LDS Church says it is careful to avoid crossing lines with Romney in race

[trailmonkee]

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune

-snip-

"LDS public affairs specialist" Mark Severts last month emailed dozens of southern Nevada stake presidents, each of whom oversees several LDS congregations, encouraging a get-out-the-vote drive for members and saying that those interested should contact Ron and Judy Tobler, according to Jon Ralston, an independent Nevada journalist who formerly worked for the Las Vegas Sun.

-snip-

It was unclear Monday if Severts was a church employee or volunteer. He lists his job on social media profiles as communications director for NV Energy but the faith does at times enlist local members for public relations work.

-snip-

The LDS Church on Monday dismissed concerns that it was helping Romney, reiterating its neutral stand in the race.

-snip-

That’s why it sparked concern among some when the email to local church leaders in Mormon-rich southern Nevada from Severts included a PowerPoint presentation suggested for use in Sunday worship sessions or a special event. Nevada is seen as swing state in the race between Republican Romney and Democratic President Barack Obama.

"You will note that this PowerPoint touches on both encouraging members to vote, as well as helping prepare them for difficult questions posed by their friends, work associates, neighbors, etc.," Severts wrote, according to Ralston, who first reported the message.

"Enclosed is a possible voting registration announcement that can be used or modified to meet your needs," Severts wrote. "You will note that it is formatted to be duplicated as a standard ward bulletin insert (front and back) that can be used to remind members of their responsibility and process to register to vote AND as a teaser for the type of responses to tough questions they can get answered from Mormonism 101."


Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/54868744-90/church-lds-romney-members.html.csp

---

I always feel a little uncomfortable bringing up the LDS aspect of the race... but considering what went on in 08' with evangelical churches crossing the line, as well as the whole Prop 8 thing... I think it is very appropriate to shed some light on what is happening in Utah.

[unblock]

1. for some reason the subject line made me think of ghostbusters....

[trailmonkee]

2. hmmm... are you also craving cheetos?

just a thought

give me a few minutes and I might agree...

[drm604]

3. Don't cross the streams!

[xocet]

4. "...total Mormonic reversal..." n/t

[Raster]

5. Don't believe it for one minute....

"The LDS Church on Monday dismissed concerns that it was helping Romney, reiterating its neutral stand in the race."

Officially and on the surface, the church is proclaiming their neutrality. I recall the Prop H8 campaign. Mormon and neutral are two words that usually don't play well together.

Rmoney is viewed by some mormons, as "The Great White Hope" answering both the "White Horse Prophecy" and ultimately lending credibility to the church.

I remain skeptical.

[Javaman]

30. +1000.

they get a huge, let me say that again, HUGE amount of money from mitten's via tithing. They are full of it.

They are being told to shut up and be quiet by mittens.

[msongs]

6. does the phrase "laundering money" ring any bells? nt

[Firebrand Gary]

7. I'd bet the vast majority of those volunteers ARE from the Mormon temple. 2008 tells us so.

So glad to see your quote at the bottom of this post. Discussing faith is difficult as many people have biased opinions, that said facts are facts. It is a fact that the Mormon church drove the 2008 California proposition 8.

Here is a very interesting take on it.

Mormons do believe this is their moment in time. They're very excited about it.
–Abby Huntsman http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=21840584

People can come to their own conclusions... Is the Mormon church supplying the Romney campaign with volunteers? Does a bear shit in the woods?

OF COURSE THEY ARE, they have been knocking on doors for hundreds of years!

[progressivebydesign]

18. I'd also guess that those tour buses aren't filled with new Romney supporters, either. nt

[thelordofhell]

8. So how to they explain their ".....and I'm a Mormon" ads

They started with that blitz around the beginning of the republican primaries

[davidpdx]

22. Exactly

They did a hardcore PR blitz right around the time Romney began this cycle.

[Blue_Tires]

29. fwiw, I think those ads were around at least a year or two before...

[braddy]

47. Remember that Mitt's meeting with the Prophet for permission to run for president, was in 2005.

[russspeakeasy]

9. Bullshit. They will cross any line, at any time to achieve

their goal.

