The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

Wow...these comments are a reflection of our society. There seems to be a great lack of love for one another. What do we gain by bashing someone physically or verbally! I think it is important to focus on the politics and vote wisely. There is no "politician" that will please the bashers of America.

To put it politely, it appears that some of Mitt's supports are talking through their hats.

I think that's called 'Following the Prophet'.

Talking through his hat is exactly what Joseph Smith said that he did when he translated the Book of Mormon.

Joseph said that he sat down in a chair, took his Seer's Stone, stuck it in his hat, pushed his face into his hat 'so as to exclude all outside light' and then waited for the ghostly text to materialize in front of his eyes. Then he dictated that text to the 'scribes'.

That what Joseph said.

And that's what the people who describe themselves as witnesses to the translation said.

And that's what the Mormon Prophets have been saying for over 170 years.

All of these people said that the scribes sat on the other side of the room.

All of these people said that the scribes were separated from Joseph by a sheet suspended from a rope.

All of these people said that the 'Golden Book' was covered by a piece of cloth. They said that it was covered because God had commanded that no one other than Joseph look at the book. They said that they feared that God would strike them dead if they looked at the book.

These 'witnesses' all claimed to have seen the 'Golden Book' with their 'Spiritual Eyes'. They said that they prayed with Joseph and after long hours of prayer, they had a vision of the book. Some of them took several prayer sessions before they had the vision. None of them saw the 'Golden Book' with those things in their eye sockets -- they saw it with their 'Spiritual Eyes'.

And for those who aren't familiar with the term "Seer's Stone", what that is, is a rock.

It's a rock that you believe gives you the power to see things. Many years before Joseph Smith 'translated' the Book of Mormon, he was just a guy with a magic rock that he claimed showed him the location of buried treasure. People would pay him to advise them on where to dig for the treasure.

At this time he made absolutely no claims to be a Prophet.

His dad also claimed to be able to find buried treasure. It was a family business.

Joseph was tried and convicted of taking money under false pretenses for his 'treasure digging'. He was asked to leave the county as part of the settlement. That's not a favorite topic for conversation among the True Believers.

So why do I bring this up?

Take a look at the official Mormon web site that's dedicated to the life and work of Joseph Smith,

http://www.josephsmith.net/josephsmith/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=0bda0fbab57f0010VgnVCM1000001f5e340aRCRD

Does that drawing of Joseph sitting at a table writing with a quill onto a piece of paper, with the 'Golden Book' propped under his elbow, look anything like what the Prophet said he did?

Of course not.

Are they misleading you when they present that view of Joseph Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon.

Nahhhhh, they're just talking through their hats.

bot1's claim that the Holy Trinity is not mentioned in the Bible is flat out wrong.

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (The Gospel of St. Matthew 28:18-19, KJV)

The earliest records of Christianity do not show the slightest indication that anyone at all held views even remotely similiar to Mormons.

The Moromon view that everyone can become a God has no basis whatsover in Christian beliefs.

And their belief that Jesus and Lucifier are brothers is blasphemous.

To bot1. It is interesting that you say the LDS Church adhers more closely to first century Christianity and the NT on the issue of the Godhead than any other demonination. I have yet to read a Christian author from the first century or anywhere in the NT where it is stated that God the father was once a human being on another planet (created by another God) and through self righteousness became God. This I believe is the official view of God by Joseph Smith and the LDS leadership. Maybe the God we should be searching for is the God who created god.

I have heard many say that electing Romney would be like electing Kennedy because Kennedy's religion was in question as well. On January 12, 2007 the National Post ran an article by a non-Mormon professor who taught at the Mormon university, BYU.

"A very different, arguably more troubling, set of questions are posed by the prospect of a president who is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). With Kennedy's faith, the concern was over the extent of his deference to a foreign ecclesiastical authority. The profound loyalty of Mormons to the United States and its political system is, by contrast, undeniable. Indeed, LDS patriotism flows directly from Mormon theology. And that is the problem."

Mormons are very patriotic people; however they are patriotic through support of their religion rather than separate. This creates a very fuzzy line between Church and State. Additionally, since the days when Mormonism was founded, Mormon leadership felt they had a right to govern. Their model of governance is a Theocracy. While Mormons claim that this was only the early leadership, and that is no longer the case, here are a couple of quotes from their more current leadership about their right to govern in political and civic matters:

Mormon Prophet Ezra Taft Benson quoting Mormon Prophet Harold B Lee
"You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. ... Your safety and ours depends upon whether or not we follow. ... Let's keep our eye on the President of the Church. [in Conference Report, October 1970, p. 152-153)"

Elder Robert Oaks
"Obedience is a fundamental law of the gospel. It is not only the demonstration of our faith but also the foundation of our faith. But the philosophical standard of the world holds that unquestioning obedience equals blind obedience, and blind obedience is mindless obedience. This is simply not true. Unquestioning obedience to the Lord indicates that a person has developed faith and trust in Him to the point where he or she considers all inspired instruction ... whether it be recorded scripture or the words of modern prophets .... to be worthy of obedience." "Believe All Things," Ensign, July 2005, page 30

Mormon Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley
"On this occasion I am not going to talk about the good or bad of Prohibition but rather of uncompromising loyalty to the Church." "How grateful, my brethren, I feel, how profoundly grateful for the tremendous faith of so many Latter-day Saints who, when facing a major decision on which the Church has taken a stand, align themselves with that position. And I am especially grateful to be able to say that among those who are loyal are men and women of achievement, of accomplishment, of education, of influence, of strength-highly intelligent and capable individuals."
"Loyalty," April Conference, 2003.

