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Church Clarifies it’s Position Regarding Politicians

January 30th, 2007 by eric

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has issued a new statement on it’s website this week clarifying it’s position in regards to politics and politicians. The statement can be found here at the church’s new “Newsroom” beta website.

Although the LDS church has previously issued statements of it’s policy of “political neutrality”, it was facing a barrage of questions from media regarding Mitt Romney. The new statement serves to reassure that the church will not give directives to Mitt Romney or any other political candidate.

Here’s an excerpt

The Church does not:

  • Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.
  • Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes.
  • Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes to. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  • Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader.

Elected officials who are Latter-day Saints make their own decisions and may not necessarily be in agreement with one another or even with a publicly stated Church position. While the Church may communicate its views to them, as it may to any other elected official, it recognizes that these officials still must make their own choices based on their best judgment and with consideration of the constituencies whom they were elected to represent. — http://beta.lds.org/newsroom Commentary, Political Neutrality

Mitt Romney’s opponents might be skeptical, but supporters of Romney might take some assurance in this new statement by the church. As evidence that this is the policy that the church follows, one only needs to look at Harry Reid (Democrat) who is a member of the church but clearly follows his own (or his party’s) agenda.
Noting that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is not only LDS but a Democrat, he said there’s no evidence the church has sought to dictate to him in any way, though he went against the church’s public position in opposing a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. –Deseret News, January 28, 2007

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