[SoapBox]

10. We won't cross any lines! *Wink, Wink...Nod, Nod...Smile*

Like others, I call bullshit.

They will be playing "telephone" to get their Wants, Needs and Desire communicated to the "Bishop".

[VPStoltz]

11. Better watch out or they'll get in there and convert everyone to Republicons.

[Wellstone ruled]

12. LD$ church will bus tons

of their faithful to any rally concerning a GOP candidate. These folks are liars of the first degree. Not taking sides,my ass,all the steeple people are hypocrites to the core. When Willard goes to Vegas,there is a caravan on I-15 from the Utah border to Vegas,mostly the sheeple from St George.


Blissful Ignorance on it's way.

[siligut]

13. The most dishonest people I have ever met were Mormons

Horrible people, and then there were the honest, hard-working Mormons who covered for them. They have this rule, it is to avoid the appearance of evil. Not avoid evil, just don't appear evil.

They don't have to say vote for Romney, it is a given.

[Joe Bacon]

24. Harry Reid?

Not all Mormons are hell bent on pushing a bigoted agenda.

[siligut]

32. Did you read the whole post?

Read my words after the first comma. The very likable, honest, clean-living Mormons tend to cover for the dishonest ones. The past impression people had of Mormons was that they were a little strange, but clean-living, honest and organized. Mitt's public exposure is changing that.

I lived in Utah and the likable ones were among the most likable people I have met. However, some Mormons, what I saw, what I learned, made me miserable and angry. I also spoke with others, non-Mormons and ex-Mormons who share my opinion and there are business people who refuse to do business with Mormon companies because of their practices.

I know not all Mormons are hell-bent on the old ways, but I also know that Mormons are obedient to authority and that authority is not to be trusted, not one iota. If you give an inch, they will try to steal the rest. I feel sad for the good Mormons, they are not seeing the whole picture.

[joeglow3]

35. Stereotypes and prejudices fucking rock!!!!!

Isn't it awesome, when it is about OTHER people?

[siligut]

38. I know you don't really mean that

You don't seriously believe prejudiced and stereotyping are positive practices; do you?

[joeglow3]

39. No, I do not.

I am referring to when people here indict an entire group of people with no basis in fact. Honestly, I know a handful of mormons and they are most likely the most respectful, caring, family-focused people I know. However, I would never assume that is the case with all mormons. However, someone here has apparently run into the opposite. All the mormons they know are terrible people and they have no concern with claiming all mormons are like that.

I personally, choose to judge each person individually.

[siligut]

40. I learned about Mormons while in Utah, and I understand that they tend to be the extreme Mormons

And that was my experience, they were either lovely people, very likable and productive, or they were deceitful, manipulative, selfish and cruel. You knew the one kind, "Honestly, I know a handful of mormons and they are most likely the most respectful, caring, family-focused people I know", I knew both.

[joeglow3]

41. I can honestly say I only know 2 mormon families well

I certainly cannot claim to know a reasonable cross section.

[LanternWaste]

43. I imagine that applies to any organization of like-minded humans drawn together over imaginary...

I imagine that applies to any organization of like-minded humans drawn together over imaginary constructs, whether that construct be one of religion, one of patriotism, one of philosophy, or, the most dramatic example of all (in my opinion, anyways), that imaginary social construct that appears nowhere on the planet but our own imaginations, national borders.

I too had experiences with "deceitful, manipulative, selfish and cruel" Americans/Stoics/Democrats/Union Members/etc. as well as "lovely people, very likable and productive" members of those same organizations.

However, in the end, we'll often find ourselves laughing at the imaginary constructs of someone else, whilst aggressively defending those imaginary constructs that we allow to dictate to ourselves via traditions, cultures, etc.

[murielm99]

14. Any time I try to bring up the fundies or the Mormons

crossing the line, some smartass tells me that black churches advocate and GOTV for Democrats all the time.

Do some smart DUers have good answers for that? I'm not one of those people who can come up with quick answers in the grocery store check out lines or off the top of my head. I really would like some answers for this.

[eggplant]

16. When black churches do it, it is for the benefit of their parishoners (more/better social programs).

When the LDS does it, it is for the benefit of the church.