Mormon Prophet Ezra Taft Benson
"The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter temporal or spiritual. The prophet may be involved in civic matters. The prophet and the presidency--the living prophet and the First Presidency--follow them and be blessed, reject them and suffer." ("Fourteen Fundamentals in following the Prophet", February 26, 1980)

The above quotes show that Mormon Leadership feel they have the right to govern and be involved in ever facet of Mormon life, including politics, civic matters, social life and expect nothing short of complete obedience to what they say, because they are speaking for God.

Mormonism's interest and involvement in politics originated with the founder Joseph Smith. In the mid 1800's Smith said that the Constitution would; "hang like a thread as fine as a silk fiber." and Mormon leadership will step in to save the United States, and in the words of Brigham Young (second leader of Mormonism) assume the leadership of the nation (creating a Theocracy). This is ancient history, however more recently in a Wall Street Journal editorial, November 3, 2006; the executive director of the Utah Republican Party was quoted as saying:
"What do I think about it? Someday it will come true. There have been several Republicans that I have known who thought that they were that individual," says Mr. Hartley, citing Todd Nielson, a GOP congressional candidate who failed in the 1996 state primary and Republican LaVar Christensen, currently vying for a seat for Utah's Second Congressional District. They have intimated to him that "the Constitution's hanging by a thread, and that they would be there to defend the Constitution," says Mr. Hartley. "We believe in personal revelation, so it's hard to dispute or question someone who feels like they were inspired to run for office."

Another troubling factor is in October 2006, the Boston Globe ran a series of articles about Mitt Romney and people who worked for him having meetings with Mormon leadership and their representatives. The Mormon Church and Mitt Romney strongly denied that there was any discussion or any connection, until the Boston Globe published email messages between the parties that showed there was most definitely a connection at the highest levels. The story then changed and they claimed that the discussion was about how to keep the Mormon Church out of the election. The Mormon Church, however fired the person they thought had leaked the emails, reprimanded the people who were involved in the Mormon program development, and Mitt Romney fired his PR agency. To me, this is evidence of a cover up not innocent parties.

Will Religion or Race play a bigger role in your vote for a Presidential Candidate?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1166

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C'mon People! Face your fears.

It is only by facing your deepest fears you can come to be able to handle them.

I know what you all dread! I have already accepted the inevitable, and am now in a sick way looking forward to it.

It will be Loud. It will hurt some people badly. Others, prepaired will try to measure the levels it obtains-It should be un-Precedented!

As, the Music plays, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir lets it out, it will be a "HALLELUJAH" to remember!

Face your fears!

Just a quick tidbit of information.

I attend Texas A&M at the George Bush School of Gov't where the Bush Presidential Center is located. We almost always recieve tickets to events or speeches at the presidential center, but this morning I found out some disturbing information. This speech is not open to the public. All tickets to the event went to Romney supporters and close friends of fromer president Bush. While theres nothing inherently wrong with this, it makes me wonder why during a very important speech for Governor Romney he would pack the audience full of nothing but loving supporters. Oh wait one minute this is nothing new. Its always calculated with Governor Romney. We don't want a difficult question he didn't already have a pre rehearsed answer for, now do we.

A note about Prophecy in the LDS faith.

At any give instant in time, there are fifteen Prophets.

All three members of the "First Presidency" and all 12 Apostles are Prophets, Seers, and Revelators.

'Prophet' means that you can foretell the future.

'Seer' means that you can translate anything every written.

"Revelator' means that God uses you to send his exact words to the world.

Every six months there's a 'General Conference' in Salt Lake City Utah. At the General Conference the members of the church vote on the fact that these guys are Phophets, Seers, and Revelators.

Marion G. Romney was the #2 authority in the Mormon church.

Marion was a man of faith.

Will Mitt quote his uncle?

"Always keep your eye on the President of the church, and if he ever tells you to do anything, even if it is wrong, and you do it, the lord will bless you for it but you don't need to worry. The lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray."

LDS President Marion G. Romney (of the first presidency), quoting LDS President (and prophet) Heber J. Grant "Conference Report" Oct. 1960 p. 78

By all means, let's have an open discussion of basic Mormon faith and teachings.

As the Mormon teaching guides said
"When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done".

Let's all listen to the words of the Prophet of God Brigham Young who taught us what he says Joseph Smith taught him.

It's a beautiful teachings that if a man fails to practice polygamy then his wife will be taken from him in the next world and he will become a servent to the polygamists.

His wife will be given the choice of joining a harem or being a servant.

Here's the word-for-word quotation taken directly from the LDS web site,

"Now, where a man in this Church says, "I don't want but one wife, I will live my religion with one," he will perhaps be saved in the celestial kingdom; but when he gets there he will not find himself in possession of any wife at all. He has had a talent that he has hid up. He will come forward and say, "Here is that which thou gavest me, I have not wasted it, and here is the one talent," and he will not enjoy it, but it will be taken and given to those who have improved the talents they received, and he will find himself without any wife, and he will remain single for ever and ever. But if the woman is determined not to enter into a plural marriage, that woman when she comes forth will have the privilege of living in single blessedness through all eternity." -- BRIGHAM YOUNG, JoD Volume 16
http://journalofdiscourses.org/Vol_16/JD16-160.html

>Lord knows why ANYONE would want such a THANKLESS Job, who does not need money or Power?!

Do you think that Larry Ellison needs more money? Then why is he still driving so hard as CEO of Oracle?

Let you give you a hint, some people have a never ending need for money and power.

And what the heck makes you think that being POTUS is a thankless job? The Pres is surrounded by adoration and priase. Yes, and critics, but you can't possibly ignore the huge amount of support that US Presidents receive.

WOW_551-Personally, I hope he does keep an open mind!

Who knows what the issues for the next EIGHT Years are going to be? We should be thankfull someone with Mitt Romney's qualifications is willing take the job!

He sure does not need the Money!

Lord knows why ANYONE would want such a THANKLESS Job, who does not need money or Power?!

Maybe, he wants to do the right thing, for the Country he Lives in!

