LDS Freedom Forum

From what I have noticed there are many in the liberal educational system, college and school teachers that are democrat LDS. How did you avoid that Ralph?

Either way neither party has any foundational principles and both parties are led by mobocracy or majority rules mentality that is persuaded by their sources of unprincipled media and information that feeds them the propaganda they readily absorb into their unprincipled sponges.

The Republican Party is in no way the Lord's party. Then again, neither is the Democratic Party. Both have embraced socialistic principles and, by and large, represent platforms that are antithetical to the premises the nation was founded upon and the tenets held by the Constitution.

No political party, fraternal order, or good 'ol boys club is going to supplant the doctrine of Christ. I believe we are becoming increasingly more aware of that.

To be honest, I think those of us on here have been very blessed. I think we have open minds for the most part and have probably been able to use the Spirit of discernment to realize that to be Mormon is not necessarily to be Republican. Now with the knowledge we all have, we do have to share it, ever so carefully so as not to offend. The other thing is that we have to be careful to not become zealots about any one specific tenet of the gospel and become a fundamental extremist on that one principle and forget everything else. As we go to church, prayerfully ponder the scriptures, prayerfully seek guidance and personal revelation and more discernment in these confusing times, magnify our callings, faithfully perform our home/visiting teaching, pay our tithing in these economically tough times, and look to help others around us....we will be blessed with additional light and knowledge and be better equipped to see things through the proper lens of plenary gospel truth rather than "see[ing] through a glass darkly."

From what I have noticed there are many in the liberal educational system, college and school teachers that are democrat LDS. How did you avoid that Ralph?

I was not a school or university teacher in my real life, but after retiring I did substitute public school teaching just about every day in AZ for well over 2 years, inbetween retiring and 2 missions. I met and visited with many different teachers at all grade levels, and very rarely came to know if another teacher was LDS or not. I found some to have high principles, others not. I'll never forget one 4. or 5. grade teacher, a young Catholic lady I think, who had a good singing voice. The day before Christmas break, while all 4. or 5 grade kids were in her room, she asked the doors be closed and she sang a few real Christmas carols to the kids, in almost defiant violation of the no religion in school policy. If I can generalize, I think one would find the entire spectrum of political and religious persuasions among the teachers and staff of any public school. I do suspect that there are many in the liberal educational system, college and school teachers that are democrat LDS, with no understandig of constitutional principles. Most probably were never adequately educated to appreciate the benefits of government according to constitutional principles.

the only policy that is , well is the open boarder policy as all of North, Central, And South America are to be the land of ZION.

What are the Republican Party policies? America has just had two terms of Republican government. America got:The illegal invasion of foreign nations based on lies and deception. The death of millions. The Patriot Act. Loss of Freedoms. Spying on and monitoring of US citizens. Kidnapping and Torture of who knows who? Banker bail out - Trillions of dollars borrowed from the Fed and then given back to the Banks with no questions allowed to be asked. The public will pay those loans back in income tax payments or more likely America will be bankrupt. The Mormon party? Yes of course.

The Republican Party, just like the Democrat Party, is controlled by the same powers that are bringing us the New World Order, full speed ahead and damn the Constitution.

"The chief problem of American political life...has been how to make the two Congressional parties more national and international. The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can 'throw the rascals out' at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy." Professor Carroll Quigley, "Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in Our Time", 1247-1248)

As an Apostle, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote in “Doctrines of Salvation”, Vol.3, pp. 314-315: “Satan has control now. No matter where you look, he is in control, even in our own land. He is guiding the governments as far as the Lord will permit him. That is why there is so much strife, turmoil, confusion all over the earth. One master mind is governing the nations. It is not the President of the United States...it is not the king or government of England or any other land; it is Satan himself.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, pp. 314-315)

One should not expect any real differences in policy between the two parties.

