definition, is socialism!”
So if you support Obama's tax plan you are in fact supporting socialism. Why would the church support political parties? They are created by men and are corrupt, that doesn't mean church leadership condones socialism! If you're offended at church maybe you need to look at yourself before pointing the finger at others.
Funny -- Bush led the charge of socialism.
Post a Comment