Sort of reminds me of a Governator.

Questions for Mitt Romney ..
1)...
20) Under pressure from the US Federal government over statehood, the Mormon Church changed its policy concerning polygamy in 1890 and again in 1904. Under pressure from the civil rights movement in 1978, the Mormon Church changed its policy about denying the priesthood to blacks. Like the Mormon Church, you have shown the propensity for changing your positions on important issue such as gun control and abortion when it suited your political needs. Since we do not know what might happen in the next four years, what assurances do the American people have that you will not change your positions on other important issues?... the rest questions on Recovery Board exmormon..org

Race, gender, and religious affiliation should not be obstacles on the road to political offices.
For more on this, see:
http://www.reflectivepundit.com/reflectivepundit/2007/12/barack-obama-ne.html

Mitt will only address the points that agree with mainstream religions. He will not address things like taking 10% of an old woman's SS check and buying a shopping mall in Salt Lake City, or telling her that is she don't give them that $60.00 per month she will not be with her family in Heaven. Its simple, no tithes-no Temple recommend, no recommend-you cannot go to the Temple for sealing and other ordinances, if this is not done-no Heaven.
To be a Mormon you must keep taking the red pill.

THIS IS AMERICA AND THIS MAN IS A GREAT AMERICAN AND HIS CHRISTIAN BELIEFS AND VALUES ONLY ADD TO HIS LUSTRE:

Mitt Romney first gained national recognition for his role in turning around the 2002 Winter Olympics. With the 2002 Games mired in controversy and facing a financial crisis, Romney left behind a successful career as an entrepreneur to take over as President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for free. In his three years at the helm in Salt Lake, Romney erased a $379 million operating deficit, organized 23,000 volunteers, galvanized community spirit and oversaw an unprecedented security mobilization just months after the September 11th attacks, leading to one of the most successful Olympics in our country's history. As unpaid Governor of Massachusettes, a Democratic state he erased deficits and set-up a successful healthcare insurance program He has an impeccable record earning hundreds of millions in legal businesses, BYU Valedictorian and Harvard Law and MBA degrees earned simultaneously, cum laude. Top honesty and integrity

Woven into Indonesia's landscapes are powerful reminders of the tsunami that devastated the area 17 months ago.

Church members gather outside Banda Aceh, Indonesia, at construction yard where concrete panels for houses are manufactured. From left, tsunami director William Reynolds; Elder Subandriyo, Area Seventy; Ron Felt, project contractor; Sutarno, local contractor; and Hendro and Bertha, Indonesia public affairs, discuss Church project.

Photo courtesy William Reynolds

In a neighborhood of Banda Aceh -- about a half a mile from the ocean -- a large fishing boat sits atop a home. On the east coast of Aceh Province, a grandmother and granddaughter stand near remains of what was once their home; the shells of neighbors' homes are not far away. Miles after miles of the country's coast still reveal empty foundations where villages once stood.
"For months after the tsunami, the coast around Banda Aceh was like a barren wasteland," said William Reynolds, director of Church tsunami relief. "Today," he said, "most of the debris has been cleaned up and grass and plants are growing again." But there is still evidence of the destructive force that changed this and other nations of Southeast Asia on Dec. 26, 2004.
The Church went to work in the region after a tsunami, triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake, killed more than 220,000 people in a dozen nations, including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and India. The disaster also set into motion what the United Nations has called the "world's biggest-ever relief operation."
More than a year after that relief effort began, the Church is still there. After offering emergency response, LDS Humanitarian Services began working with community based organizations to provide longer-term aid and development. Today, the Church continues to partner with major humanitarian organizations. Working with Islamic Relief Worldwide, the International Organization for Migration, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, and International Relief and Development, the Church is constructing homes, schools, health clinics and water and sanitation systems in Indonesia.
The Church's work in the area is the organization's most significant humanitarian effort to date -- fueled by the fast offerings of members and contributions from others in responding to a request from the First Presidency and marking the first time the organization has offered long-term assistance after a disaster.

The Church is partnering with Austin International Relief Organization to build boats in the seaside village of Krueng Raya -- located about an hour from Banda Aceh, Indonesia, and devastated by the tsunami Dec. 26, 2004. The boat-building project is one of dozens of current Church projects in Southeast Asia.

Photo by William Reynolds

The Church's current projects in Indonesia include:

Building 10 schools and three health clinics with Islamic Relief Worldwide, a Muslim humanitarian organization headquartered in England.

Building approximately 1,000 permanent houses in the Bireuen, Pidie and Aceh Utara districts of Indonesia with the International Organization for Migration, headquartered in Switzerland.

Building six schools, coupled with training for teachers, in partnership with Adventist Development and Relief Agency, with headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.

Building water and sanitation systems for 20 villages, including sustainability training, with International Relief and Development, headquartered in Washington D.C.

"We are focused on doing the right thing, the right way," said Brother Reynolds. "We want to build good houses and good schools. Partnering with well-known and proven organizations greatly facilitates that effort and ultimately increases our ability to bless people's lives."
As with all the Church's humanitarian efforts, the principles of self-reliance are woven into tsunami projects as much as is possible, said Brother Reynolds.
For example, the Church's home-building project includes hiring community members to do much of the labor. They will help in building their own home and the homes of fellow villagers, thereby boosting the local economy "as we draw on a labor force that is invested in the project."

Latter-day Saint Charities staff in Ampara District, Sri Lanka, inspect a finished fishing boat ready to go to sea. The boat, fiberglass with a fisherman-constructed outrigger, is a good example of one of the types of boats funded by the Church.