Yes exactly. Republican/Democrat are just two sides of the same coin. Its to give the people the illusion that they have a choice when in reality they have no choice. These men and women are only in office because they are willing to serve the real power brokers who stay behind the scenes.

I would have answered your question with a "yes" before this last election but would change my answer, today, to "maybe". I am absolutely dumbstruck by the number of members that voted for Obama. A guy from a nearby ward drives around with liberal bumper stickers and is a city councilman. Maybe he's my local Harry Reid.

I've found that the Saints leaning Democrat are preoccupied with the social aspects of society. One thing I've always wondered, to stray a little from the thread's question, is why are Jewish people, in general, liberals and Democrats?

The Lord would not have a party. We would all be united as one in the cause for Zion, and would befriend the Constitution as he has asked us to.

Forgive me for necro'ing a 2 week old thread, but I had a couple interesting facts to share.

Around 1870 a party called the "Liberal" party cropped up in Utah to oppose the domination of local politics by Mormons (who were running unaffiliated, Utah wasn't a state at this point). Shortly thereafter the Church organized an official political party, called the "People's Party". They continued to dominate local politics until 1891. In 1891 Utah was seeking statehood, (they had stopped practicing polygamy the previous year) and one of the conditions was that they dissolved the People's Party as it was a strict agent of the Church (members were "called" to run for office much like we'd call a Sunday School teacher, in sacrament meeting). The Church struggled with what to do, but after a lot of debate settled on splitting the membership between the Republican and Democrat parties. Within 20 years most of the church membership had migrated to the Republican party, after several prominent LDS democrats clashed with national democrat leaders.

The Church today is definitely neutral when it comes to parties, although it does get involved in specific issues. There are several very prominent members of the church who have been heavily involved in politics, mostly Republican, but some notable Democrats. I don't think it is fair to represent the church as anti-government.

I meant to answer this in my first post, so many apologies for the double post.

Jews first began to associate heavily with the Democrat party just after WWII. Many of them came from Europe seeking refuge from a still anti-Jewish Europe. The Republican party was still heavily isolationist at this point and many opposed supporting the new state of Israel, which Jews obviously supported in large measures. Many of these emigrating Jews were also poor having lost everything, the social programs of FDR were immensely popular among them. This trend has continued until now, although the total % of Jews voting Democrat has been dropping since the 80's. Hope this answers your question.

"We cannot belong to any political party that is opposed to this free government and be consistent Latter-day Saints" (George Albert Smith, April 1914 General Conference)

Mitt Romney will most probably be the Republican favourite among LDS voters, even with or in spite of his lack of understanding of constitutional principles and/or lack of integrity to be guided by constitutional principles, and his failure to stand up for his religion on the Moses and the bush issue .

Looking ahead to 2012, the party faithful are being primed to accept the likes of liberals like Mitt come primary time. I doubt Mitt could beat Jeb Bush in the primaries, but I believe he, along with the Huntsmans, will endorse Jeb Bush. And the LDS sheeple will follow right along

Currently we have one party with one agenda and two names. That means we need a different party to actually have that debate.

If we are "LUCKY", we won't have to worry about, think America will last until 2012 election.....pray for the millinium

Proud 2b Peculiar wrote some time ago that ideally "We would all be united as one in the cause for Zion, and would befriend the Constitution as he has asked us to." This brings to mind a statement by then Apostle David O. McKay in the October 1939 General Conference, that "Next to being one in worshipping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States. In D&C 98:4-8 the Lord tells us, as is stated also in the Preface to D&C 98, that "The Saints are to befriend the constitutional law of the land." In D&C 101:76-80 we are told that "The Lord established the Constitution of the United States." And in D&C 134:1 the Lord tells us that "[H]e holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them (governments)". On top of that, prophets have elaborated on our responsibility to the US Constitution and the threats to it. We have even been aided in our interpretation of the Constitution by the advice of at least one Prophet that we read the Constitution and ponder it, that we read the Federalist Papers, that we learn the principles of the Constitution.

