Calling of Political Specialists

[HappyJackWagon]

3 hours ago, nuclearfuels said:

Whoa. The Trib is once again questioning everything the Church does.  

I need a breather to overcome the surprise first.

I too share thr Trib's fear that the majority of LDS people in UT will vote for the GOP until their Theocracy is instituted.

What can I do to avoid this terribel outcome?

Vote, campaign and contribute to socialists perhaps?

Aw, now I feel better

You completely avoided discussing the idea behind the post in favor of mockery. Well done! Your post was very funny, cute, lame, meaningless.

[Bernard Gui]

On 5/14/2019 at 7:29 AM, HappyJackWagon said:

This seems like a bad idea.

We get fairly heavy messaging in church (unofficially) in Elders Quorum and Sunday School that is generally supportive of GOP politics and sometimes even mockery at Democratic politics and candidates, despite the church's official stance of neutrality.

Assigning people to help others become more politically active seems like a disaster waiting to happen. If a hardcore Republican is assigned to help others be politically neutral, is it possible that personal feelings of politics could bleed in? What if it were a democrat?

My preference would be for the church to continue to make it's statements of neutrality, and do what it can to enforce that neutrality (ie not allowing overtly political talks, lessons, statements made at church to stand without reminder of neutrality).

Like the story suggests, this kind of initiative to help people become politically active has a potential for hard feelings, and the pushing of certain agendas.

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/05/14/lds-church-is-assigning/?fbclid=IwAR3_75HmfHr-mJNxA9NlJU_e440TyC1Atr8C3ruZZN5sAxmTEr47Kj7JS8Q

Unfortunately, every aspect of our lives has been politicized. Education, sports, entertainment, religion, health care....everything. People are taking sides that are less and less amenable to compromise, much less even reasoned debate. The hard feelings and agendas are already firmly established. 

A number of major cities in our area are single-party Democrat. Some have no Republican office holders. LDS are a sizable minority, but one must be very careful not to express certain views in normal conversations at work and in social situations.

Other churches have "get-out-the vote" registration campaigns that include giving rides to the polls for people they recruit. They are far more purposeful, organized, and comprehensive than a "specialist" called by a stake president.

One example out of many....the United Church of Christ's program "Get out the Vote."  http://www.ucc.org/ourfaithourvote_get-out-the-vote

Quote

Our Faith Our Vote

Your vote is your voice – don’t give it up!

The problems in our world often seem too big to confront. We see injustice every day and feel that change can’t or won’t happen. But our faith is infused with hope and built on a foundation of action. By serving the vulnerable, feeding the hungry, and standing in solidarity with the oppressed, we serve as God’s hands.

Voting is a natural extension of faithful action. The decisions made by our representatives have a wide reaching impact. We have enormous potential to make positive change. We must engage our legislators, vote, and encourage everyone in our communities to do the same.

Our faithful voice is needed. It is tempting to disengage from the political process. As people dedicated to creating a just world for all, we know we must be involved.

Join the Our Faith, Our Vote campaign. Discover how your congregation can participate in the electoral process through faithful, nonpartisan engagement. The United Church of Christ can help with resources on civic engagement, voter registration information, issue education, and voter mobilization.

This election season it is essential that people raise their voices and vote. Will you join us?

For many people I know on both sides, abortion is an insurmountable barrier.  This issue can no longer be easily swept under the rug as Brian King attempts to do. I could not in good conscience vote for a pro-abortion candidate who goes beyond the Church's parameters. Unfortunately, the modern Democrat Party has drastically moved away from "rare, safe, and legal."

 I question the accuracy of this quote:
 

Quote

While the official policy of Utah’s predominant faith permits abortion in the case of incest or rape, when the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy or if the fetus has defects that will not allow it to survive beyond birth, King said, “People in the LDS Church don’t know that. They think, ‘Well, church policy is abortion should be made illegal.’”

 

Edited May 23, 2019 by Bernard Gui

[provoman]

Someone on another forum has mentioned that their Mom was called as the Political Coordinator.

Part of the post is this

Quote

My dad was seething. He’s a libertarian and doesn’t like that the church has/is interfering in politics. Mom, fortunately, turned it down because she avoids politics for the most part

 

Has anyone else heard of a political coordinator being called? 