Photo courtesy William Reynolds

In addition, Church and partner representatives meet with the village community before construction begins, so they understand what will happen. The Church will provide materials and opportunity to build a community center, if the residents provide the labor. Brother Reynolds said the Church believes this effort will draw the community together as they are involved in the project.
Finally, recipients of new homes will choose the color of paint for their homes and paint the homes themselves.
"We are here not just to help people, but to help people help themselves," said Brother Reynolds. "We want to develop a program where we not only meet an immediate need, but also develop long-term capacity in individuals, families and the community."
In addition to these projects in Indonesia, the Church is continuing to complete community projects in the other tsunami-affected countries of Sri Lanka and Thailand. For example, in Sri Lanka the Church is building 650 boats. Also in Sri Lanka, small micro-credit loans are being issued to hundreds of women, formed into groups of five, to support each other in various livelihood efforts.
Brother Reynolds said, "We always tell recipients about the sacred funds that make the Church's efforts possible. We tell them a living prophet asked Church members to fast and pray for tsunami victims. The funds are sacred because they are free-will donations entrusted to the Church to help those in great need."
In Indonesia, "the predominately Muslim community members receiving assistance understand the law of the fast," he added. "It resonates with these people when we explain the principles behind the contributions that allow us to be in their village doing this good. I am very grateful for this and other principles that Islam and the restored gospel share in common, allowing us to bless one another's lives."

By the way I have never met a mormon I did not like---they are fine people. I have issue with their teaching and it is not a violation of religious liberty or article 6 of the constitution for me to not vote for someone based on their religious views. That does not make me a bigot. It would be no different than if Tom Cruise ran(SCIENTOLOGY). By the way as far as multi-level religions//with various secretive rituals are concerned the two are very similar.

go to YouTube and look up "DNA & the Book of Mormon", or the "Bible and the book of Mormon"- A TRUE EYE OPENER. They are documentaries about Mormons who held professional jobs as scientists who were confronted with dna evidence that contradicted the claims of Joseph smith(founder of Mormonism) They are now ex-mormons. VERY INTERESTING. 5 STARS!!!

It is funny to me how everybody is quick to judge someone without even taking a chance to get to know him. I know that we all have different opinions and would like to express them but you should all keep this in mind...that no matter how opinionated you may be if you want to be respected despite what someone may think of you...you need to treat others the same.
Also, to address the question of why women in our church aren't equal to having same responsibilities as men!!!! We mormons, DO NOT in any case put down, lower or discriminate others based on their gender. We mormons believe that men and women are created equal and we treat each other equally. I am mormon and as a woman in LDS church I am glad that I don't have to carry priesthood keys and just being a priesthood in general. The Lord God loves women ever so much that He bestowed upon us one of the most important roles and responsibilities any woman can have, if not more important then priesthood itself...it is MOTHERHOOD. No one...not single one of you people who posted a comment here...has any right to say anything pessimistic against motherhood, because the world wouldn't go too far without women. Why? Well, first women give birth, second we women love our kids, third, because of the love we have for our children we want to raise them in a good home with good knowledge and standards. We women have a primary responsibility to be mothers...but alas, not everyone agrees with that and not every woman gets a chance to have kids. some women prefer to have a career life instead of a family and thus spend their intire lives thinking they couldn't be more happy when they miss out on all the important joys and love of this life..which is simply the joy and love of having kids, and of course there are those who simply love and adore being a mother and they wouldn't want anything else in their lives. We women are different from men, but yet, we still try our best to treat everybody equal despite gender. So, all in all, in LDS church, women are not discriminated against and no one in our church believes that...we as LDS women carry roles and responsibilities just as equal to men even though they may differ at one point or another...So my suggestion to all of you who decided to write something pessimistic about LDS chruch...is get to know our church before you judge it. But just like any other religion or group, we mormons too have people who are good and those aren't...we have our downside just like any other religion. so the fact that every one pinpoints at all the negative and/or misinterpreted sides of our religion...it's just ridiculous...Please get to know people before you judge them...You wouldn't what someone taking one look at you and start making all the negative things about you, so don't do it to others.

Those posters who mock the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints religious believes are bigots, uninformed or both. The candidate is Mitt Romney, a former Governor who served without pay, the man who saved the Winter Olympics, without pay, who has one wife, never been divorced and fine children. When widows abounded in the Church polygamy solved the problem. Since 1890 that has been abandoned and no one who practices polygamy can join the church and those who do so are excommunicated.

The Catholic Church is a great humanitarian religion of JFK and now Rudy Giuliani. Do you who freely mock the Mormons also bring up the Crusades and the Inquisitions bringing murder and death and torture to millions and the recent and widespread pederasty and pedophilia which has caused misery and damage to thousands of victims? Do these things however horrible disqualify a Catholic from the presidency? Of course not.
The good charitable works of the LDS Church through its members is legend. They provide food and supplies to the needy here and all over the world.

Their members serve in the Armed Forces and some received the Congressional Medal of Honor in past wars.

The money they pay into their church does not end up in the hands of their leaders who drive Rolls Royces and live in mansions. Those who serve the church as Bishops and the like receive no pay and work long hours for the good of the members and the community. They also contribute 10% of all they earn in regular employment to the church
There is a welcome visitor sign on every ward building and all are invited to attend and investigate the church during its services. Temples when built are first open to the public but then closed to all but those who have received recommends and reserved for those members who are proven worthy by their own words.
Other stupid remarks by the bigots and ignorant are not worthy of reply.

Mitt believes that unless you are in the Mormon church to-day, you will NOT be saved. I anticipate this his speech will backfire, exposing him for who he really is, someone who is trying to fleece the Christian vote.

Some of the people posting here seem to have some unresolved emotional issues with the Mormon church that they need to deal with. Why do they feel so threatened by the church?

As for Mitt, I think he has surrounded himself by too many advisors and consultants. He seems to be boxed in and overly scripted, probably because he has a dozen people telling him what to say at all times. Huckabie comes across as more natural and authentic, probably because of his lean staff. I would like to hear from Romney himself for once when he speaks this week, but I don't expect it.