[Nihil]

25. Bigotry isn't a one-way street is it?

Or is this simply the "more subtle" exceptionalism that we're getting used to:

"When Iran killed Iraqis, it was bad. When the USA did it, it was good."

"When Bush supported Wall Street, it was bad. When Obama did it, it was good."


The answer is not to be hypocritical: It doesn't matter WHO is doing the wrong thing, it is STILL WRONG.

[Blue Idaho]

15. Romney is the Church, The Church is Romney.

It couldn't be simpler.

[Angry Dragon]

17. I do not trust Romney, I do not trust the Mormon church

[progressivebydesign]

19. And what do they call that utterly transparent "I am a Mormon" PR campaign during the Primaries?

They're SO in this... just like the Olympics, and everything else Romney touches. It's like one big religious ponzi scheme.

[FreeState]

21. You know that campaign has been running for years right?

Seriously, the Mormon Church has been running these types of commercials since the 80s. The Im A Mormon ads started right after Prop 8 passed.

Edit to add link:

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/new-advertising-approach-continues-30-year-tradition-full-story

COMMENTARY — 26 OCTOBER 2007
New Advertising Approach Continues 30-Year Tradition
Thirty-some years ago, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began airing public service radio and television spots in support of the family. Highly creative, thought-provoking and often with a touch of humor, the spots were an immediate success.

A string of national broadcasting awards followed, and the “Homefront” series, as it was called, dominated public service advertising for decades. Nondenominational and identifying the Church only in the closing sign-off, the spots aired not only in the United States but also in other countries where broadcasters allowed them.

Although Homefront ads can still be seen, the Church scaled back the number of spots in the 1990s as broadcasting regulations changed and TV and radio stations began to cut back on public service airtime. In their place came a succession of creative ads that shared the principles and tenets of the Church and were designed to contribute to its missionary outreach. Usually, the new generation of ads offered a copy of the Bible, the Book of Mormon or other materials to people interested in knowing more about the Church. Literally millions of Americans responded.

Today, the Church is announcing details of its new generation of broadcast and print advertising, which invites people to visit one of the Church’s Web sites for answers to basic questions about religion. The advertisements are now being tested in three U.S. regions — upstate New York, the Kansas City area and the region around Las Vegas.....

[joeglow3]

37. You realize you sound like the lady here who thought missionaries were "utterly transparent"

as part of the church's plan to campaign for Romney in swing states?

Sorry, but this is a losing issue for us (outside of DU itself).

[defacto7]

20. I've said all I can say on the subject of Mormonism...

In a nutshell....

Don't trust the Mormon Church. They have more clandestine money and power and control in "places" than could be written as fiction. And it's not fiction.

[Raster]

33. I was born and raised in the church and now consider myself a recovered mormon...

...I grew up in Southeastern Arizona - the other Utah.

You speak VOLUMES OF TRUTH:

Don't trust the Mormon Church. They have more clandestine money and power and control in "places" than could be written as fiction. And it's not fiction.

No, it is not. The "church" of scientology ain't got NOTHING on the mormons.

[marshall]

42. When will they start killing people for making insulting movies about Joseph Smith?

I'm still watching for that to begin happening.

[Occulus]

44. As with christians, mormons will do so when they think they can get away with it.

See: homosexuals, Uganda.

[marshall]

45. That's true of most humans, unfortunately

Too many folks lack an inner conscience, and if they can get away with something, they will. Whether it be stealing, lying, cheating, or killing.

[Hubert Flottz]

23. Tax the bastids!

[byeya]

26. Bull! And like was said, Make them pay taxes on their non cult activities

[2pooped2pop]

27. watch out Christians

the Mormons are planning a take over. White Horse Prophecy

[get the red out]

28. Just another Republican Religion PAC

Allowed to break the law as flagrantly as they please and still be tax exempt. What else is new?

[Overseas]

31. K&R.

[closeupready]

34. Don't believe this for a single solitary second.

They are as involved as they can possibly be.

[brooklynite]

36. Well, of course...that's what the Catholic Church is for.

[Odin2005]

46. They already crossed the line with Prop. H8.