[Scott Lloyd]

Quote

Someone on another forum has mentioned that their Mom was called as the Political Coordinator.

Part of the post is this

  Quote

My dad was seething. He’s a libertarian and doesn’t like that the church has/is interfering in politics. Mom, fortunately, turned it down because she avoids politics for the most part  

End quote

So he’s angry because the Church encourages its members to be involved in the political process? Doesn’t sound very libertarian to me  

 

 

[provoman]

Seems one Stake may have made the calling and the calling title is:

Religious Freedom Specialist

 

some details are to help people register, provide a monthly message - unsure of message topic.

Edited September 9, 2019 by provoman

[mfbukowski]

On 5/14/2019 at 7:51 AM, juliann said:

Eh, regardless of how it turns out, it really isn't a good look for the minority party to be complaining about an initiative to increase voter involvement. Good grief. 

Not everyone lives in Utah.

I would love to see more balance in California. Many people in the minority party here see voting as irrelevant.

Incidentally does this topic belong here?

Edited September 9, 2019 by mfbukowski

[Tacenda]

Finally, a topic about politics that isn't shut down. I can't start topics so I rely on others' posts to be able to say what I need. I'm not being political, I'm just in need of how something can be right because of it, even when it's wrong, if that makes sense. 

Backstory, my aunt and cousin posted something very dishonest today on FB. My aunt is in her 80's and my cousin is in her early 70's I believe, they're not related but live in the same area and close because of working together for many years. 

Well, I guess the link isn't working that they posted. But it shows 4 pics of Alexander Soros with Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and some other person I don't know. Not who they say it is on the post..such fake news. No wonder the link is gone now.

Which I counteracted with this PolitiFact link:

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/nov/12/facebook-posts/no-these-photos-dont-show-alleged-whistleblower-po/

And said in the nicest way I could, that I thought their link was false, but if I was wrong, then please correct me. So neither addressed what I showed them. So they know it's a lie, yet they keep it on their FB pages. They are both very LDS and so this is really bothering me, how dishonest they can be because their beloved president is on the line to be impeached, which won't happen. 

I don't post political things ever on FB, because of the hurt or divide it can cause. In fact I probably turned them against me now. I'm sad but I had to stand for what is right. 

What would any of you do? Why can they think this is okay to do?

Edited February 2, 2020 by Tacenda

[Duncan]

We don't have one. Wasn't there something about no politics or Smecksmusmality over the pulpit anyways?

[bsjkki]

2 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Finally, a topic about politics that isn't shut down. I can't start topics so I rely on others' posts to be able to say what I need. I'm not being political, I'm just in need of how something can be right because of it, even when it's wrong, if that makes sense. 

Backstory, my aunt and cousin posted something very dishonest today on FB. My aunt is in her 80's and my cousin is in her early 70's I believe, they're not related but live in the same area and close because of working together for many years. 

Well, I guess the link isn't working that they posted. But it shows 4 pics of Alexander Soros with Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and some other person I don't know. Not who they say it is on the post..such fake news. No wonder the link is gone now.

Which I counteracted with this PolitiFact link:

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/nov/12/facebook-posts/no-these-photos-dont-show-alleged-whistleblower-po/

And said in the nicest way I could, that I thought their link was false, but if I was wrong, then please correct me. So neither addressed what I showed them. So they know it's a lie, yet they keep it on their FB pages. They are both very LDS and so this is really bothering me, how dishonest they can be because their beloved president is on the line to be impeached, which won't happen. 

I don't post political things ever on FB, because of the hurt or divide it can cause. In fact I probably turned them against me now. I'm sad but I had to stand for what is right. 

What would any of you do? Why can they think this is okay to do?

Also a pet peeve of mine. People don’t fact check memes. There are plenty of actual pictures of the whistleblower...not every dark haired, bearded guy is him. 

I avoid politics on my Facebook and do not comment nor correct people. It never goes well. I tried to engage during 2016 but quickly realized my relationships with others were more important than political disagreements. 

Private messages are also better than commenting corrections to them publicly.

I’m sorry they didn’t take it down but they may honestly not believe you. 

You’ve done all you can do so I would let it go.

[Calm]

2 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Why can they think this is okay to do?

You have to ask them to know that. I would never believe it was okay. 
 