Reading the blogs, I'm amazed how many people have misconceptions about the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints (Mormon). I know these people were persecuted in the 1800's, but I did realize people are still so bigoted today. Would it not be wiser to examine the candidate rather than his Christian denomination?

The fact remains that the LDS discrimanted willingly and regulalry against blacks. The only reason why they lifted their restriction on blacks holding the preisthood was because the LDS Church was opening their temple in Brazil. Examine Brigham Young's comments on blacks, and he claimed to be a prophet of God bringing back the restored gospel from apostasy. That carries some serious weight and shows the LDS Church for what it is- a racist institution. Also if I can add the LDS Church has never issued a former apology for their practice of withholding the priesthood from blacks. They cannot admit that they were wrong would mean to say that Brigham Young was wrong. That could undermine the entire cult. (Which would not be too bad...)

As a Christian I will not support Romney because the LDS Church is a cult. As a former LDS investigator who was once contemplating getting baptized into the LDS Church, I've found the LDS Church to be very dishonest.

Romney can say what he wants, but the Mormon Church has a terrible track record on race. They thought of having a Mormon President bothers me greatly.

At any rate, it's bound to be one of the great moments in comedy.

"Perhaps the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock "

And perhaps it's because the LDS is a bunch of sicko morons. Who can tell??

Mitt will tell us whatever we want to hear, to get us to vote for him. That's his career, his history, his biography. His religion.

Is he going to explain to us about the Magic Underwear?

The religous wack jobs who threaten to "stay home" are high maintenance partners in the conservative coalition . When they try to strong arm pro-business , small government , strong defense , and individual freedom conservatives they are on thin ice .

Many of the comments here about Mormons are just plain inaccurate. If you accept them all as true it's understandable why one would hesitate to vote for a Mormon.

Anti-Mormons often bring up the doctrine of baptism for the dead as an example of how strange Mormons are. No question that it's a topic that's bound to raise a few questions in anyone's mind. In reality, baptism for the dead is a simple & beautiful doctrine that demonstrates that God is just and loves all of His children:

Christians have struggled for centuries to reconcile the knowledge that faith in Jesus Christ is essential for salvation with the fact that billions of good people live and die without ever hearing the Savior's name. How does one profess faith in a Savior one has never heard of? Even churches that don't believe baptism is necessary have the dilemma, because of their minimum requirement of believing in Christ, with whom, unfortunately, most people in this life will not have the opportunity to become acquainted.

Mormons believe that the Gospel is preached not only in this life but the next as well (1 Peter 4:6). Those who accept it in this "Spirit World" need a valid baptism. Not having a body until the resurrection, the ordinance needs to be performed by someone else, a proxy who is still living and has a body. We don't generally know who has accepted the Gospel in the next life, but a baptism is performed for them with the hope that they will, and obviously, for their benefit. Living people stand as proxies and are baptized for all people who died without a valid baptism. The same thing was done during New Testament times (1 Corinthians 15:29).

No other Christian church has such an inclusive doctrine. No other church explains why billions of good people in India, China, Africa and elsewhere would be part of the two-thirds of the world's population that would be excluded from salvation because they never heard of Jesus Christ. Only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church) teaches that everyone who has ever lived on the earth will have an opportunity, either in this life or the next, to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, receive a valid baptism, and be saved.

If Romney was a racist he would have left his Church when blacks received the Priesthood---as many racists did. There are over 200,000 members of the Church from African descent; if you think Mormons are racist, you will benefit from their perspective on the whole supposed "racist" subject. Visit http://www.blacklds.org/.

The so-called "racist beliefs" of the Mormon Church are taken out of religious and historic context. Limiting the priesthood was driven by a sincere belief in a religious theology, not by racial superiority. Moreover, these beliefs were not invented by Mormonism and have a history spanning centuries, with origins in most Judeo-Christian religions. Compared to the unapologetic racist atmosphere in America, Mormons have been progressive in their condemnation of racial hatred, superiority, and bigotry. In the early 1800's, Joseph Smith (the founder of Mormonism) spoke out against slavery and called for its end. In 1844 Smith published the following, "Petition, also, ye goodly inhabitance of the slave states, your legislators to abolish slavery by the year 1850, or now, and save the abolitionist from reproach and ruin, and infamy and shame. Pray Congress to pay every man a reasonable price for his slave out of the surplus revenue arising from the sale of the public lands, and from the deduction of pay from the member of Congress. Break of the shackles from the poor black man, and hire him to labor like other human beings; for an hour of virtuous liberty is worth a whole eternity of bondage." One year later the noted philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson receive credit for making an almost identical statement, while Smith's statement was forgotten. Smith was one of the first American religious leaders to advocate for the social equalization of African American's and preached about their spiritual equality with all men and women. He encouraged their immigration and membership to the Church, invited them to worship in the Kirkland Temple and ordained African American's such as his adopted brother to the priesthood. Importantly, in the mid-1800's white political and/or mob leaders in Missouri used the fact that Mormon opposed slavery and welcome freed slaves to join the Church communities to justify murdering Mormon men, raping Mormon women, confiscating Mormon land and property, and forcing Mormons from the state at the point of a bayonet. You can disagree with religious beliefs but it is invalid to interpolate racist intentions into those beliefs.

On Capitol Hill in Washington DC I was a minister providing evangelical services in the LDS Church for several years--95% of the congregation was African-Americans--and I loved it (I'm a white man). Many previous drug-addicts embraced the Mormons' Word of Wisdom and excelled in their personal lives. I love my African-American brothers and sisters. So all of you people who give uninformed comments about Mormon racism--you're wrong. "...Ye' shall know them by their fruits."

