I'm a practicing Mormon. I'm also a registered Democrat, which really puts me in the minority. However, it also demonstrates that the LDS church belongs to neither political party, nor does the church dictate to its members what to believe. In fact, the church has always taken a strictly neutral political stance, the most obvious reason being it would lose its tax-exempt status. While congregations are always encouraged to vote, participate in local government, and volunteer in civic affairs, the church leadership does not endorse a particular candidate or viewpoint. The only exception that I'm aware of was in 2000 when the church president, Gordon Hinckley, urged California mormons to vote for the referendum against same-sex marriage. But I and many other mormons disagree with Hinckley on this issue, which we are free to do without any repercussions. In church we talk a lot about being a "quiet example" to non-Mormons in our actions. Usually this inolves mundane things like helping someone with a flat tire or volunteering at the library. While some of us are zealous in sharing our beliefs with others, most of us keep quiet about it. This is partly because mormonism is so mysterious to most people, and partly because religion just isn't discusssed much in public.

Generally, mormons are quite socially conservative. Most of my mormon friends believe in the right to bear arms, that this is a Christian nation that has been hijacked by godless liberals, that abortion should be outlawed and gay marriage is wrong. They put priority on the family -- which means they don't let their kids watch R-rated movies and discourage drug abuse, not that they support healthcare for children or more child-care for working moms. They watch Fox News and love Rush Limbaugh.

However, I don't think Romney would champion social conservative issues if elected. Judging from his famously shifting views on gun control, universal healthcare, gay rights, same-sex marriage, and abortion, it seems Romney doesn't really have strong feelings either way. He appears to be a CEO-style candidate, who will say and do what is expedient to get the job done. He appears to be first and foremost a businessman, not a Mormon beholden to Salt Lake City.

fryde67's comment about an "oath" to the church is ludicrous. While it is true that faithful members do pledge to give their time, talents and energy to the LDS church (not on pain of death), that is as broad as leaders pledging to uphold the Constitution. Bush, Pelosi, Scalia, Waxman -- all believe they uphold the Constitution with their actions. There's lots of wiggle room there. Come on: Romney is a multi-millionaire who gives most of his time now to campaigning -- he doesn't spend much time devoted to his current job as governor, let alone give it to the church. No one expects him to donate even half his wealth to the church.

Regarding religious issues, I think President Romney would be even less interested than Bush in "faith-based initiatives" and opening the door to the Christian right. So far he hasn't worn his religion on his sleeve -- indeed, it seems reporters bring it up, not him. Mormons today are trying to shed the insular, exclusive culture that used to exist and become more involved in our communities as ordinary citizens with individual views. I think Romney is that kind of mormon.

Hear, Hear. I am a lifelong member of the LDS faith and have within my own family very diverse political views. Never in 35 years of active attendance have I ever been coerced into making a so called 'blood oath' or know anyone who has. It's pure poppycock! I'm not astonished at the disinformation being disseminated here. It's just another in a long line of bashers who think they 'understand' the Mormons. I am, however, astonished that an evangelical is beginning to find the common ground between the faiths rather than dwelling on the minor bits of diversity.

Really.

The whole becoming a God & producing "Spirit babies" for eternity thing is just a bit odd, don't you think?

So, are there many "Gods" or just one God ( who, according to Bush, we all pray to) and one Jesus?

If there is only one Jesus, do the people on all those other Mormon planets pray to the Earthly Jesus, or does he go there & die & get resurrected over and over again?

Seems like a really, really terrible gig. Seriously.

We look at God as our Heavenly Father and just like earthly fathers want the best for their children, so our Heavenly Father wants the best for us. As we see it, that means we have the potential to become like him. It will take some time as we have a long ways to go. Since we believe in life after death, we will have the eternities to work on it.

For reasons that suit Heavenly Father, we only pray to him asking for what we need in the name of Jesus Christ. HE answers prayers according to HIS wisdom which is not always in a manner we might think.

There is only one Jesus Christ according to the Bible. If there are other people on other planets, one might speculate Heavenly Father has arranged something for them but HE has not told us about it. We are told Jesus knew what he was getting into when he volunteered to be our Savior. He does it because he loves us. How many times have you read stories of people who die trying to save someone trapped in a mine or drowned while rescuing a swimmer? In much the same way, Jesus was/is willing to give his life to save us. I think that is wonderful.

Seriously

Do you remember Former "prophet" Ezra Taft Benson's exhortations from the pulpit (before becoming "prophet", but still as a church leader) that Mormons could not be Democtrats and good Mormons.

Perhps you have never lived in Utah, but I attended BYU there, and lived there for a chunk of years before I was finally freed from the Mormon cult.

While I was still a believing and practicing Mormon, I was told, from the pulpit, during Sacrament Meeting to vote against a particular proposition! Explicitly!!!!!

I walked out of Sacrament Meeting in disgust--because I have always believed in separation of CHurch and State.

Unfortunately it took me anohter year or two to walk out of the cult alogether.

Mormons preach separation between Church and State but do not really teach it, or live it .

It is clear to anyone who has ever lived in Utah that the state is pretty much run by the Church.

Furthermore, MOrmons believe that "when Christ comes again" he will administer the governement of the world--through the Mormon Church, of course!!!! The response I have heard is that "If God is doing it it will be perfect".

I'd like to CHOOSE my version of perfect--not have it forced on me by a Mormon dictator.

I will never believe that a Mormon president could be ANYTHING but a puppet for Salt Lake City. Severly brainwashed, cult programmed people are virtually incapable of thinking for themselves. I believe that Utah has already established a nice theocracy, and there is no reason to believe that it would be any less tyrranical if their power was expanded to include the Executive Office..