In response to the question “Is Mitt Romney a Christian,” three people’s answers are listed below:

Response #1

Yes, as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to as “The Mormon Church”), Mitt Romney is a Christian. I am also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jesus Christ is my Savior and King. He suffered in Gethsemane that my sins might be forgiven. He died on the cross and was resurrected on the third day that I might also live again. One of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon says, “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26). Mormons are Christians, because they look to Jesus Christ as their Savior. Therefore, if Mitt Romney is practicing member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he is also a Christian.

Jennifer

Response #2

Everybody knows that Mitt Romney is a Mormon, but is he Christian? There is a lot of confusion out there as to whether or not Mormons are Christians, mostly because many people don’t really know or understand what Mormons believe. Any Mormon asked this question will typically first refer you to the proper name and title of our church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints—and consider that answer enough.

We tend to prefer using the full name of our church and/or referring to ourselves as Latter-Day Saints in order to avoid the confusion which titles like “Mormons” or “Mormonism” can create. These titles are nicknames given to us by people of other faiths. We believe in an extra book of scripture called the Book of Mormon, which is where this mis-label comes from, but we do not worship or follow Mormon, and the Book of Mormon is a second testament of Jesus Christ. As followers of Christ who recognize Him as our Lord God, Savior, and Redeemer, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, like Mitt Romney, consider themselves Christians.

I, personally, have had many conversations with other Christians, some of whom claim Mormons or LDS members are not Christian, because our foundational beliefs about Christ are very different from those of mainstream or traditional Christianity. Here is where we are alike and different:

Like all other Christians, we believe that the Bible is the word of God and that it contains the history of Christ’s earthly ministry. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He suffered for our sins so that we may be forgiven and return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven. We pray in His name, as He is our intercessor and mediator. We believe it is necessary to have faith in Him, repent of our sins, be baptized in His name, and receive His Holy Spirit in order to be accepted as His in the eternities.

Unlike other Christians, we believe that Christ suffered for our sins in Gethsemane before dying on the cross. The acts were two separate things for different purposes. Taking on our sins in Gethsemane is what makes repentance possible, and his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection are what allows us to also overcome death and be resurrected. We also believe that Christ visited His children in the Americas after His resurrection and that the record of this visit can be found in the Book of Mormon. We believe that He retained His earthly body, which is like ours, and that it was perfected at His resurrection. He is a separate physical being from God the Father, literally His Son and Only Begotten. Those I’ve spoken with who claim these differences mean Mormons are not Christians say that we worship a “different” Jesus than they do.

I do not think it is necessary for all Christians to believe everything that I do about our Savior, and I think that all of us will be judged on the condition of our hearts more than the specific religion we hold ourselves to. I consider myself a Christian and hope that my heart is aligned with Christ as I strive to follow His example.

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I would say that Mitt Romney is, like myself, Christian. What we as Latter-day Saints believe about Christ and His eternal nature may be different from what other Christians believe, but we still consider Him our God, our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer, and we strive to bring our lives in line with His teachings. If that doesn’t make us Christians, I don’t know what does.

Melissa

Response #3

When asked what he thought of Christ, Mitt Romney said “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind.” This statement is central to the beliefs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes referred to by the nickname of “Mormons”), of which Mr. Romney is one.

This confession is good evidence that Mitt Romney is a Christian. For those who still doubt Mr. Romney on this question, CS Lewis responds much more meaningfully than I ever could:

“It is not for us to say who, in the deepest sense, is or is not close to the spirit of Christ. We do not see into men’s hearts. We cannot judge, and are indeed forbidden to judge. It would be wicked arrogance for us to say that a man is, or is not, a Christian in this refined sense” (Mere Christianity, Touchstone, 1996, pp. 10–11).

Cliff

When you look up the definition of charity in  Webster’s dictionary, you read the following:

…benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity, generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering, an institution engaged in relief of the poor, lenient judgment of others.

The author with Mitt Romney at a Virginia Beach event.

It would seem that no matter what your beliefs or political party might be, you would want to associate with someone who has charity in his heart. Unfortunately, having a charitable heart and acting on one’s belief is being attacked in a way that is causing many Americans to question the values of our leaders and citizens.

When asked by Chris Wallace from Fox News  whether his contributions in the form of Mormon tithing to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would be a political problem, Romney responded by saying,

“Gee, I hope not. If people want to discriminate against someone based upon their commitment to tithe, I’d be very surprised. This is a country that believes in the Bible. The Bible speaks about providing tithes and offerings. I made a commitment to my church a long, long time ago that I would give 10 percent of my income to the church. And I followed through on that commitment. And, hopefully, as people look at various individuals running for president, they’d be pleased with someone who made a promise to God and kept that promise. So, if I had given less than 10 percent, then I think people would have had to look at me and say, hey, what’s wrong with you, fella, don’t you follow through on the promises?”

What a direct and powerful response to something that those who have opposed the church for a long time are trying to make an issue.

It is disheartening that in a time when so many are need of extra money, help, love and support those that can give and do give are being attacked for their contributions. At what point do people focus on the good in others and accept that we will have differences? There will never be one person or government that can change the world, but together great change can take place. When you allow those that have made a conscious decision to help others — whether it is through service, donations, support or other means to do so without condemnation or prejudice, we will then begin to see the kind of change that is necessary to create better world around us.