Second point: When I was in Argentina in 1978, I was kicked out of a Catholic Medical School because I was LDS. In one discussion in school, students and administrators had no idea that I was LDS. When told that Mormons were not Christians--I defended my faith in Christ as a Mormon and was promptly not allowed to attend any more classes. Prior to enrolling in the school I asked if persons outside of Catholocism could study at their university and they said, "YES, no problem." Obviously, I did not reveal my faith to them at that time.

I feel that bigotry and discrimination have been leveled against Mormons even when we have acted morally, righteously, and kindly to others. So can Mitt run for president or does he have to denounce his faith? At what point can LDS people be judged by their fruits rather than by outsiders who have very little knowledge of or exposure to faithful Latter Day Saints and their doctrine?

The gap between the tasks of Romney and JFK are as big as the Grand Canyon.

JFK merely had to show that he would not be beholden to the Pope, that his religion would NOT interfere with his performance as president. Romney must prove something very differnt, that as he EMBRACES religion and wraps his presidency around it, that the tenets of his belief are acceptable to Americans.

A president can be any religion he or she chooses, but if that president is going to use that religion as a basis for their actions as president, the beliefs of that religion are fair game.

The Mormons believed in bigamy until they were forced to disavow the belief to join America, and as evidenced recently some have found it a difficult belief to discard. Mormons believe that America was peopled by lost Israelites and that battles with no archeological evidence whatsoever were fought in Missouri. Furthermore, and most damaging, Mormons believe that only THEY and of them ONLY A SELECT FEW deserve the rewards of heaven.

This is what we want in our next president? Especially considering all the troubles caused by the current one and his religion? I don't think so.

And should Romney try to weasel out of his religious background, what then is the basis for his beliefs that he has so fortuitously recently discovered?

BOBSTERII-OMG! You are Right!

Go to mittromney.com, find the Family Picture!

You will instantly find their HIDIOUS SECRET!

They MULTIPLY LIKE RABBITS!

Dang those Family Values Types!

I'm sure the ex-gov will give a polished, slick, focus-group-tested speech. But does it really matter what he says? There's not a SINCERE BONE in this man's body. Not a one. He will say whatever he needs to say in order to get elected by *this* constituency today, which bears no resemblance to what he said to the last constituency.

Sheez. I don't really care that Mormons think Jesus was prancing around Missouri before the white men came, or that God lives on the planet Kolob with his wife. What I care about is that this man is the most transparent car salesman and corporate stooge that I have seen in many, many years.

While I don't necessarily want an evangelical Christian in office, I cannot fathom how any of them would look at this man and Mike Huckabee next to one another, and have to think twice. Come on, is it really *that* difficult to see through the pander?

Mitt has a "gold plated resume"? Speaking of gold plates, how did Joseph Smith receive his revelation ?

I expect this press conference to be along the lines of a politician saying he's for "less crime and more jobs". Really nothing of substance will be talked about. I'm sure he won't talk about the controversial topics, like why they baptize dead people of differnent faiths into Mormonism, or if he believes the that the U.S. Constitution will be threatened and a Mormon will be elected president to restore it.

"Some facts might include:

• First, "Mormon" is a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members are often referred to as "Mormons," "Latter-day Saints," or "LDS." The term "Saint" means "member."

• Second, the Church was restored in 1830 in upstate New York with Joseph Smith as its first prophet and president. Today it is headquartered in Salt Lake City, with President Gordon B. Hinckley as the present prophet.

• Third, there are now over 13 million members in 176 countries and territories. About 6 million of these are in the United States, making us the fourth largest Christian denomination in America. As one of the fastest growing Christian faiths in the world, we complete a new chapel every working day. Members pay a tithe, which is 10 percent of their income, making this and other programs possible.

• Fourth, local congregations are led by volunteer, unpaid members. Both men and women serve in assigned leadership positions.

• And fifth, Mormons are well represented in politics and government. (In the United States, for example, there are 16 members in Congress, from both political parties.) Members also serve in high and trusted positions throughout the world in business, medicine, law, education, media, sports, and entertainment.

Faith
Next, people need to know something of our faith as committed Christians with strong traditional values. Along with the Articles of Faith we need to emphasize that:

• We believe in the eternity of the soul, that God is the Father of our spirits, and that we can return to Him after death.

• We believe that Jesus Christ is our personal Savior, and we try to model our lives after Him and His teachings. We commemorate Christ's atoning sacrifice in our Sunday worship services, similar to taking communion in other churches. We accept as fellow Christians all who believe Jesus Christ to be the Son of God and the Savior of all mankind. Many Christians do not understand that we have much common ground with them. Joseph Smith taught that Jesus Christ is the core of our belief, and everything else is an appendage to it (see Elders' Journal, July 1838, 44). The name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

• We believe the original church that Jesus established was lost and has been restored again in our day. The priesthood, the authority given to man to act in the name of God, with apostles and a prophet to lead us, has been restored as have all necessary ordinances of salvation.

• We believe in and we use the Holy Bible, both the Old and New Testaments.

• And we believe in the Book of Mormon and other books of scripture which support and authenticate the Bible and testify of the ministry and divinity of Christ and of God's ongoing revelation to man. Indeed, the Book of Mormon is "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."

Family
The next thing it is good for people to know is how family-centered our theology and our lifestyles are. Once again, simple statements are helpful to someone who is uninformed but curious about the importance we place on families.

• Mormons place particularly strong emphasis on family as the basic unit of the Church and of society. We have a deep commitment to marriage (defined as a union between one man and one woman). Polygamy, a limited practice in the early pioneer days of the Church, was discontinued in 1890, some 117 years ago.

• Families and individuals, whether members of our faith or not, can attend Sunday services in our chapels. Here we worship together, instructing one another from the scriptures.

• Latter-day Saint families are encouraged to hold family home evenings weekly, usually on Monday nights. This provides a regular and predictable time for parents to teach values to their children and to have fun together. We invite those not of our faith to adopt this practice with their own families.

