03.02.10
Just because I’m Mormon doesn’t mean I’m Republican too.
I have long been uncomfortable with people knowing much about how I think politically. If I put a bumper sticker on my car and park in the church parking lot that means all the people I associate with are going to know that I am not like them. You would think that doesn’t matter. But to Mormons, politics are a sign of your worthiness to be in active in the church. Not really, but it often feels that way.
Let me feel accepted and valued even though I didn’t vote for your candidate. Let me go into a meeting and not hear the current administration being bashed. I am tired of the vitriol and tired of just sitting back when I hear how evil the current administration is. I am tired of people hearing rumors that are not true and spreading them as if they are true. Please can we keep politics out of church?
In the church we are careful to not offend other churches and we often say, that all churches do much good in the world. Can’t we do the same for political parties and instead of deciding that they are a bunch of “Gadianton robbers” decide that there are many good people in all political parties and they want the same things that we all want, a peaceful world with protection for our most vulnerable citizens.
So don’t assume that we all subscribe to the same political beliefs. Be careful in church not to make political statements even in jest. Though I have a good sense of humor, I feel like I have been under attack since my president took office.
Dale W. said,
March 2, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Amen. I’ve never heard anything over the pulpit telling us how to lean politically. Well, Ezra Taft Benson, early in his years as an apostle, said that it was inconsistent to be an active Mormon and a Democrat. He never said anything after he became Prophet. I used to be really far to the right, but I’ve repented and moved to the center, or perhaps, slightly left of center.