But you might want to consider that they still believe it because of who gave it to them and that polifact is the liar or that they just don’t know how to remove stuff from FB. I do not and had to ask my daughter to delete something for me as it was during a day my brain couldn’t process instructions...and I haven’t bothered since then because that cemented my dislike of FB, so I rarely visit it and never post stuff. 

Edited February 2, 2020 by Calm

[Tacenda]

8 minutes ago, bsjkki said:

Also a pet peeve of mine. People don’t fact check memes. There are plenty of actual pictures of the whistleblower...not every dark haired, bearded guy is him. 

I avoid politics on my Facebook and do not comment nor correct people. It never goes well. I tried to engage during 2016 but quickly realized my relationships with others were more important than political disagreements. 

Private messages are also better than commenting corrections to them publicly.

I’m sorry they didn’t take it down but they may honestly not believe you. 

You’ve done all you can do so I would let it go.

My aunt just posted back, and said: "ok must be fake info!"

bsjkki, you know what, you're right, I should have PM'd her, feel bad now. But I did say this back to her: "hope you don't mind that I shared that, just thought you might like to know. I try to keep my big mouth shut with all things political because of the divisions, even among family/friends. I hope one day that will all go away."

[Tacenda]

2 minutes ago, Calm said:

You have to ask them to know that. I would never believe it was okay. 
 

But you might want to consider that they still believe it because of who gave it to them and that polifact is the liar or that they just don’t know how to remove stuff from FB. I do not and had to ask my daughter to delete something for me as it was during a day my brain couldn’t process instructions. 

I shared this: https://www.instagram.com/alexsoros/?fbclid=IwAR1eJqjom0_fe03bizTmxN6ULhg-LdP6gHtlnQjefyJx3a-j45x4DpnYoDI

And Alex looks just like the photos that my aunt shared. 

[bsjkki]

3 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I shared this: https://www.instagram.com/alexsoros/?fbclid=IwAR1eJqjom0_fe03bizTmxN6ULhg-LdP6gHtlnQjefyJx3a-j45x4DpnYoDI

And Alex looks just like the photos that my aunt shared. 

Yes, there are a lot of fakes. There is a new one out today and my dear cousin shared it and the pictures you mentioned too. The media blackout doesn’t help this situation. People fall for the fakes when there is this strange refusal to print stories about who the whistleblower actually is.

The information was available in October and the refusal to say his name in questions was only a confirmation of his identity. 

 

[BlueDreams]

14 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Finally, a topic about politics that isn't shut down. I can't start topics so I rely on others' posts to be able to say what I need. I'm not being political, I'm just in need of how something can be right because of it, even when it's wrong, if that makes sense. 

Backstory, my aunt and cousin posted something very dishonest today on FB. My aunt is in her 80's and my cousin is in her early 70's I believe, they're not related but live in the same area and close because of working together for many years. 

Well, I guess the link isn't working that they posted. But it shows 4 pics of Alexander Soros with Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, and some other person I don't know. Not who they say it is on the post..such fake news. No wonder the link is gone now.

Which I counteracted with this PolitiFact link:

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/nov/12/facebook-posts/no-these-photos-dont-show-alleged-whistleblower-po/

And said in the nicest way I could, that I thought their link was false, but if I was wrong, then please correct me. So neither addressed what I showed them. So they know it's a lie, yet they keep it on their FB pages. They are both very LDS and so this is really bothering me, how dishonest they can be because their beloved president is on the line to be impeached, which won't happen. 

I don't post political things ever on FB, because of the hurt or divide it can cause. In fact I probably turned them against me now. I'm sad but I had to stand for what is right. 

What would any of you do? Why can they think this is okay to do?

Minor correction: he’s already been impeached it’s the trial to have him removed thats currently happening. 
 

It depends the day. I have a relative a 30 who lean the other end of the political spectrum than me. I love them and most of them I respect (i couple are a little special some day, haha!). I tend to ignore the vast majority of the political posts on FB, but every once and a while I respond. Particularly when the meme or comment tends to be more a stereotype or oversimplification of another view. Or the person seems honestly open to talking and listening. I think it’s important for us to have stronger interactions with “the other side” and dialogue, whatever that “other side” is. To realize issues are not so black and white or easy. When they’re unlikely to listen or give constructive dialogue  I don’t engage. It’s not worth the time or frustration. And i can give that energy to more meaningful parts of my life.
 

we live at a very odd time right now. It’s sometimes hard to see past our political platforms. So I don’t assume i can change another person’s mind much, i just want them to see that the other side often have their reasons too.