• The Church has auxiliary programs for women, youth, and children as a support to the family. These programs provide such things as religious instruction, opportunities for Christian service, sports, drama, music, and Scouting.

• And there is also much focus on extended family, genealogy, and personal family history, providing young and old with a stronger sense of roots, identity, and belonging. The highest and most sacred ordinances of our faith relate to our families, both living and dead, and some of these ordinances take place in our temples.

Fruits
Now, even as someone begins to understand a few facts about us and comes to know us more accurately by our faith and the importance of family, it was the Savior who said "by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20; emphasis added). A church, or any way of life, should be judged by the fruits or the results that it generates. Here are a few examples based on United States statistics. But these would be similar throughout the world among practicing Mormons (by which we mean those who attend church and the temple regularly):

• One of the fruits is a longer life. Studies show that practicing Mormons are healthier and therefore live longer than the national average. In 1833 the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith the Word of Wisdom, which is the way to live in order to enjoy a long and healthy life.

• Second, those who are married in and attend the temple regularly have a divorce rate far below the national and world average.

• Third, we achieve an educational level that is higher than the national average.

• Fourth, over 70,000 members volunteer at their own expense to serve for 18 to 24 months in humanitarian efforts, Church service assignments, and full-time missionary service throughout the world.

• And fifth, we place strong emphasis on self-reliance and a solid work ethic. We encourage active involvement in our communities and in providing service to others. The Church continues to donate substantial money, goods, and services to humanitarian causes around the globe, including untold hours of labor donated by members to assist in disaster cleanup and relief."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published this material in the Ensign Magazine November 2007. It is authored by a Church member.

Southern Baptists and Evangelicals are among the most bigoted people I know. The letters above about so-called Mormon racism seem to have forgotten that Huckabee's religious forebears actively supported slavery and segregation. Who remembers that Jimmy Carter's own Baptist Church refused membership to a black person?

Brigham Young, a child of his time, inaugurated the banning of priesthood to blacks in the 1850s, in spite of the fact that Joseph Smith (the founder of the LDS Church) ordained at least one black person to the priesthood. But the church never forbade black membership.

Today, there are hundreds of thousands of African-descended priesthood-holding Mormons around the world.

Mormons serve in the House, the Senate, the military, lead great corporations, teach schools, produce fine and trivial art, and are often among the first on the scene with disaster aid.

We've survived a Quaker president, a Catholic president and hopefully we'll survive the current Evangelical president.

I think we would not only survive a Mitt Romney presidency, we'll probably be glad we elected him.

Next he can give a speech on why he was such a lousy governor.

Did you know that in 1845, the Southern Baptists were considered a cult by the Northern Baptists?

By the 1830's tension began to mount between the Northern and Southern Baptists. Baptists in the South were embracing slavery because it was the core of their social and economic order.

Baptists of the North were saying that God would not condone treating one race as superior to another while Southerners said that God intended for races to be separate. In around 1835, the Southern states began complaining that they weren't receiving money for mission work.

Let's put things into perspective. In 1865 over 620,000 Americans died over the slavery issue. Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians all fought for the right to own black people. The LDS Church has always been against slavery. Can the Southern Baptist Convention claim the same?

it's about time that he's going to be honest with us. we're finally going to learn just how many wives he does have.

SAVE OUR COUNTRY, NOT OUR SOULS

Romney and the other presidential aspirants have sworn to protect and defend the Constitution. The Republicans, led by Bush, Cheney, Rice et al and corporate America have frequently and without remorse violated their oaths. Why don't Romney, Huckabee, and their like give speeches about their faith in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law. If their religious faith prevents them from risking their souls when it comes to keeping an oath to protect and defend the Constitution including separation of church and state, they ought not to run for public office.

This is the perfect time for Romney to address the topic of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints often nicknamed the (The Mormon Religion). Voters need to know that Mormons beleive in Christ through and through, and that Christ is at the center of the religion. People also need to know that the leaders of the church will not tell Mitt how to run the country. It is not there job to do so.

Mitt is the most qualified candidate by far and addressing the topic of mormonism is a smart strategic move on his part. I am confident that once people see that mormons are a normal christ loving people that concerns will melt away and people will be able to see him for who he really is.

He has a gold plated resume

He has successful executive experience in changing things around

He has a wonderful family, that is not tanted with scandal.

He looks presidential

And quite frankly he is the most competent candidate we have and we need to rally around him with support and forget this whole religious thing.

Mitt will win Iowa and the nomination. People of Iowa are not ignorant. They realize that any vote for any candidate other than Mitt Romney is essentially a vote for Rudy and Iowa will not let that happen.

Go Mitt!!

I don't get it. I think this is a mistake by Romney. The fundamentally incorrect assumption about this is that he is falling behind in IA because of his religion. Rubbish! The reason is he is, is because he is a Johnny come lately to the religious right and Huckabee speaks their language with ease. He has curried favor with so called "religious" conservative leaders who care about Washington D.C. power politics while the foot soldiers who vote are attracted to folks who they perceive (even if they once went astray) are with them through thick and thin. Romney's record from Mass is not that of GWB of 2000. The folks voting in IA know that and talking about his church makes no difference. Also, the folks who would vote against him because of that would do so anyway since he can't convert in time for the primaries. Finally, Iowans don't like big spending slicksters, they, like most voters who live oustide the echo chamber which the East Coast liberal media elite thinks is the center of the universe, want real people who while they may disagree with them on certain things are not programmed and/or blatantly ambitious (a la Hilary and Romney).
I think this makes a mdoerate non-issue into a distracting major issue. All Huckabee has to say is (a) romney is insutling xtian conservatives by suggesting his Mormon faith is an issue (b) his record is more conservative than Romney's and (c) Romney is not sincere because he was a liberal and did a 180 just in time for the election.

