DiscussMormonism.com

"For Mitt Romney, it all started in a two-story, wood-framed house on a busy street in Pontiac, Mich. Painted beige, encircled by an asphalt lot that would hardly hold a dozen cars, the building manages to look both decrepit and picturesque, like a million other urban churches across the country. Today it houses the Unity Church of Practical Christianity, but until Romney was 10, it was the Mormon church he attended with his family—at least twice a day on Sunday, and one night a week for youth group.

"Another presidential candidate, upon learning of a reporter's visit there, might jump on the opportunity to reminisce about the faith of his childhood, to trot out fond stories about his pastor and the inspirational lessons learned at his knee. But not Romney. Seated in a plane between campaign stops near the olive groves of northern California, Romney hears of such a visit and the wattage seeps out of his smile.

"In Pontiac?" he asks.

Yes, the reporter answers.

"Oh, yeah. Wow. I don't know where that is," Romney says.

It's still a church, the reporter says.

"Oh, it is. Oh, interesting."

Full stop. Never has a man so polished looked so uncomfortable.

Nothing is more politically vexing or personally crucial for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney than the story of his faith. Raised in a devout Mormon family by parents who were both principled and powerful, Romney has downplayed both his religion and his own family history.
...

"But when he's pressed on the particulars of his own religious practice, his answers grow terse and he is quick to repeat that his values are rooted in "the Judeo-Christian tradition."
...

"When asked by NEWSWEEK if he has done baptisms for the dead—in which Mormons find the names of dead people of all faiths and baptize them, as an LDS spokesperson says, to "open the door" to the highest heaven—he looked slightly startled and answered, "I have in my life, but I haven't recently." The awareness of how odd this will sound to many Americans is what makes Romney hesitant to elaborate on the Mormon question."

SatanWasSetUp wrote:Wow, he is really trying to distance himself from the church. Is he reaching out to the exmormon vote?

"For Mitt Romney, it all started in a two-story, wood-framed house on a busy street in Pontiac, Mich. Painted beige, encircled by an asphalt lot that would hardly hold a dozen cars, the building manages to look both decrepit and picturesque, like a million other urban churches across the country. Today it houses the Unity Church of Practical Christianity, but until Romney was 10, it was the Mormon church he attended with his family—at least twice a day on Sunday, and one night a week for youth group.

"Another presidential candidate, upon learning of a reporter's visit there, might jump on the opportunity to reminisce about the faith of his childhood, to trot out fond stories about his pastor and the inspirational lessons learned at his knee. But not Romney. Seated in a plane between campaign stops near the olive groves of northern California, Romney hears of such a visit and the wattage seeps out of his smile.

"In Pontiac?" he asks.

Yes, the reporter answers.

"Oh, yeah. Wow. I don't know where that is," Romney says.

It's still a church, the reporter says.

"Oh, it is. Oh, interesting."

Full stop. Never has a man so polished looked so uncomfortable.

Nothing is more politically vexing or personally crucial for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney than the story of his faith. Raised in a devout Mormon family by parents who were both principled and powerful, Romney has downplayed both his religion and his own family history.
...

"But when he's pressed on the particulars of his own religious practice, his answers grow terse and he is quick to repeat that his values are rooted in "the Judeo-Christian tradition."
...

"When asked by NEWSWEEK if he has done baptisms for the dead—in which Mormons find the names of dead people of all faiths and baptize them, as an LDS spokesperson says, to "open the door" to the highest heaven—he looked slightly startled and answered, "I have in my life, but I haven't recently." The awareness of how odd this will sound to many Americans is what makes Romney hesitant to elaborate on the Mormon question."

Talk about a missionary opportuniy wasted. Romney hasn't done baptisms for the dead recently? Does he know how many people remain to be baptized and how far behind we are in the work?

Mercury wrote:To be fair, dead dunking is usually something done by teenagers. But on the other hand, romney is too important to do such a thing...hehe.

I wonder why the reporter wasn't aware of the difference between what kids do and what adults do in the temple.

truth dancer wrote:

I wonder why the reporter wasn't aware of the difference between what kids do and what adults do in the temple.

Elise Soukup, If I recall correctly is a member and graduate of BYU.

Her name appears at the end of the article indicating she helped with the article.

My guess... she may have helped soften the article. Baptism for the dead is must less difficult than the endowment which would really require some explanations. I can just see a picture of Mitt dressed up in temple clothing. I'm pretty sure that would be the end of any chance he may have had.

:-)

~dancer~