Mormon Donations

It is important to note that the Mormons have the opportunity to donate in a variety of ways within the church and each one of those has a very important purpose. In addition to paying Mormon tithing, members of the LDS church have the opportunity to donate to help in other aspects of the church; these include Humanitarian Aid, Temples, Missionary Fund, Perpetual Education Fund and Mormon Fast Offerings. Each one of these categories is important to the welfare of both members and non-members of the church. It would seem that a religion that is so focused on helping those that are in need would be praised for these efforts.

When it comes to Mormons and the LDS church, those that want to take the opportunity to try and paint a negative picture or anti-Mormons,  have and will continue to use those beliefs they feel do not align with “the world’s” version of Christianity.  They will look at the teachings and say things that are just plain false. However, to attack ones personal choice to donate and follow their beliefs seems to be a direct contradiction of what Christianity teaches. Why would someone be questioned when they give of their money to help an organization, group, person or religion they feel strongly about? There is no logical answer even those many will try to spin how the money that has been donated is used.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been recognized around the world as a church that is first to help in times of need. They are often the first in a country when disaster strikes. They have created a culture through the inspiration of their called leaders to ensure that the needy are taken care of. The ability to help the needy can only come when those that have a strong belief and are willing to give actually write a check or donate what they can.

One of the greatest things about the principle of Mormon tithing, which is what we are actually referring to, is that it is a principle of faith. There are many who are willing to pay tithing to their church when life is good and they are earning good money. However, the true blessings of paying one’s tithe comes when things are that good and money is not coming in a good rate. It is during those times when faith  precedes the action. We should all be grateful for every person that is willing to act on their charitable heart by giving.

Here are headlines to show just small sampling of what the Mormon donations of good hearted people like Mitt Romney go towards:

Church Donates Fishing Equipment to Japan

Church Helps Feed Hungry Argentine Children

Church Sends Aid to Ethiopia

Donation to School in China

Church Donations Aid Romanian Flood Refugees

Church Equips Kitchens to Help Peruvian Poor

This is just a small sample to provide some insight into just how critical it is to have people not only believe in what their church teaches but live what they are taught. So why has this become an issue for Mitt Romney? It hasn’t, that is the interesting thing. This has become an issue for those that already oppose the Mormons and their beliefs. Mitt Romney made a commitment to pay tithing years ago and he is fulfilling his commitment and because of that, he has and continues to be blessed. There are many people who donate their money to different charities whether they are based on a religious belief or their personal values. We should look to those who are willing to set an example by giving to those organizations that help make a difference.  The Mormon Humanitarian Aid fund, because of its Mormon volunteers, disburses 100% of the donations it receives to actual humanitarian aid.

So while some are spending their time and money trying to attack the act of giving, others are actually out making a difference donating to their church or other causes they believe in that can actually help others. No matter what your religion is, no matter what your political views are, we must find ways to help each other. This is not going to come simply by increasing or decreasing taxes. This is going to come from the goodness of peoples’ heart. As a hand is extended to our neighbors, greatness will prevail, it always has and always will. America needs to be sure that we do not allow politics to get in the way of us helping one another.

Link to Chris Wallace Fox News Interview- Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-news-sunday/2012/01/22/mitt-romney-south-carolina-defeat-speaker-john-boehner-talks-jobs-state-union?page=3#ixzz1l9w1Auw0

Seth Saunders is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon”). He is currently serving as Branch President of the Pembroke Branch.

Additional Resources:

Mormons and Their Basic Beliefs

Mormon Church Finances

Is the Mormon Church Wealthy?

Mitt Romney contributes monies, above taxes, to the Church of Jesus Christ

ABC broke the news–not surprising–that Mitt Romney has made significant contributions to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a personal level.  From Andrea Saul, one of Mitt’s spokespersons, we read:

Mitt Romney has publicly stated that he regularly tithes to his church. Some of those church contributions have come through the Tyler Foundation. Others have been donations of stock through Bain. Any shares donated by Mitt Romney are personal shares owned by him.

Saul also notes not all the shares that appear on Bain securities filings can be attributed to Romney, “as there are other Mormon members of the firm who may also have been making donations to the church of personal shares owned by them.”

Others, unfamiliar with the Mormon faith, may wonder:

So where does all of this money go that Mitt Romney (Mormon) and others pass on to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Does he tithe? Yes. Does he pay other offerings? Yes. Why?…. And to what end? What do Mormons believe about their financial responsibilities and giving to the Lord and to the poor and needy? Find a brief response to these questions below, from an everyday Latter-day Saint.

Unlike the funds of some organizations, even some denominations, that sometimes are deployed and derailed for personal aggrandizement and advantage that we’ve all heard about with disappointing frequency, wherein a charlatan minister zaps funds to his own ends, The Church of Jesus Christ has a clear, specific, divine arrangement for the use of sacred, voluntary contributions to the Church, known as tithes and offerings.

The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us to pay tithing & promises great blessings

Most Christians are familiar with the giving of voluntary tithes; perhaps fewer are with the concept of offerings–additional contributions beyond the tenth of income, for the poor and needy and kingdom-building advances. Mormons, from the rank and file to the high-profile–and yes, including Mitt Romney–make these sacred personal donations to the Lord and His Church.

