What You Don’t Know About Mormonism Won’t Hurt You
November 18, 2011
Romneys attend church services with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and former HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt
NBC compliments Mitt Romney? This guest editorial from CNBC Online today about Mormonism. Perhaps the voices of prejudice and fear are dying down, but a professional from a respected school of business shares some background on Mormons and Mitt Romney’s life experience, which he believes helps PREPARE the former Governor for the presidency. We learned a few things!
“Mormons believe, like other Christians, each human being is imperfect but capable, through faith and good deeds, of improving—and is responsible to his creator to try. They teach hard work, thrift, respect for human life, and tolerance for the beliefs of others. On issues like the sanctity of marriage and abortion, mainstream Mormon’s positions may not endear themselves to libertine intellectuals and progressives, but they are hardly out of step with what many conservative Catholics and Protestants believe.
Youth from LDS Church Provide Assistance With Canyon Clean-up
As much as any faith community, Mormons believe each of us is responsible to assist those less fortunate, fallen or beset by troubles—through real gifts of time and resources—and that such acts of charity improve the condition of the man or woman who extends the helping hand as much as the one who receives the lift.
More importantly, Mormonism has imparted on Mitt Romney an indelible imprint that makes him more fit, not less, to be President.
As a young man, Mitt Romney served as leader of his congregation and later as Boston Stake President—overseeing a region similar to a Catholic or Episcopal diocese. In those capacities, he made remarkable efforts—some successful and others not—to combat urban gangs, reach
out to other faith communities and generally administer his church’s welfare system that helps the needy.
He made parish calls, counseled his follow congregants and worked with those that were troubled—in trials of faith and life. Through these experiences, he saw how the other side lives in a manner that many who devote their lives to business or politics never do or try very hard to leave behind.
Mr. Romney has gone to those places in our communities that most of us would prefer to avoid and subcontract to professional clergy, and assuage our guilt by writing checks.
LDS Church Water Project In The Congo
Mr. Romney has visited and worked in those places where the human condition is blighted by poverty, poor personal decisions, drug abuse, deceit, and worse. By the accounts of those who know him—not his own bragging—he performed those tasks with energy, enduring commitment and considerable sacrifice of his own time and money.
Mitt Romney is no mother Theresa—but no one can be her and be a good spouse and parent, businessman, governor, and aspire to be president. However, Mr. Romney lives a faith that teaches the dignity of man, tolerance for human diversity, the power of charity to improve the lives of those that give as well as those that receive, and potential for redemption when we fail—which each of us does in some measure.
If that’s a cult, then maybe Rev. Jeffress should sign up for some lessons.”
Peter Morici is a respected U.S. Economist and Professor of Business Administration
Dr. Morisi teaches at the Robert Smith School of Business and explored Mormonism after a brother joined the faith. Dr. Morisi is confirmed, life-long Catholic.
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Still not going to vote for Mr. Romney, tho. I believe there are further differences between Mormons and true Christians… I thought your blog was kind of vague on that Christians believe that Jesus is God’s son and that He is the only bridge to God, not through good works and unless they have changed their beliefs, then that is the reason why He won’t be my choice.
Thank you for your testimony of Mitt Romney’s part of his life. These are wonderful things we also look for in a Leader. His life of service is a great mark of himself. Thank God for great men like Mitt Romney.
Thanks Linda. The Kitchen Cabinet wasn’t actually delivering the commentary, the gentleman from Robert Smith Business School was sharing his thoughts. What we do know about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that their website LDS.org makes it clear that Mormons accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as their Savior. If that helps? The most important focus for Conservatives in 2012 though, is to defeat Barack Obama, hold The Supreme Court, and hopefully take Congress. Which ever candidate the GOP chooses as the nominee, The Kitchen Cabinet will be working hard to get elected for that reason. Thanks for taking the time to comment Linda. TKC
Linda,
Mormons do, in fact, believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the only path to Salvation. Without His atonement, salvation would be impossible–we can do nothing without that grace.
However, we also believe that true followers of Christ demonstrate their discipleship by doing the best they can throughout their lives. Good works do not provide salvation, but an unrepentant sinner rejects the Redeemer’s sacrifice through their actions. The Lord himself said “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
I have one question for you, though. If Mitt Romney were a Jew instead of a Mormon, would you still have a problem voting for him? If not, why would his belief in Christ matter to you in one case but not the other?
Linda,if you don’t know about mormon religion,don’t comment wrong, this a free country you are entitlel to your opinion; we are christian’s and we believe and ‘Jesus Christ’, as a son of our Heavenly Father,if you have a time and read on the net about our believe’s we are good people,we respect,others, i was catolic,and 30 years ego the truth,open my eyes,so im so Happy that happens to me and my family, So im going to vote for Romny,not cause He is Mormon,but because He is honest and successful, and a good person.Go Mitt.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints also believes that it is only through Jesus Christ one can be saved. He is The Light, The Truth and The Way. As his followers then we try to do what he asks us to do. Following his commandments and doing to the best of our ability are “works” that hopefully show our faith by our works. No matter how hard one tries to follow and do good “works” we all come short and are saved only through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks to Dr. Morisi for an objective and unbiased evaluation. @Linda Moore–Please read James 2: 14-26 which indicates that both faith and works are necessary for salvation. Also see 2 Nephi 25:23 in the Book of Mormon which indicates that “by grace we are saved AFTER ALL WE CAN DO.” None of us can achieve salvation on our own, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t make a personal effort to do good works.
This article not only describes Mitt Romney but every Mormon I know. Mitt Romney is a typical Mormon, this is what we do. I have been a Mormon for 30+ years and can not imagine a better organization to be associated with, let alone learning the Gospel and the Savior and the purpose of life which no other Christian church can answer. Seems to me, a true religion should be able to answer the question: “What is the purpose of life?”. Dr. Google does not even know the answer to that question, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does.
Is the following statement a Mormon belief? THE STRAITNESS OF THE WAY. Mortality is the testing or proving ground for exaltation to find out who among the children of God are worthy to become Gods themselves, and the Lord has informed us that “few there be that find it.” Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.1, p.69 – p.70:
Not experts, but Mormons share that “straightness of the way” simply means the path of obedience to the commandments. The suggestion of becoming like God is true apparently in the sense that a righteous Father seeks to have his children follow him and his example. Mormons believe God the Father and Jesus Christ are separate and exalted beings, worship and pray to a God the Father and believe Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world. http://www.LDS.org