A Political Houston Texas Mailer... With A Spectacular Anti-Mormon Insert

[Matthew J. Tandy]

I wrote the following to my Bishopric a few minutes ago, and the underlying letter is good enough to share here:

Several people I know have recently received a mailer being sent out to registered Republicans and the Harris County populace in general. It has been put out by "The What's Up" radio show, a Christian broadcast on one of the local stations. The letter is titled "The Journal of Texas Conservative Politics" and is called "the Link". Terry Lowry is the responsible party and host.

While it initially seems to be political, standard stuff really, slipped into it on page 17 is a very non-satirical piece entitled Mormons and Women: Why Would Any Woman Vote For a Mormon?"

In it, we get bits such as:

"It is important to repeat that the female/wife will NOT be able to enter in to the Celestial Kingdom unless her husband calls her in to heaven. If he does not call her by her secret name, she will remain in the lower Mormon heavens or "degrees of glory" and will never be able to attain entrance into the Celestial Kingdom. As a further consequence, she will probably be separated from her earthly children in this imaginary hereafter as well. Again, this gives the male complete control over the wife's eternal destiny."

You can read it here: http://www.terrylowry.com/Pictures/ll/may2012.pdf

The actual piece is only one page, and excerpted from a book called "Can Mitt Romney Serve Two Masters". Because of my work addressing anti-Mormonism claims and publications from an academic point of view, I am very aware of Tricia, her book, and her history. That any part of her terribly reviewed book have shown up in a mailer going out to our friends and neighbors, is a bit surprising. Normally this kind of stuff is kept to the backwaters of certain ministries, but again, this is designed to initially appeal to conservatives on a non-religious basis. It has information about voting, sample voting cards, and more.

Will it be a big deal. Not likely. It's equally unlikely anything in particular should be done, though I have encouraged those who have approached me about it to write to the editor of it expressing their concerns over publishing salacious material, which is different than publishing about valid theological differences. Either way, I thought y'all might like to be aware of the article, have the chance to view it, etc, in case anyone brings it up.

As a side note, the picture of the sweet and adoring wife pleading, not to God, but to a grumpy looking man, is classic and nearly hysterical. I will be sure to remind Christina that we've been doing it wrong this whole time.;-)

I wish someone had told me this whole time that my wife had to serve me or be cast down forever, and that I can cast her away at the last moment once we get up to heaven. I totally could uses more back rubs...

[cdowis]

Anyone who could believe such nonsense probably would not be interested in the church, while others would be prompted to investigate. Such stuff is very helpful to the church because Christ's sheep will recognize His voice.

[Darren10]

Mathew;

As a side note, the picture of the sweet and adoring wife pleading, not to God, but to a grumpy looking man, is classic and nearly hysterical. I will be sure to remind Christina that we've been doing it wrong this whole time.;-)

I'd tell Mrs. Darren the same except if I did she'd punch in in the arm.

(Dang, I love that woman.)

I agree this emailer is not going to be very effective. I think in part because within all the "anti-Mormon" rhetoric put forth, there is a very consistant presence of replies saying tothe affect that "Mormons are good people" and followued up with a quick "I know some mormons and they live very good lives..." The good works emphasized by the Savior reflects in the general outlok upon Mormons. Inthis case I think the general consensus is that Mormons are god family people and dominating over a wife is not part of the good family character Mormons are known for.

Besides, I tell people that we Mormon men behave for our women for we know too well that they can and will kick our butts when we get out of line.

[Darren10]

Anyone who could believe such nonsense probably would not be interested in the church, while others would be prompted to investigate. Such stuff is very helpful to the church because Christ's sheep will recognize His voice.

From my political blogging, I've known people speak of Lowry and not to highly. I, however, did not know he'd be this ignorant in misrepresenting the LDS Church and its doctrines.

Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

That is 1 Corinthians 11:11 and this passage of scripture is arguably held up higher in estimation by LDS theology than that of all other Christian theologies.

Edited May 26, 2012 by Darren10

[volgadon]

I think the general consensus is that Mormons are god family people

Freudian slip?

[Buzzard]

Interesting that one of the articles in the flyer is authored by Phylis Schafly, who, if my memory does not fail me, is a Mormon woman. Wonder how she felt about her voice being added to this particular collection of literature.

[thesometimesaint]

Interesting that one of the articles in the flyer is authored by Phylis Schafly, who, if my memory does not fail me, is a Mormon woman. Wonder how she felt about her voice being added to this particular collection of literature.

Politics makes for very strange bedfellows.

[Robert F. Smith]

Interesting that one of the articles in the flyer is authored by Phylis Schafly, who, if my memory does not fail me, is a Mormon woman. Wonder how she felt about her voice being added to this particular collection of literature.

Phyllis Schlafly (a lawyer) is a Roman Catholic from St. Louis.

[Buzzard]

Phyllis Schlafly (a lawyer) is a Roman Catholic from St. Louis.

My apologies. I confused her with Gayle Ruzicka. Both are conservative women who are involved with Eagle Forum and have somewhat unusual last names. But I stand humble corrected.

[Darren10]

Freudian slip?

LOL!

It should be "good families".

[KevinG]

I'm expecting a few shocked men to put forth their hands through the veil and call their brides who say "no thanks - he was a faithless jerk in life".

[BCSpace]

I suppose Santorum will still be on the ballot in Texas. What about that former Louisiana governor Buddy Roemer? He was still on the ballot in our state but by then had withdrawn from the Republican party to join the Reform party.

I predict this group will vote for Romney in droves come November. It will be interesting to watch this though. Heavily evangelical Kentucky very recently gave Santorum only 12% of the GOP vote and Romney more than 60%. I think there is still strong feeling that even though Romney is the presumptive nominee, people are still voting for whom they would have prefered even though they will support Romney in the national election.