The Lord’s definition of tithing

The Lord’s definition of tithing provides clarity for us and indicates that His law is still in effect, though a small percentage of Christians nationally are known to pay it to their churches. In fact, the Barna Group estimated in April 2008 study that 5% of all American adults tithed in 2007. Evangelicals had the highest percentage (24%) and the study estimated that 12% of conservatives and 10% of registered Republicans tithed. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, tithing is a commandment for each member, regardless of circumstance, that reaps great blessings over our personal and spiritual harvests as we comply. Mormons believe in giving God the first-fruits of their labors and income–ten percent off the top.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–built on the same foundation as Christ’s original Church, with apostles and a prophet–shares the following regarding the nature of the law of tithing:

The simplest statement we know of is the statement of our Lord Himself, namely, that the members of the Church should pay ten percent of all their interest annually, which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this” (Letter from the Prophet and Counselors, known as “The First Presidency,” 19 March 1970).

The Prophet Joseph Smith, called in our day, as an instrument to “restore” Christ’s original Church to the earth, was taught by resurrected Beings and the Savior Himself about the Church’s organization and eternal laws. As the Church of Jesus Christ (inadvertently called by the media “The Mormon Church”) was organized and began to grow, the doctrines of the kingdom were taught to Joseph by the Lord in their fulness, including the law of tithing and consecration.  To that end, the prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation on tithing on July 8, 1838 in Far West, Missouri, which he recorded along with others in a modern volume of scripture known as the Doctrine and Covenants, as follows:

3 And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.

4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.

Blessings of tithing to the Lord

Mormons tithe, the Lord rewards in unimagined, remarkable ways.  Though the one who tithes does so out of love of God, the heavens do open and God compensates each for compliance with His laws.Elder John A. Widtsoe, late apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ (Mormon, Church leader), spoke of spiritual blessings that come when followers of Christ, like Mitt Romney, like each of us who are Christian Latter-day Saints, pay tithing:

The tithe-payer establishes communion with the Lord. This is the happiest reward. Obedience to the law of tithing, as to any other law, brings a deep, inward joy, a satisfaction and understanding that can be won in no other way. Man becomes in a real sense a partner, albeit a humble one, with the Lord in the tremendous, eternal program laid out for human salvation. The principles of truth become clearer of comprehension; the living of them easier of accomplishment. A new nearness is established between man and his Maker. Prayer becomes easier. Doubt retreats; faith advances; certainty and courage buoy up the soul. The spiritual sense is sharpened; the eternal voice is heard more clearly. Man becomes more like his Father in Heaven”  (Deseret News, 16 May 1936, Church Section, 5).

The following story, related by a living witness of Jesus Christ–modern-day apostle–Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve, illustrates how we can receive temporal blessings as we pay tithing:

During World War II, my widowed mother supported her three young children on a schoolteacher’s salary that was meager. When I became conscious that we went without some desirable things because we didn’t have enough money, I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: ‘Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without the blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing. When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless us, and we must have those blessings if we are to get along’ ” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 43–44; or Ensign, May 1994, 33).

In order to be worthy to enter the Lord’s House, or temples, each Mormon complies with this law. Again, this money is not intended to glut the leadership or to be used in any other manner than by divine stewardship, the building of chapels, temples, and for the global needs of the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church releases an audited statement each year of his use of sacred funds which is approved by the general membership of the Church at an annual Conference.

How are Mitt Romney & Mormons’ tithing funds used?

Tithing funds are disbursed through the care and direction of what is known as the Presiding Bishopric of the general Church, and under the direction of the living prophet and his two counselors–known as the First Presidency.

Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, explains the use of these Mormon tithing funds:

[Tithing] funds are spent to build and maintain temples and houses of worship, to conduct our worldwide missionary work, to translate and publish scriptures, to provide resources to redeem the dead [genealogy and LDS temple work], to fund religious education, and to support other Church purposes selected by the designated servants of the Lord (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 46; or Ensign, May 1994, 35).

President Gordon B. Hinckley, prophet prior to President Thomas S. Monson, spoke of the deep respect the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes has for tithing funds:

I keep on the credenza behind my desk a widow’s mite that was given me in Jerusalem many years ago as a reminder, a constant reminder, of the sanctity of the funds with which we have to deal. They come from the widow; they are her offering as well as the tithe of the rich man, and they are to be used with care and discretion for the purposes of the Lord. We treat them carefully and safeguard them and try in every way that we can to see that they are used as we feel the Lord would have them used for the upbuilding of His work and the betterment of people (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 69; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 50).

Mitt Romney would be a tither, as a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). No one is exempt who is striving to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  He has given us all; we give Him our first-fruits, a sign of His priority position in our lives and our gratitude and acknowledgement that all we have that is good comes from Him. We’re not here to do an analysis of his personal taxes or stocks donated, or monies given, but simply to share the principles of the faith he embraces, and let him speak for himself.

As we ponder these blessings, we can see that the Lord, as He promised in His own words, truly does “open … the windows of heaven, and pour … out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10; see also Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ: 3 Nephi 24:10).

So when Mitt Romney explains his large donations to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we hope you’ll know that he is following his convictions to give back to the God who gave him all, just as each us who tithe with an honest heart, are striving to do. Some called it the “river principle” through which money flows through us to reach God’s intended destination. Tithing helps each of us guard against the mistake of thinking ownership of goods is pre-eminent over owning the riches inherent in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Additional Resources:

Learn more about the sacred nature of tithing funds 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”).