 

with luv, 

BD

[Rain]

On 5/14/2019 at 9:17 AM, CV75 said:

Most if not all callings in the Church come with a manual and training. Callings come with a setting-apart and everyone typically has the gift of the Holy Ghost. I don't see this calling to be about teaching the challenging issues (which could stir up passion and bias), just how to go about exercising one's civic rights.

Specialist callings often don't have with a manual, much in the handbook of what to do or much, if any, training.

Hopefully, this one does have some guidance and if so that the ward and stake leaders read what that guidance is. 

[CV75]

20 minutes ago, Rain said:

Specialist callings often don't have with a manual, much in the handbook of what to do or much, if any, training.

Hopefully, this one does have some guidance and if so that the ward and stake leaders read what that guidance is. 

I think this is a good example of a manual for specialists: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/self-reliance/leaders-specialists?lang=eng

The specialist assignment/calling in the OP was referring to a local unit's decision, and so likely would not be found in a correlated handbook as in the self-reliance initiative.The post of mine you responded to came after the conversation turned to the hypothetical potential: Posted May 14, 2019 Considering her stance on political neutrality, I think the Church would be very careful to come up with a self-reliance type manual if such an initiative were to come about.

[Tacenda]

5 hours ago, BlueDreams said:

Minor correction: he’s already been impeached it’s the trial to have him removed thats currently happening. 
 

It depends the day. I have a relative a 30 who lean the other end of the political spectrum than me. I love them and most of them I respect (i couple are a little special some day, haha!). I tend to ignore the vast majority of the political posts on FB, but every once and a while I respond. Particularly when the meme or comment tends to be more a stereotype or oversimplification of another view. Or the person seems honestly open to talking and listening. I think it’s important for us to have stronger interactions with “the other side” and dialogue, whatever that “other side” is. To realize issues are not so black and white or easy. When they’re unlikely to listen or give constructive dialogue  I don’t engage. It’s not worth the time or frustration. And i can give that energy to more meaningful parts of my life.
 

we live at a very odd time right now. It’s sometimes hard to see past our political platforms. So I don’t assume i can change another person’s mind much, i just want them to see that the other side often have their reasons too.

 

with luv, 

BD

I'm relieved to have received this additional comment from my aunt today: "no really thank you for the correction! Don’t want to forward misinformation!!"

It's strange how dissive politics is now, or maybe it's been that way forever and at my older age I'm seeing it more. 

[Bernard Gui]

4 hours ago, Tacenda said:

It's strange how dissive politics is now, or maybe it's been that way forever and at my older age I'm seeing it more. 

Nothing today that compares with the Vietnam war era.

[Rain]

18 hours ago, CV75 said:

I think this is a good example of a manual for specialists: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/self-reliance/leaders-specialists?lang=eng

The specialist assignment/calling in the OP was referring to a local unit's decision, and so likely would not be found in a correlated handbook as in the self-reliance initiative.The post of mine you responded to came after the conversation turned to the hypothetical potential: Posted May 14, 2019 Considering her stance on political neutrality, I think the Church would be very careful to come up with a self-reliance type manual if such an initiative were to come about.

I was the provident living specialist which sounds like basically the same thing (it was usually treated differently than the handbook called for).  There is quite a bit more there now that there was before when I was in!

Edited February 3, 2020 by Rain

[Scott Lloyd]

The Church’s official political neutrality does not always stop individual members from playing off the Church’s identity (inappropriately, in my view) to pursue their partisan political ends. 

An example is Mormon Women for Ethical Government (MWEG). They claim to be non-partisan, yet their public positions and statements seem invariably to favor Democratic/leftist/anti-Trump Administration politics. At the same time, they have remained silent on pro-life issues, including recently proposed and enacted measures that legalize abortion right up to the moment of birth and even beyond. So much for “ethical government.”

MWEG is a typical political pressure group with the wrinkle that they seek to appropriate the Church’s identity and influence. 

If ward leaders call political specialists, perhaps one of the duties such specialists should be tasked with is to remind members that, absent official authorization, they are not to involve the Church in any way in partisan politics. 

Edited February 4, 2020 by Scott Lloyd