Romney: Liberal, Radical Conservative, What?

Mitt Romney has announced his candidacy for the office of President of the United States and the nominee of the Republican Party. Some have questioned his viability for that office on the basis of past statements and his religious affiliation with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as Mormons. I am more interested in the latter issue, though we may refer to elements of the former. As we have seen in the Bush presidency, religious persuasion can seriously impact the public policy advocated by and vigorously implemented by a President.

In deciding public policy on stem cell research President Bush dismissed the two leading scientists on his commission to study the issue because they opposed his views, replacing them with sympathetic theologians. Regarding increasing longevity he appointed an ethicist who went about saying we should not seek to increase longevity because if people lived longer they would have less interest in going to heaven. He vigorously implemented policies to give monies to faith-based charities, allowing some of that money to be spent in distributing and teaching theological doctrine. He appointed public health officials and trickled down policies that caused the “morning after” pill to be restricted or denied in its use. He preferably distributed monies to organizations seeking to control infectious diseases and unwanted pregnancies by advocating abstinence rather than other prophylactic measures such as the use of condoms for the sexually active and rather than distribution of clean needles and syringes to known drug addicts. The list could go on, but these illustrations should effectively make the point that a president’s core religious beliefs will effect his public policy.

Mormon behavior is governed by instruction from the church, much of which takes place under a cloak of secrecy in meetings and places where the unbeliever is never allowed. I have a family background in the Mormon Church and attended services in that institution during several periods of my life. I took lessons from missionaries, some of whom were close friends, on several occasions. While I am no authority, I can reflect on and report what I have been taught or studied.

The Mormon Church elders and bishops I knew regularly referred to the Biblical story of Onan to suggest to young men that masturbation was worse than utilizing the services of a prostitute. While I cannot say this is an official doctrine of the Mormon Church, I can say it was repeatedly taught to me in the 1950s while I was attending services there. Here is my dilemma. Would a President Romney be more inclined to enter the privacy of masturbating men with punishments worse than for prostitution (Onan was put to death), or to legalize prostitution as a “crime” less onerous than “spilling his seed on the ground”?

In a related issue, the Mormon Church officially does not countenance the practice of polygamy. However, it more than countenances the doctrine. Joseph Smith, the founder of the church and its first modern prophet, said the following, considered a revelation from God:

“27 The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord.
28 I am the Lord thy God, and will give unto thee the law of my Holy Priesthood, as was ordained by me and my Father before the world was.
29 Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne.
30 Abraham received promises concerning his seed, and of the fruit of his loins from whose loins ye are, namely, my servant Joseph which were to continue so long as they were in the world; and as touching Abraham and his seed, out of the world they should continue; both in the world and out of the world should they continue as innumerable as the stars; or, if ye were to count the sand upon the seashore ye could not number them.
31 This promise is yours also, because ye are of Abraham, and the promise was made unto Abraham; and by this law is the continuation of the works of my Father, wherein he glorifieth himself.
32 Go ye, therefore, and do the works of Abraham; enter ye into my law and ye shall be saved.
33 But if ye enter not into my law ye cannot receive the promise of my Father, which he made unto Abraham.
34 God commanded Abraham, and Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to wife. And why did she do it? Because this was the law; and from Hagar sprang many people. This, therefore, was fulfilling, among other things, the promises.
35 Was Abraham, therefore, under condemnation? Verily I say unto you, Nay; for I, the Lord, commanded it.
36 Abraham was commanded to offer his son Isaac; nevertheless, it was written: Thou shalt not kill. Abraham, however, did not refuse, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness.
37 Abraham received concubines, and they bore him children; and it was accounted unto him for righteousness, because they were given unto him, and he abode in my law; as Isaac also and Jacob did none other things than that which they were commanded; and because they did none other things than that which they were commanded, they have entered into their exaltation, according to the promises, and sit upon thrones, and are not angels but are gods.
38 David also received many wives and concubines, and also Solomon and Moses my servants, as also many others of my servants, from the beginning of creation until this time; and in nothing did they sin save in those things which they received not of me.
39 David's wives and concubines were given unto him of me, by the hand of Nathan, my servant, and others of the prophets who had the keys of this power; and in none of these things did he sin against me save in the case of Uriah and his wife” Original “Doctrine and Covenants” article 132

The present stance of the church is based on accommodation to the law of the land. The doctrine of polygamy is, however, part of the mindset of a potential president Romney. Does anyone believe that this is a conservative mindset?

The Mormon Church holds that the dark skin of the Negro is the “mark of Cain” referred to in Genesis. Note a few statements from the “inspired” Journal of Discourses and other prophetic Mormon statements.

"They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children of Adam have received their blessings in the Holy Priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain..." Brigham Young, JD 11: 272
"That mark will be seen upon the face of every negro upon the face of the earth; and it is the decree of God that that mark shall remain upon the seed of Cain until the seed of Abel shall be redeemed." History of Wilford Woodruff; p. 51
"When all the other children of Adam have had the privilege of receiving the Priesthood, and of coming into the Kingdom of God, and of being redeemed from the four quarters of the earth, and have received their resurrection from the dead, then it will be time enough to remove the curse from Cain and his posterity." JD 2:142-3
"When the residue of the family of Adam come up and receive their blessings, then the curse will be removed from the seed of Cain..." JD 7: 291
"They never can hold the Priesthood or share in it until all the other descendants of Adam have received the promises and enjoyed the blessings of the Priesthood and the Keys thereof." JD 7: 290
"The Gospel is made up of absolute truths that do not change regardless of contrary opinions or beliefs of men." Spencer W. Kimball; Deseret News, Sept. 10, 1977.
Again, accommodating to American law, in 1978 the Mormon Church began allowing Negroes to enter the priesthood. However, the root attitudes are deeply imbedded in the theology of the LDS religion. Admitting Blacks to the priesthood as a result of accommodation does not reverse the theological teachings of their most respected prophets. Romney is a racist by religious conviction, and that cannot be undone or overlooked.

This candidate may make statements of disavowal, but he has regularly and repeatedly shown himself to be a dissembler. For instance, he declared on television the other day that he was a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, but he registered as an independent. He says he did this as a political maneuver so that he could vote in the primaries for who he thought would be the weakest Democratic candidate. This is political dishonesty as a root belief of this candidate, and an action for which he is proud. Who knows how much other political dishonesty is hidden behind his handsome, clean cut, and smiling countenance.