Mitt Romney is a faithful member of the Mormon Church.

Request a free copy of the Book of Mormon or Bible.

On January 23, 2012, Mitt Romney released his tax information for 2010-2011, showing himself to be one of the richest men ever to run for president of the United States.   Fifteen percent of his income went to charitable donations, mostly to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often erroneously called the “Mormon Church.”  The LDS Church is known for its financial soundness, the result of wise financial practices, impeccable ethics, and no debt.  The Church of Jesus Christ even pays for its temples in cash.

Mitt Romney’s Tithing

Mitt Romney is a member in good standing in the LDS Church.  He is worthy to enter a holy Mormon temple to make higher covenants there.  That means he is a “full tithe payer.”  The paying of tithing (meaning ten percent of one’s increase) is an ancient biblical practice, as sacrifice is a foundational principle of the gospel.  In Old Testament times, people offered animal sacrifices, but they also paid tithing, often in kind (from their flocks and fields, rather than with money).

And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps (2 Chronicles 31:6).

Thus, ten percent of Mitt Romney’s income would have gone to the Church of Jesus Christ as tithes.  Tithing is paid confidentially in the LDS Church; there are no collection plates passed around at church meetings.  There are no plaques on the walls of meetinghouses or temples showing who made donations to build the edifices.

Although one must be a full tithe-payer to enter a holy Mormon temple, this is determined by the member making a statement to the bishop (leader of the congregation).  The bishop accepts this statement as truth.  Tithing is paid voluntarily.   No one is forced to pay.  Mitt Romney pays the same amount of tithing as the poorest member of the Church of Jesus Christ — ten percent.

But Mitt Romney has given more than ten percent of his income to the Church of Jesus Christ.  Why is that?  First, there are other voluntary offerings besides tithing.

Mitt Romney’s other Donations

The first Sunday of every month, Mormons fast for two meals and donate the money they would have spent on food to the poor and needy.  These funds first go to help those in the local congregation.  The excess goes to the Church.  The Church of Jesus Christ has a remarkable welfare system designed to increase the self-reliance of those who use it.  Using “fast offerings” and the volunteer labor of the Latter-day Saints, the Church produces foodstuffs and distributes them through “Bishop’s Storehouses.”  Employment counseling and other helps are also provided by the Church.

Other specific funds exist in the Church to which one may donate:

• The Ward Missionary Fund helps support missionaries from one’s home congregation.
• The General Missionary Fund helps support missionaries from all over the Church.  (Missionaries pay their own way when they serve, but some are unable.)
• The Book of Mormon fund purchases Books of Mormon for missionaries to distribute.
• The Temple Construction Fund aids in building temples.
• The Perpetual Education Fund helps to educate youth from poorer countries who have served missions for the Church.
• The Humanitarian Aid Fund finances the humanitarian efforts of the Church.

Mormon Humanitarian Aid

Virtually 100% of donations to the Mormon Humanitarian Aid Fund go to actual humanitarian aid, making it a wise choice for philanthropic giving.  Mormon aid is often the first to arrive when a disaster occurs, and Mormon humanitarian aid workers are often the last to leave after a disaster, giving ongoing aid with a view to reconstruction.  The LDS Church also has many ongoing charitable projects.   The Church of Jesus Christ has donated $1.3 Billion worth of assistance since 1985.

Is the LDS Church Wealthy?

Although The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest religion in the United States and is now a world-wide church, it is still relatively small with over 14 million members (2011).  However, its sound financial practices have made it very financially stable.  Read about LDS Church finances here.

See also Mormon Money.

See also Mormons in Business.

See also Tithing.

In South Carolina, the third U.S. state to hold a vote for Republican presidential candidate, Newt Gingrich took 41% of the vote to Romney’s 27%.  Rick Santorum had 17 percent of the vote and Ron Paul  had 13 percent. Romney is still projected to come out ahead in number of delegates to the upcoming Republican convention.  Still, Gingrich garnered 23 delegates from South Carolina to Romney’s two.  Some had predicted that if Romney took South Carolina, the primaries would be all but over, and he would be the shoe-in candidate for the presidency.  Ginrich’s South Carolina triumph extends the race, possibly for months.

Two reasons for the victory posed by the press are Romney’s moderate leanings and his Mormon faith.

Since the 1980 election, every Republican candidate who won the South Carolina primary has gone on to capture the party nomination.

The U.S. media touted Mitt Romney, saying he had cemented his place as the frontrunner in the Republican primaries to choose a 2012 presidential candidate with his decisive win in New Hampshire on January 10th.  Romney ran 16% ahead of his nearest competitor, Ron Paul, with 39% of the vote.  Paul garnered 23% of the vote, and Jon Huntsman was third, with 17%.  Shortly after, Huntsman dropped out of the race and backed Romney.

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich was slightly ahead of former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum for fourth place in New Hampshire; each had about 9 percent of the vote. [1]

From the New Hampshire primary, Romney garnered 7 delegates, and Ron Paul won three, Jon Huntsman winning none.

A film financed by Gingrich backers and set for release in South Carolina today attacks Romney as a child of privilege who is “more ruthless than Wall Street.”