But I guess being a programmed candidate, it should not surprise me that Romney decided to go this route.

I CAN'T STAND THIS GUY. HE LOOKS PHONY, HE ACTS LIKE HOLYWOOD STAR, HE IS JUST NOT NATURAL AT ALL. USUALLY THESE TYPE OF PEOPLE ARE HIDING SOMETHING ALWAYS.

As neither a christian or a mormon, I find it awfully amusing when both groups go at it. I don't know which is funnier, the christians insisting that unless you believe their specific fantasy (depending on which sect) they won't vote for you, or the mormons insistence that there's no need to solve the gold tablet, magic glasses mystery. Both have used their "beliefs" to oppress, bully and discriminate. Both try to ignore the fact the the Constitution of the United States forbids a religious test of any kind for holding office. So which is it..? If you want to work in Government, show me you can do the job, don't tell me about your spiritual gullibilities. W

We've just had 7 years of people being packed into the government when their only qualifications were their religious faith. They've done a heckuva job, too!

This should be entertaining...the slippery Mittster is going to level with the voting public about his religious views...sure he is, just as soon as his speechwriters decide what exactly those views mught be...get your chameleon suit ready, Mitt...you'll need to change positions so quickly you might well be mistaken for a kaleidoscope...

I would rather he give a speech explaing his breathtaking lies.

From the people who know him best, Republicans from Mass:

Rappaport said of the former governor, "His word is no good...Mitt Romney would say one thing in a meeting and literally go out of the meeting to the press and tell the opposite story. There was no desire in the legislature to be accommodating to him because they couldn't trust him." Romney, Rappaport continued, "will be clear today on what he believes today, and he'll be clear tomorrow on what he believes tomorrow, but they may be different things."

Should just nominate Joe Lieberman . That would unite the Holy Rollers with Islamonazis against the JOOZ .

In addition to Romney (hopefully)talking about Mormon history and Mormon discrimination against black people--he should also discuss why Mormons don't allow women to advance to same levels as men within the church.

Uhm...talking about mormon discrimination...I HONESTLY think it is completely stupid for all of you to pull this 'blacks/discrimination' on Romney just cuz he is mormon, because as far as history goes concerning discrimination against blacks...MORMONS WEREN'T THE ONLY DISCRIMINATORS...if you remember every other religion and what not was involved in it just as much if not more. So before you judge any mormons about their discrimination of the earlier years...LOOK AT YOURSELVES...MAYBE YOU PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY DID WHEN DISCRIMINATION WAS HAPPENING DURING THEIR TIMES...

Wow, a Republican having to copy a Democrat in order to project some semblance of empathy and compassion.

It just illustrates the complete lack of humanity in the current crop of "mine's bigger" republicans....

Romney's doing this as an attention grabber, to try change the emerging narrative in Iowa as the place where Huckabee derailed him, going into New Hampshire. If he doesn't stop Huckabee's momentum now, Romney's sunk. He had a front-loaded strategy, and he has no fall back position.

As a former Mormon there are SO many "insider" questions I would like to ask him (stuff you wouldn't know to ask him about if you were never of his faith).

Mitt's going to give the "glossed over" answers Americans want. For real answers to your questions, go to the bulletin board at www.exmormon.org. (It is read-only today 12/2, but it will re-open for new posts tomorrow morning.) You do not have to register to post!

OH, LOL! The Mormons are the ones who discriminated?

Guess that explains the "Black" Baptists!
Segregation?-Ohhhh, No! Not Down South!

Why in Hope Arkansas, Jesse Jackson sung right next to Brother Huck! Yeah, RIGHT!!!

Gee, I wonder if Romney will talk about his Church's use of electroshock to "cure" gays and about the mark of God on people of color who were the "fence sitters" in the war between God and Satan in the Mormon pre-existence of souls.

In listening to Mr. Romney's speech this Thursday, one should note how closely Mr. Romney's remarks are aligned with the basic beliefs of the Mormon faith. In preparation for such an evaluation, I have gone to the official web site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). The link to that site is www.lds.org. Additionally, this link http://scriptures.lds.org/a_of_f/1/1-13#1 will open a web page addressing the Church's Articles of Faith, the standards on which Mormon doctrine are based.

I would suggest that by comparing Mr. Romney's remarks with the standards of his church one will have a good idea of his character and his ability to lead our country in a fair and responsible manner. I, for one, will be listening intently.

The media seems to be giving a pass to Romney and the Mormon church.. I refer to the Mormons treatment of black Americans.. in 1969 there were demonstrations on college campuses concerning Mormon discrimination against black people-- it took til 1978 for the leader of the Mormon church to get a message from God which directed him to change the rules... most all members of the church accepted the pre- 1978 rules with little thought or complaint... I would like to hear 1) the true 2007 feelings of Mormons on this whole subject ..and 2) the polished public relations statement..so far we have heard neither one... why the eerie silence on this issue ?

Romney was 31 years old in 1978, the year the Mormon church finally allowed blacks into the priesthood.

So did he think it was okay to hold racist beliefs against blacks back then, and if not, why didn't he leave his church?

I can't think of anything more boring than graduates from Bob Jones, Liberty, Oral Roberts and the Univ. of Utah, read U of LDS.

Romney is a phony, just like his church.

This ought to be interesting. Unlike Kennedy, Romney has to sell his religion to those who demand his policies be based upon his religion, a divisive, offensive demand to many. Plus, he's earned a reputation for insincerity. Will he be believed? I think he's a goner.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the New Testament than any other denomination. Harper's Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says "the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament."

Perhaps the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood). It is encouraging that Paul Weyrich, Wayne Grudem and Bob Jones III, (along with Jay Sekulow and Mark DeMoss) have rejected bigotry and now support Mitt Romney on the basis that he is the most moral candidate with the best qualifications.