Church as purely a political entity???!!!

[_The Nehor]

I disagree completely. There is no well organized movement to make the Church into a political entity or even a badly organized movement to make it so.

The reality is that while the occasional nut might want to go that far the Church and the leadership do not and will not do so.

I think the idea of this movement comes mostly from the outsider looking in. The reality is that someone studying the Church's impact on the world without belonging is going to hear about three main things:

Missionaries Preaching
Humanitarian aid
Involvement and support of political beliefs

The reality is that members and the Church spend almost no time on politics relative to the whole. In official Church meetings we have the usual election letter of neutrality and the very rare extra hour-long meeting (I can recall two in my entire life) devoted to a moral political position. There isn't enough to convert the Church into a partisan political movement. If you want to find that go to the Protestant (especially Black) churches that endorse candidates regularly and speak much, much more on social and political issues.

The LDS Church is in no danger of becoming a political movement. You have the occasional eccentric declaring that Republican Conservative values are God's values and the occasional Democratic Liberal devoted to the idea that Jesus was a liberal and that any other political stance is a denial of the faith. They are in no danger of becoming a majority.

[_Roger Morrison]

Well stated Nehor. I agree, Mormonism will remain as is, where is, for a very long time!!
Roger M

[_moksha]

Nehor, what is your explanation about Elder Oaks and "Constitution Day" recently in the Tabernacle?

How would you account for all the Tea Partyers at MAD, when such is clearly forbidden in the Word of Wisdom?

[_Roger Morrison]

Nehor, what is your explanation about Elder Oaks and "Constitution Day" recently in the Tabernacle?

How would you account for all the Tea Partyers at MAD, when such is clearly forbidden in the Word of Wisdom?

"Tea Partyers" against the WoW!!Cute Mok!
Not sure about Oak's "Constitution Day"?? Is that to expand on a 'Morning Constitutional'??
Roger M.

[_The Nehor]

Nehor, what is your explanation about Elder Oaks and "Constitution Day" recently in the Tabernacle?

It was an admonition to calm down the heated discourse and respect the Constitution and don't abuse it. It was somewhat political but it is not the beginning of a change into a political institution. Defense of the Constitution and it's meaning are present throughout LDS history. It is one talk on one special day. LDS leaders have and continue to speak out on politics but there is no danger of it becoming their primary function. There hasn't been a huge jump and I don't think there will ever be one.

How would you account for all the Tea Partyers at MAD, when such is clearly forbidden in the Word of Wisdom?

I had tea almost every day on my mission. It's the British word for dinner. Did I violate the Word of Wisdom?

[_moksha]

I had tea almost every day on my mission. It's the British word for dinner. Did I violate the Word of Wisdom?

Not sure, did you drink a lot of dinner?

[_j-bug]

Whether it's Elder Dallin Oaks talking politics from the Tabernacle on "Constitution Day" or ..., there seems to be a well established movement afoot to convert the LDS Church from a religion into a purely political entity in the guise of religion.
...
I am very concerned about this push to make the Church into a partisan political entity and I would hope that many of my fellow religionists share this concern as well. How can we reach out to the world if what we have to offer is but a peculiar brand of American politics?

I found Elder Oaks "Constitution Day" speech full of platitudes to the Constitution with some very disconcerting remarks. He does not support using it for exactly what God gave it to us for. He speaks of it as if it is a limited commodity that if used too frequently would somehow extinguish it.

That is totally absurd!

Holding true to the spirit of that document is vital to the continued prosperity of this nation and our continued liberties, what's left of them.

To allow anything contrary to it comes of evil. It should never be spared or reserved but the central issue of any proposal brought before our legislators.

[_moksha]

To allow anything contrary to it comes of evil. It should never be spared or reserved but the central issue of any proposal brought before our legislators.

Trouble is our legislators all have their own take on the Constitution. Just earlier this year I remember some Congressmen trying to argue that the mandate to promote the general welfare of the populace did not include a consideration of their health.


I was happy to hear how the Nehor does not regard this move into politics as part of a concerted effort. If we could localize it to perhaps Droopy and Bcspace, it would be much easier for me to conceptualize.

[_The Nehor]

I was happy to hear how the Nehor does not regard this move into politics as part of a concerted effort. If we could localize it to perhaps Droopy and Bcspace, it would be much easier for me to conceptualize.

It's not that localized but it isn't a problem in the membership as a whole. While many strong members have strong political opinions they will not teach them in Church.

As an example I would give my father, largely a political conservative who has been Bishop and on High Councils several times. He has strong political views but I have never heard him express them as part of a Church office. He thinks the Tea Party is composed mostly of wackos.

Earlier this evening, I had dinner with him and we were talking about the anticipated shifts in Congress and we were talking about some of the Tea Party nuts that looked likely to gain office. We then discussed Harry Reid and the backlash he was getting from Conservative members. Thinking of some of the comments here I mentioned that there were some online he should be disciplined. My father said that he should deal with the fate of the election and what he has done for the past couple of years. When I clarified that I meant some thought he should face Church discipline he was shocked that anyone would suggest that.

So I think you can rest safely knowing that nutcases who want conservative political views and Republican membership to be a test of faithfulness are still seen as fringe wackos.

[_bcspace]

I am very concerned about this push to make the Church into a partisan political entity and I would hope that many of my fellow religionists share this concern as well. How can we reach out to the world if what we have to offer is but a peculiar brand of American politics?

There is no such conspiracy. The only thing that is going on is a comparing of our politics with the doctrine of the Church. It's just one of many areas in which we live, and show how we live, the Gospel or not. Afterall, we're not supposed to spend all our time in Church.

But when you think about it, God can only have one set of acceptable politics.......

Also, your attempt to separate DHO from the rest of the Church is ill-founded since if what he says is officially published, the rest of the apostles and prophets agree.