The film relates the stories of people who say they lost their jobs after their companies were taken over by Bain, without naming the workers. The video, while often relying on news accounts, at times stretches the truth and takes some reports out of context or selectively edits them, a review by Bloomberg News shows. [1]

Gingrich later called a stop to the attacks over Romney’s management at Bain Capital.

By Amy Choate-Nielsen

Deseret News
Published: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012 7:00 p.m. MST

David Letterman knows how to get a laugh. Like most comics, he riffs on the day’s news, deadpans the camera and revels in audacity.”Oh, did you hear about this?” the host of CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman asked his audience recently. “A campaign staffer on the Newt Gingrich campaign was fired because he was making negative comments about Mormons. I thought, now, wait a minute — isn’t Newt in favor of multiple wives?”
Laughter rumbled from the audience followed by applause. The polygamy punch line is a familiar one when it comes to poking fun at Mormons — as though Mormons and polygamy are synonymous in mainstream media. Ironically, the practice that’s most linked to Mormons is a practice most Mormons oppose, according to a groundbreaking new study of

Mormons in America released Thursday by the Pew Research Center‘s Forum on Religion and Public Life.

According to the study, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints unequivocally reject polygamy — only 2 percent said the practice is morally acceptable — evidence of a yawning gap in what Mormons believe and how they are perceived. Mormons’ opinions are overwhelmingly conservative, the study shows, but in many ways, their views are also surprising — especially when it comes to opinions on moral issues, divorce, homosexuality and polygamy.

Morality

Mormons also take a significant stance on moral issues in other areas, such as divorce, sex outside of marriage and consumption of alcohol.
Although teachings from the LDS Church emphasize the importance and eternal nature of the family, only 25 percent of Mormons surveyed said divorce is morally wrong, according to the study. That means Mormons are slightly less morally opposed to divorce than the general public.

“For Catholics, divorce does not exist. They think it is not only wrong but it is impossible,” said Matthew Bowman, member of a board of expert advisers to the Pew Research Center for the study and author of “The Mormon People,” a book on the history of the LDS Church. “That has not been true for Mormons. There is theological space for divorce within Mormonism. It is undesirable, but Mormons recognize it is sometimes necessary and sometimes the right thing to do.”

Other moral views revealed in the survey — 54 percent said drinking alcohol was morally wrong, compared with 15 percent of the general public — set Mormons apart, Bowman says. The assumption on the part of non-Mormons is that if Mormons think drinking alcohol is wrong, then they must think everyone who imbibes is morally flawed. That apprehension can make people suspicious of Mormons, and wary of an elitist attitude, he says.

Differences in moral viewpoints can create a stumbling block for Mormon acceptance — not only in high-profile arenas, such as a presidential election, but also in communities.
“What you find throughout the report is a tension,” said David Campbell, assistant professor at Notre Dame and an adviser on the study. “Mormons like to use the phrase, ‘Be in the world but not of the world.’ They are certainly living their lives in the world. They are active and involved in their communities, but they have these beliefs and practices that set them apart a little bit, and sometimes there is conflict.”

Homosexuality

Mormons have some of the most conservative opinions when it comes to homosexuality. The survey asked Mormons if homosexuality should be accepted by society or discouraged by society, with an option for neither, both or “don’t know.” The response — 26 percent said homosexuality should be accepted, 65 percent said it should be discouraged — puts Mormons as the least likely to say homosexuality should be accepted by society. But a 26 percent acceptance rate, with roughly 1 in 4 Mormons saying homosexuality should be accepted, might be surprisingly high to some.

Of particular interest is the fact that only 8 percent of Mormons surveyed identified themselves as liberal, and 66 percent said they were conservative. That means some of those who said homosexuality should be accepted also identify themselves as politically conservative, Bowman says. That distinction illustrates the complexity of Mormons’ opinion on sexuality — that it is rooted more in religious precepts than politics.
Still, it’s difficult to draw a conclusion about Mormons‘ views on homosexuality based on the study, says Pew Research Center adviser Terryl Givens, professor of literature and religion at the University of Richmond.

“Results need to be viewed cautiously,” Givens says. “Official LDS pronouncements insist there is a distinction between (sexual) orientation and behavior, but the survey blurs that difference, probably leaving many Mormons unsure how to answer that question. What is clear, however, is that Mormons are trending toward greater acceptance of same-sex relationships, just as society as a whole is, although by a much smaller percentage.”

Polygamy

At one point 120 years ago, some Mormons practiced plural marriage, hence the association between Mormons and polygamy. The practice was discontinued in 1890, but the cultural association persists, perhaps in part because Mormons are sometimes confused with members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church, a polygamist group not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the October-November 2011 study of a national sample of 1,019 Mormons, 86 percent said polygamy is morally wrong. That’s a number that surprises Bowman.

Were it not for the confusion surrounding Mormons and the FLDS Church practice of plural marriage, Bowman says that statistic might not be as high.

“It’s my experience that Mormons have a fraught relationship with polygamy,” Bowman said of the study results. “There is a sense that rejecting polygamy identifies a member of the LDS Church and distinguishes us from the fundamentalists. That is a cultural signifier as much as a theological statement.”

Some who responded to the survey, 11 percent, said polygamy is not a moral issue.
Email: achoate@desnews.com

The Pew Foundation survey of Mormons released this past week confirms that U.S. Mormons are more conservative (66 percent) compared to the general public (37 percent), and on most issues, they closely track white evangelicals. But immigration is one issue that sets Mormons apart from their evangelical counterparts.

