Tag: Mormons

The governing First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints again is saying that is not the case — but does say members should be more active in politics, including attending party caucus meetings next week to help elect convention delegates. “We are concerned that citizen participation rates in Utah are among the lowest in the nation,” they wrote, “and urge greater involvement by members of the church in the 2018 election cycle.” Their letter ordered members to cancel all church meetings March 20, when most parties are scheduled to hold caucuses, “so that members may participate in a caucus meeting of their choice.” Their final paragraph — which church leaders have essentially repeated many times in recent years — is a favorite of non-Republican parties in Utah. “It is important to remember that engaging in the election process is both a privilege and a significant responsibility regardless of one’s political inclinations, and that principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of each of the various political parties.” Alex Cragun, executive director of the Utah Democratic Party, said that line shows “the myth that in order to be a good member of the church you have to be a Republican is patently false.” Richard Davis, chairman of the United Utah Party (and a political science professor at LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University), said, “The sense that you have to be in one party is folk doctrine. That’s what they enforced with the message yesterday. That’s wise to say again — and again and again and again.” He said his small party — formed by former moderate Democrats and largely anti-Donald Trump Republicans — may be attractive to Mormons partly because “we do have a religious plank that supports religious freedom for all.” A Dan Jones and Associates poll in January for The Salt Lake Tribune and the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics found that among “very active” Utah Mormons, 66 percent are Republicans, 22 percent are unaffiliated, 5 percent are Democrats and 7 percent belong to other parties. He listed two examples. “The sanctity of life and being pro-life [on abortion] is important to us,” he said. Moderates say that rule violates state law and could decertify the party. At Republican and Democratic caucus meetings March 20, neighbors will elect precinct delegates to county and state conventions. Some allow all members to become convention delegates.