Lds Church Leaders' Political Affiliations

[Tacenda]

I just hope Obama will surprise many out there and do what's needed to get America on track for a bright future for it's citizens and the rest of the world. One can still hope no matter their affiliation.

Let's keep this discussion non-partisan please.

[thesometimesaint]

Here in San Bernardino County we have Menton Beach. It's 100 miles from the ocean.

[volgadon]

What is MOST IMPORTANT is not their politics but the crucial and character revealing choice of aligning with BYU or UofU football. That is the significant difference.

Behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

[Duncan]

Now, if someone came up with a list of musical groups listened to prior to the Brethren's calls to Apostlehood, now THAT would be eye opening! say for example Elder Dallin Oaks was a huge Beach Boys fan or Neil L. Anderson was spotted at a Neil Diamond concert

[tyler90az]

The only way party affiliation is a problem is if they are extreme loyalists. You can look at statements and see they are not. One that comes to mind is the statement they released on immigration a year or two ago. That was not a 'republican' statement.

You can also see that three of four new ga's don't show political affiliation. I take it they are trying to do away with their political affiliation being known. That is a good move and the way it should be.

Edited December 6, 2012 by tyler90az

[DavidB]

since when did political affiliations determine worthiness?

Never in my opinion, but there are those here who claim political affiliations do determine worthiness.

Edited December 6, 2012 by DavidB

[Mark Beesley]

Is it possible to fully sustain the Brethren while having a different political philosophy?

Absolutely. I've never adhered to a belief that any one of the Brethren is infallible. They can have erroneous and wrong-headed political ideas and still be faithful disciples of Christ.

[Vookman]

As we all know, party affiliation has next to nothing to do with what we believe. It tends to be a way to try and get our way on our own sacred cow issue, and we ignore the rest. Otherwise Christians would find it impossible to belong to a party that advocates killing unborn children or protecting the right to torture those who do violence to our country.

Incremental wins and incremetal affiliation.

[Freedom]

If I were an American, I would have voted for Obama. The Republican party needs to purge itself of the radical christian right and the best way to do this is to reduce their numbers. I think that as a new generation of leaders come up they will be more moderate in their political views. Most church members in my area support conservative parties, but I am finding people becoming more and more moderate. Despite our strong social programs and government regulations, we have one of the strongest economies in the world and the lowest debt ratios of any governments.

I see this more moderate view being reflected in the values of the local leaders; local leaders who will become regional and general leaders of the church.

[Pandorian]

As far as gospel issues, I can see how it can affect certain issues such as gay marriage, but as far as endorsing political candidates and parties, since the Church takes a neutral stance it shouldn't have much affect.

It does bug me though when some local leader takes the Ward Directory and uses it as a contact list to try and ring up votes for a certain candidate or Amway scheme

[thesometimesaint]

As far as gospel issues, I can see how it can affect certain issues such as gay marriage, but as far as endorsing political candidates and parties, since the Church takes a neutral stance it shouldn't have much affect.

It does bug me though when some local leader takes the Ward Directory and uses it as a contact list to try and ring up votes for a certain candidate or Amway scheme

IIRC that is a direct violation of Church Policy.

[bluebell]

As far as gospel issues, I can see how it can affect certain issues such as gay marriage, but as far as endorsing political candidates and parties, since the Church takes a neutral stance it shouldn't have much affect.

It does bug me though when some local leader takes the Ward Directory and uses it as a contact list to try and ring up votes for a certain candidate or Amway scheme

Next time that happens, call the stake president or bishop (depending on who's using it). It's forbidden to use ward directories for anything other than church stuff.

[Saints Alive]

Absolutely. I've never adhered to a belief that any one of the Brethren is infallible. They can have erroneous and wrong-headed political ideas and still be faithful disciples of Christ.

but apparently you adhere to the idea that 13 (and probably all 15) of them never pray about their political affiliation, because they are obviously in the wrong party right? I take it that is what you meant to say.

[Saints Alive]

The Republican party needs to purge itself of the radical christian right and the best way to do this is to reduce their numbers..

Even radical Christians have the right to representation, at least in America they do. I would rather have political parties formed to represent societies views on issues than parties that choose who has important views.

[thesometimesaint]

Big tent/small tent. If the tent gets small enough so they represent so few people the importance of their ideas is questionable. There is a reason there is no longer a Whig Party. Though undoubtedly some few still hold to some parts of that political ideology.

[rongo]

Now, if someone came up with a list of musical groups listened to prior to the Brethren's calls to Apostlehood, now THAT would be eye opening! say for example Elder Dallin Oaks was a huge Beach Boys fan or Neil L. Anderson was spotted at a Neil Diamond concert

They were all, unanimously, Donny and Marie fans. Big ones.

[canard78]

I don't think I have the energy to enter another LDS politics debate for third (no, fourth) time in as many weeks.

Simply put, we all have an independent right to give our vote to the party that we believe best represents our approach to life and the gospel. The church takes no stand on which party does that.

I attend an international ward. Lots of good, loving, American Democrats. I know there will be some who will shout 'cog-dis' at all non-Republicans. I guess 'judge not that ye be not judged' and all that.

[Saints Alive]

I know there will be some who will shout 'cog-dis' at all non-Republicans. I guess 'judge not that ye be not judged' and all that.

At least we know which political party the breatheren feel best represents the the gospel.

Edited December 6, 2012 by Saints Alive

[thesometimesaint]

That would be Jesus the Christ.

[Saints Alive]

That would be Jesus the Christ.

Right.

[TAO]

Does the political party of our General Authorities really matter? Let them be what they want.

[Saints Alive]

Does the political party of our General Authorities really matter? Let them be what they want.

It gives us a window into who they are and how they apply what the gospel teaches.

[DavidB]

Does the political party of our General Authorities really matter? Let them be what they want.

No it does not matter. A universal Church can not be defined or incapsulated into Americancentric shifting ideologies.

[Walden]

It gives us a window into who they are and how they apply what the gospel teaches.

You can't be serious. You can look into the window of one's soul by determining their political party affiliation? You must have some supernatural powers of discernment, but I call "hogwash!"

If Christ does exist , I'm not sure whether he'd chuckle or cringe at the significance that his children place on the very temporal, constantly evolving and completely man-made construct that is politics and/or political affiliation.

You do know that GOP stands for "grand old party" and not "God's only party", don't you?

[Freedom]

Even radical Christians have the right to representation, at least in America they do. I would rather have political parties formed to represent societies views on issues than parties that choose who has important views.

Yes, but they are not a group I do not want to affiliate with. The KKK should have representation as well, but I would not vote for any part that lent them an ear.