Asked whether immigrants are a strength or a burden, 59 percent of white evangelicals said they were a burden, while only 41 percent of Mormons felt the same, compared to 44 percent of the general public. The result is surprising given how staunchly conservative Mormons are on nearly every measure. Interestingly, 50 percent of white mainline Protestants and 49 percent of white Catholics also tilt against immigration, though neither group is as uniformly conservative as evangelicals or Mormons on other measures.

Dan Cox, Research Director at the Public Religion Research Institute in Washington, D.C. sees several reasons for the surprising result. He points first to demographics to explain why Mormons are more open to immigrants than are white evangelicals. “White evangelicals are significantly lower on the socioeconomic scale than most other religious groups. Those who are more economically vulnerable are more likely to see newcomers as threats,” he says.

The Pew results validate the socioeconomic explanation. The key is a strong link between Mormon religious commitment and socioeconomic status. Eighty-four percent of Mormon college graduates are highly committed to the Church, but just 50 percent of those with high school education share that same level of commitment. This socioeconomic gap also translates to immigration: 50 percent of less committed Mormons see immigrants as a burden, against 36 percent of highly committed Mormons.

Cox also points to age as a key factor, noting the surprising anti-immigration sentiment among mainline Protestants and white Catholics. “Both of these groups tend to be older than the general public,” Cox says, “and we find that younger people are much more open to immigration.” Sure enough, Pew finds that 49 percent of Mormons between the ages of 18-49 see immigrants as a strength, while just 39 percent Mormons over 50 say the same. The Mormon youth movement has an impact on the results: according to a 2009 Pew study, 41 percent of the general population was over fifty years old, while just 34% of Mormons fall into that category.

Cox also thinks culture is a factor in the Mormon tendency to be more tolerant of immigrants, citing in particular the outward focus of the LDS church and the percolating influence of missionaries returning from foreign lands. “When you have more interaction with someone,” Cox notes, “you have increased comfort with them.” One statistic conveys the impact of this element of Mormon culture: 70 percent of the 33,000 students at BYU are bilingual.

Theresa Martinez, a non-Mormon sociology professor at the University of Utah, emphatically seconds Cox on the outward focus. “I’ve taught over 7,000 students,” she says, “probably about half of them LDS, with a large proportion of those return missionaries, and half of those from Latin American missions.” Her students express strong attachment to the peoples and communities they served, Martinez says. “And after that, you are not the sheltered little Mormon kid, and you understand that life is much bigger than your backyard.”

While the seeds of openness are embedded in the culture, others note that Church leaders recently gave a gentle push in that direction. Last year Utah illegal immigration hard-liners were poised to copy Arizona’s stern immigration policies, when centrists—with quiet but clear support from Church leaders—turned tables with widely-noted legislation that will allow some undocumented workers to obtain drivers’ licenses and work. In the fall of 2010, the Church also stated support for the principles of the The Utah Compact, which urges humane and measured solutions at the federal level.

And yet, divisions within the LDS community remain. Utah House Rep. Chris Herrod of Provo, a leader on anti-illegal immigration efforts in Utah, considers himself pro-immigration, noting that his wife is from Ukraine, his sister-in-law from Korea, and his business partner from Ethiopia.

Herrod points out that the Pew study addresses immigration per se, rather than illegal immigration, and says he has often been puzzled when debates on the two issues become muddled. “I believe in immigration,” he says. “It’s the melting pot that has made the country great. But lately we seem to be splitting into a bilingual and bicultural nation. We need to give equal chances to Africans, Asians, South Asians, and Eastern Europeans, and we need to get back to those core beliefs, where you adopt the language and blend the cultures.”

Richard Davis, a political science professor at Brigham Young University, sees the Church position last summer as impacting dialog on this issue within Utah and among U.S. Mormons. “For years the drumbeat was all about illegal immigration and the need to enforce the law,” he says. “The Church has nudged the agenda. Now it’s more about how we treat people, however they got here.”

Charles Morgan, a BYU sociologist who studies immigration, sees culture and Church positioning as mutually reinforcing. Morgan notes that the “closer the contact you have with a group, the more likely you are to have compassion and see them as equals.” Like Davis, Morgan also sees the Church’s positioning as significant: “The Church is projecting a positive image of immigrants, and I think this is resonating with the more devout Mormons.”

Morgan points to Arizona, where a Mormon state senator from the heavily Mormon Mesa area, who was president of the Senate and had authored the state’s controversial immigration policy, was replaced in November by another Mormon in a recall election. The new senator, Jerry Lewis, was encouraged to run by LDS members in the Mesa area who were concerned with what they saw as a harsh tone on illegal immigration.

Jason Labau, who researches Arizona political history at the University of Southern California, also sees recent Church policy and underlying cultural factors as reinforcing. “This is a much longer shift,” he says, “and it stems from the missionary experience. Several friends I grew up with in Arizona are staunchly conservative, and the only issue we see eye to eye on is immigration. They served missions in Chile, Guatemala, and Mexico, and they see these people as equals who are looking for something better.”

Eric Schulzke is the director of the Apollo 13 Project (a13.org), a prisoner reentry initiative based at Utah Valley University. He can be reached at eric[at]a13.org.

