Mitt Romney: there is more to the man than politics. He is, after all, a husband, father, and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon). Mitt Romney was reared in an religious Mormon home in Michigan. He served a two year religious mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to France for 30 months, which is an extension of the typical 24 month mission usually served by men of the LDS faith. He was sent to France to help manage church affairs, work with young people and try to win converts. “It’s a very Catholic country, and successes are few and far between,” he says, “but I made a number of very good friends.” (Will Mormon Faith Hurt Bid for Whitehouse, 2007).

Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann Romney, converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints before they were married in 1969. They have five sons together and have been touted as having a strong marriage, based on Christian values taught by the Mormon Church.

Mitt Romney has also served in the Church as a part-time lay minister (Bishop and Stake President). Due to his religious beliefs, which include adhering to what is referred to as the Word of Wisdom, Mitt Romney abstains from drinking alcohol, using tobacco, and any illegal drug use. He also pays a full tithe to the Church which means he donates 10% of his income to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He also attends the temple of the Mormon Church and recommends that people learn more about the temple by visiting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The LDS Church teaches first and foremost that there’s a God who is our Heavenly Father, that all the children of the world are his, that humanity is one great family, that we have a duty to serve one another and that we should try and live better lives. Believing in humanity as one great family is why the members refer to one another as “brother” and “sister”.

Being a member of the Mormon Church can be difficult at times due to the extreme beliefs that the members are held to. They are to attend church services every week, attend the temple on a regular basis, donate 10% of their earnings to the church, have a food storage system in place, love thy neighbor, be financially sound, help others, avoid caffeinated drinks such as coffee and tea, and more. There are of course benefits to being a member of the Mormon Church. They believe in life after death, families forever, the ability to become a God, repentance, Christ-like love, salvation, and more.

Additional Resources:

Mitt Romney is a member of the Mormon Church. Learn more at the official site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon Church”).

The Book of Mormon is a companion to the Bible and contains the gospel of Jesus Christ. Request a free copy today.

Attend a local meetinghouse.

It’s no secret that Ann has long been idolized by Mitt. It’s been said that Mitt, while serving as a Mormon missionary, cringed at the imagined possibility that Ann might have other marital prospects in his two year service for the Lord and lengthy absence from his high-school sweetheart.  As soon as they could envelop themselves in personal conversation after his return from France, Mitt told Ann that between his leave and his homecoming–feelings hadn’t changed.  He asked her to marry him and Ann said yes.

Tagg, Mitt and Ann’s oldest son, often speaks of the “rule in the family”: His father was consistent in affirming and adhering to his policy that no one would talk back to or otherwise be disrespectful towards Ann, their mother.  Mitt reveres and respects his wife, Ann, and has always thought he was privileged to be at her side.

Ann, strikingly attractive, is as down to earth as her husband.  It was at her prodding, that Mitt reconsidered the opportunity to turnaround the Olympics.  It is her job, as he’s told her on more than one day when she was frazzled after mothering, that he saw as more important than his.

Ann has an extensive background of service, within the walls of her home as she and Mitt raised her five sons, and within the community.  Ann has served in the New England Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society,  volunteered with a Boston academy focused on helping inner city youth, and helped to develop the “Right to Play–a non-profit organization that uses sports to help disadvantaged children” (1). She is a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

One Boston Herald article records, “Ann Romney is the sun around which the Romney solar system–Mitt and five sons: Tagg, Matt, Josh, Craig and Ben–revolves” (2).

See Mitt Romney: The Man, His Values, and His Vision, Mapletree Publishing Company, Denver Colorodo, 2007, pp 81-82).

Additional Resources:

The family is very important to members of the Mormon Church. Learn more at the official site of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon Church”).

Learn some basic Mormon beliefs.

The Book of Mormon is a companion to the Bible. Request a free copy today.