Even then there would be disagreements in interpretation of the Constitution, leading to differences of opinion and positions between candidates for elected office, legislators and judges, and voters on various issues. Not that there necessarily should be, but there are differences in interpretation of any number of passages of scripture in the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, the Articles of Faith, and many statements by prophets in general conferences. But I'll venture to say that Latter-day Saints are far more united in accepting these works as the words of the Lord that we are in accepting the US Constitution, which the Lord told us He established. Or are we?

Maybe we need a post that describes the party principles. Does either the Republican party or the Democratic party have any foundational principles outlined?

-Paul

I'm glad Paul brought up the issue of party principles. To me, a statement of party principles is not good for much if the principles of the candidate representing the party differ much from the party principles. Whatever the principles of the Republican Party may be, truth be known, I'm sure John McCain differed greatly to one extreme, while Ron Paul differed to a nearly opposite extreme. I think we should examine a candidates principles, both demonstrated and professed, against the gospel principles as we know them. That takes time and effort, and LDSs especially do not have much time to seriously investigate a candidates demonstrated principles. I cannot imagine Mitt Romney getting the support he did from LDS voters if they had carefully reviewed his record in politics, even just that which was published in the MSM. During the primary campaign and election, we lived downtown SLC. I was in good position to note that a large number of LDS voters did not concern themselves with the demonstrated principles of any of the candidates.

I agree the principles of the candidate are most important, and your opinions on Romney, but I wanted to see if the parties even had principles or foundational objectives? Seems like the Communist party is more clear on that than the republican or democrat parties?

There are 300 million people in the USA, 6 million of us are Mormon and not all of us vote Republican! Our party?? You've got to be kidding?

Bob

My former patriarch said most mormons were Communists -- from the pulpit: "What is the difference between a mormon and a communist? We believe in God, and they don't" . Others have said the same. From what I have seen, I agree. Most mormons are communists, so no, the republican party is not the mormon party. It might be a good think the church hasn't gone into cuba yet because the whole country might join at once.

Hmmm...which mormons do you know?
Must be different from the ones I know.

ithink it would be wise to refrain from making such
generalizations for your own sake, but if that's what
turns your crank, who am I to say you should stop?

Maybe you're just showing us your true colors now?
Either way, it's OK.

Do what feels good, let the consequence follow...

Best Regards,
Sharon (Making the Best of Basics) in Mississippi

Read the book "Many Are Called But Few Are Chosen" by H. Verlan Andersen and note how he demonstrated to many of his students at BYU that they had serious communist leanings.

The same ones Kimball, Benson, Skousen, Moroni, Joseph, Brigham, and Isaiah knew. No different, just a different way of looking -- with my eyes open. If it's good enough for my former patriarch, it is good enough for me. I never personally knew a man more in tune than that man. And you imply you would modify the way you talk to manipulate the kind of response you want to get. What colors would that be?

What do you know about what I do? I have said a few words, mostly a quote, and you the seer, somehow have a window into my life? You aren't making a man an offender for a word are you?

A hearty Amen.

Of course not. Just expressin' my opinion.
Don't need any special spiritual gifts to do
that...just a big mouth
And I could be wrong (and often am).

Now, 'ya aren't by chance makin' a woman
an offender for a word, are 'ya?

Best Regards,
Sharon (Making the Best of Basics) in Mississippi

Is the Republican Party the "Mormon" Party? Since most people only really choose between two, The R has become the defacto party of choice among LDS. I have voted for a few Dems and Reps but I generally vote for Libertarians or CP. I didn't chose either this last pres. election, I vote for Ron Paul as write-in.

Skeeterbytes, after Ron Paul was eliminated, why did younot support and vote for the camdidate whom he publicly endorsed?

Sensible question. It's because I didn't want to vote for Chuck Baldwin, I wanted to vote for Ron Paul. I identify with Libertarians much more than I do with the CP's.