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Mormon attitudes on immigration

Full Series Mormon Pew Study: Mormons in America

Of all the numbers in the Pew Research Center’s recently released survey of “Mormons in America,” the highest, most overwhelming numbers are these: 98 percent of respondents said they believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and 97 percent say their church is a Christian religion.

This comes on the heels of earlier surveys indicating that 32 percent of non-LDS U.S. adults say the LDS Church is not a Christian religion, and an additional 17 percent are unsure of LDS Christianity. The theological and semantic reasons for this can be complex, but for the 1,019 self-identified Mormons who participated in the Pew survey, their theological position is clear: Mormons believe in Jesus Christ, and they consider themselves to be Christian.

“Certainly in Latter-day Saint theology is this idea that if you understand who you are, you understand that there’s a purpose in life, you understand your connection to God, that certainly has an impact on how you live your life and what you do, but also how you feel about your life and what you are doing,” said Michael Purdy of the LDS Church Public Affairs office.

For the vast majority of Latter-day Saints surveyed, those life choices have much to do with their religious beliefs. Eighty-two percent of survey respondents indicate that religion is “very important” to them, 83 percent say they pray every day and 77 percent say they attend church at least once a week. Beyond that, a stunning 69 percent of respondents fit all three descriptions, saying that religion is very important to them, that they pray every day and that they go to church every week.

“By this measure,” the report says, “Mormons exhibit higher levels of religious commitment than many other religious groups, including white evangelical Christians.”

Part of the explanation for these high numbers may be that the survey focused only on those who self-identified as Latter-day Saints.

“The method they used tended to identify people who are strongly committed,” said BYU sociologist Marie Cornwall , who advised the Pew Forum on the new survey. “They don’t have the people who are kind of marginal. But that’s okay; we just have to be careful with the way we interpret the findings.”

One such finding is the relationship between religious commitment and education among Mormons.

David Campbell, a University of Notre Dame associate professor and another adviser on the survey, noted that the more educated respondents were, the higher their levels of religious commitment.

“I was a little surprised by that,” said Campbell, who is LDS and who has extensively studied on the role of religion in the public square. “The more educated a Mormon is, the more likely they are to be wholehearted in their commitment to the church and its teachings.”

That is different from other churches, he said, where more education tends to lead to more religious skepticism.

Pew Research Center officials also noted “a significant gender gap in religious commitment, with more Mormon women than men exhibiting a high level of religious commitment (73 percent vs. 65 percent).”

According to the Pew report, a similar “gender gap” is seen among the general public. A 2007 survey found 36 percent of U.S. women exhibited a high level of religious commitment, compared with 24 percent of men.

One series of questions asked about what it means to be a good Mormon. According to the respondents, in order to be a good Mormon it is “essential” to believe Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ (80 percent), work to help the poor (73 percent), hold regular family home evenings (51 percent), not drink coffee and tea (49 percent) and not watch R-rated movies (32 percent).

Combining those who said “essential” with those who said “important but not essential,” the order changes a little bit: working to help the poor (97 percent), holding regular family home evenings (96 percent), believing Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ (93 percent), not drinking coffee and tea (81 percent) and not watching R-rated movies (79 percent).

“I think that result is rather interesting,” said Cornwall. “Mormons are known for not drinking coffee or tea and not watching R-rated movies. But compared to believing that Joseph Smith saw God and working for the poor, Mormons don’t seem to focus on the coffee and tea as much as people probably think.”

Other manifestations of religious commitment in the survey included:

The number of respondents (65 percent) who say they hold a current temple recommend (a certificate from local ecclesiastical leaders, issued every other year, indicating that an individual has permission from the church to enter LDS temples and participate in temple rites and sacraments)

The number (79 percent) who say they pay tithing (donating 10 percent of their income to the church)

The number (27 percent) who have served full-time missions for the church (this number includes 43 percent of men and 11 percent of women and varies significantly according to the age and education of the respondent, as well as whether or not the respondent was raised Mormon)

The number (82 percent) who keep food in storage for emergencies or disasters, as they have been counseled to do by LDS Church leaders (This number includes 23 percent who say they have three months’ worth, 35 percent who say they have more than three months’ worth and 23 percent who say they have less than three months’ worth)

The percentage who pay tithing is especially interesting to break down. According to the survey tabulations, “tithing is most common among Mormons with the highest levels of religious commitment (96 percent) … fully 91 percent of college graduates say they pay tithing … compared with 66 percent of those with a high school diploma or less education. And among those whose family income exceeds $30,000, 83 percent say they pay tithing, compared with 69 percent of those with incomes of less than $30,000.”

While previous surveys have clearly established LDS agreement with certain key Christian doctrines — 90 percent of Mormons believe in God, 91 percent believe the Bible is the word of God and 98 percent believe in life after death — the new survey explores Mormon confidence in points of doctrine that are unique to LDS theology. And in these points of doctrine, Mormons proved to be unified and believing. They believe overwhelmingly that God and Jesus Christ are separate physical beings (94 percent), that the president of the LDS Church is a prophet of God (94 percent), that families can be bound together eternally in temple ceremonies (95 percent) and that the Book of Mormon was written by ancient prophets and translated by Joseph Smith (91 percent).

