Hasa Diga Eebowai wrote:The problem with your evaluation, in my opinion, Emma is that you ask for examples while providing one yourself. George Romney did receive pressure from at least one leader within the LDS Church to fall in line with the Church's position. The fact that George refused to do so is a huge credit to him, but that doesn't change the fact that an apostle of the LDS Church put that pressure on him. The only reason why we even know about the pressure that leader was putting on him is because he rejected it and leaked it otherwise we would never have known.
While I don't think that all the political pressure that the LDS Church puts on politicians is a bad thing, the fact is historically leaders have put pressure on Mormon politicians. It is understandable why anyone would be suspicious of the LDS Church's ambitions given their history of seeking to establish another form of government and their desire for a theocracy in Utah. The worrying thing is that Mitt Romney would seek assurance from his leaders before taking certain positions. Mitt is not a George Romney or a Harry Reid and has shown that time and again through this campaign. While I don't think it's realistic to suggest that Mitt is going to simply be a puppet of the LDS Church I think it is important to consider what Mitt's likely response would be if asked by them to do them a political favor. Using Harry Reid as an example doesn't really work simply because they realize the PR they get from having people with opposing views who are still members of the Church.
Emmett probably should have named the source that she got it from, which is public anyway and Dushku is reliable. Still I can understand why you'd take issue with the claims of Mormon Royalty etc. I think news outlets like to embellish things like that, but maybe some exmormons do too. I found the claims that Parker Romney was somehow Mormon Royalty to be equally ridiculous. I don't know if she is a liar though I've never seen any evidence of that.
The only thing I'd ask is do you honestly think that the pledge in the Temple to be obedient to LDS Church leaders would never impact Mitt Romney as a politician if he received a phone call directly from the Prophet who told him that God had a message for him?
(And Scratch seems like a good candidate for President)
Thanks,
Hasa Diga Eebowai
Good points all around.
In answer to your request that I honestly consider the pledge of obedience I can offer a pretty decent example of how, in the minds of most Church members, this commitment has its limits.
Utah was the state which provided the ratifying vote to overturn prohibition. President Heber J. Grant *instructed* Church members to vote against ratification. The members of the church flat out ignored him -- en masse! They made up their own minds and voted accordingly. From what I understand HJG was so pissed he made WoW observance mandatory for temple attendance.
Again, in practice members of the Church may listen and consider the views of Church leaders but in general, LDS people -- including Romney I believe -- will do what they feel is best (or expedient) politically regardless of Church leadership.
I'm no historian so if my account is wrong in any way someone please set me straight.