Overall, 77 percent say they believe “wholeheartedly” in all of the teachings of the LDS Church. That number increases to 82 percent among Mormons ages 18-49, and to 85 percent among Mormons who are college graduates.

“Ultimately, I suppose other Americans will judge our church — and perhaps all churches — by their relevance in how they touch and improve human lives right here on Earth as well as what they offer in the life to come,” wrote Michael Otterson, Public Affairs director for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in his “On Faith” blog in the Washington Post. “Meanwhile, we welcome the friendship and regard of all groups, even as we retain our commitment to a unique identity. In the end … Latter-day Saints will strive to be good Mormons, true believers, kind neighbors and faithful friends.

See full original article: Pew Study Reflects Mormons’ Religious Commitment to Christ, Mormon Beliefs in Tithes and Temples

Read more about Mormons in America

SMITHFIELD — After dinner, three baths, four bedtime stories and a half-a-dozen goodnight kisses for 2-year-old twins Brock and Isaac and 6-year-old Ellie, Erin and Brian Thompson finally sink into the couch with weary smiles.

Being parents is just what they always wanted. And they love it.

“Of course we have our crazy moments,” Thompson says, “but for the most part we just try to find the good things in the day and remember that they’re only going to be little for so long.”

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Thompsons believe that maintaining a strong marriage and raising and teaching children are essential keys to happiness and their most important responsibilities on earth.

In fact, 81 percent of Mormons say being a good parent is “one of the most important things in life,” according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life — the first survey of Mormons about Mormons, by a non-LDS research organization.

The survey of more than 1,000 self-identified Latter-day Saints from across the country asked how accepted Mormons feel in American culture, as well as their thoughts on religious practices, political issues and family roles.

The survey showed that Mormons are more likely to be married than the general population, 67 percent of the sample size compared to 52 percent of the general public.

And 85 percent of married Mormons married other Mormons. Protestants marry other Protestants 81 percent of the time and Catholics marry each other 78 percent of the time.

With an emphasis on marriage, it should come as no surprise that the Mormons surveyed also had, on average, more children (2.6) than the general U.S. population (1.8).

Thompson grew up wanting to have a large family and be a good mother, but she and her husband have struggled with infertility for nearly nine years — a trial punctuated by the joys of two different adoptions, Ellie, then the twins.

“We said when we finally get to be parents, we’re going to actually sit down and take a little more time to focus on our kids,” Thompson said, who lives in northern Utah. “I’m not saying that other people don’t do that — the perspective we have is just a little different.”

Other Latter-day Saints share the Thompson’s enthusiasm to put family first.

“Family is at the core of our faith,” says Jane Clayson Johnson, a Latter-day Saint and former anchor of CBS’s “The Early Show” who prefers the title of mom to two young children and stepmom to three older ones. “There are so many distractions today that all force us outward, away from core relationships. What our faith does is turn us back toward deep, rich, meaningful relationships in families.”

“It teaches us that families are where we find meaning,” continued Clayson from her home in Boston. “The work I do in my family is the most important work that I’ll ever do.”

Among the general public, 50 percent list being a good parent as “one of the most important things in life,” with 44 percent listing it as “very important but not most important.”

That shouldn’t be taken to mean that the average American doesn’t value marriage or family, just that they don’t “go to church every week and get told that’s what they’re supposed to do,” says Marie Cornwall, a professor of sociology at Brigham Young University. Cornwall advised the Pew Center for this survey.

“There’s nothing to suggest that family life is less valued in the United States over time,” she said, “but there’s more that suggests that people are feeling like it’s not possible for them to attain that.”

The pressure comes when a “successful” marriage is defined as having a good job, a hefty retirement account and a lovely home with a white picket fence, Cornwall said. So when people can’t achieve that in today’s tough economy, many feel like they’ve failed.

“For Mormons, there’s a spiritual aspect brought to that (definition of success),” she said, “an effort, in terms of sermons, to try and downplay the material and place more emphasis on the relationships.”

When the survey asked Mormons about working arrangements in families, nearly six out of 10 Mormons indicated they would prefer a marriage where the man works and the woman stays home to care for the home and the children.

LDS college graduates liked this marital structure more than any other subgroup, with 71 percent of them preferring the man to work and the woman to stay home.

In the general population, only 30 percent of Americans would prefer a marriage where the husband works and the wife stays home. Among religiously unaffiliated Americans, it drops to 15 percent who would pick such a scenario.

Almost four-in-10 Mormons would prefer that both parents work and both parents help with child rearing and housework.

For American Fork mom Ruth Ann Dupaix, 37, it’s not a black-or-white decision. Throughout her marriage she has both worked and stayed at home.

“The way we look at it, we try to make it a partnership,” Dupaix says. “It’s more who’s able at the time to do it best. It’s working together, a give and take.”

When she and her husband, Geoff, were first married, her job helped pay for his school. When he finished, she kept working because her employer would pay for her to complete her degree, and education was important to both of them.

Dupaix stopped working when her sixth child was born but has recently gone back to work at a local grocery store three nights a week to help fulfill a family goal to reduce their debt load.

It’s a big pay cut from the job she used to have at a bank, but it’s a more family friendly schedule.

“As part of a family you make sacrifices,” she said. “I’m gone when the kids are asleep, but I’m still here during the day when they need me.”

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For original source Deseret News article: Mormon family marriage focus Pew

Mormons in America Pew Study