According to pollster Nate Silver, as of October 29, Donald Trump has only a 35% chance of winning the U.S. Presidency but a 85.2.5% chance of winning Utah’s six electoral votes. As a Latter-day Saint, I ask myself how it is even remotely possible that Trump could win in Utah (and in other heavily Mormon states like Idaho, Wyoming and Arizona) given the gargantuan gap between Mormon values and Trump’s morals. Trump’s behavior, much of it documented, some of it affirmed by his own words, and some of it on full display during the presidential campaign, stands in stark contrast to the moral standards espoused by Mormons.
The Church’s 13th Article of Faith would seem to predict that Mormons would oppose Trump for many reasons but certainly so on moral grounds: “We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; . . . If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” None of these adjectives could be used to define Trump, and yet Mormons, at least in the heartland, seem willing to see him as President of the country.
One of the things that might explain Trump winning Utah is partisanship. In the United States at least, Mormons tend to be conservative, patriotic and extremely loyal–and are heavily identified with the Republican Party, with Utah and Idaho, both with significant Mormon populations, vying for the title of reddest state in the last several presidential elections. As Emma Green reported in the September Atlantic, “Utah’s Mormon voters are a near-perfect symbol of conservative American patriotism.”
In regard to Trump, however, Mormon religious principles should, so to speak, trump patriotism. Except that Mormons have a deep, irrational antipathy toward Clinton. Rather than a love-hate, it is more like a hate-hate relationship with the Democratic candidate. Mormon attitudes toward Clinton are venomous, reflecting the extreme caricature of Clinton one sees in
the darkest corners of the American popular imagination, in which she is variously portrayed as a criminal, a murderer and even demonic.
Mormons especially should resist the temptation to see Clinton as the incarnation of evil Trump and other Republicans have been portraying her to be since well into the twentieth century Mormons were so portrayed. From sensationalist dime novels and rabid anti-Mormon literature of the 19th century to the Broadway musical, The Book of Mormon, Mormons have been portrayed variously as alien, cultish, demonic, sexually deviant and buffoonish. In the courses I teach on Mormonism at Graduate Theological Union and the University of California, I show how, from the beginning, Mormons were scapegoated as anti-Christian devils, complete with horns and tails, whose very existence threatened all that was good and decent in America. Driven into Utah Territory in the middle of the nineteenth century following an extermination order by the governor of Missouri, hostility from other believers and the murder of their prophet, Mormons have sought ever since acceptance and respectability from their fellow citizens.
The truth is, Clinton shares core Mormon values in a way that Trump never has and from all appearances never will. For example, she has worked tirelessly on behalf of the rights of women and children and has championed family values internationally. She is also a committed Christian. As Tomicah Tillemann, her LDS speech writer, attests in an article in the LDS-owned Deseret News, “She is a woman of sincere faith [who] has spoken of her Christian faithfulness often and sincerely throughout her political career.” As opposed to Trump, whose life has been devoted to promoting himself and serving his own interests, Clinton has dedicated her life to public and humanitarian service, both cardinal virtues of Mormon citizenship. According to the Washington Post, in terms of executive, legislative and foreign service, Clinton is one of the most experienced and qualified presidential candidates in recent American history. As part of her public service, Clinton has worked on behalf of the rights of disadvantaged minorities, including the disabled, immigrants and the poor, reflecting one of the four cardinal missions of the Mormon Church—“to care for the poor and needy.”
Clinton is also a champion of religious rights and freedoms, another core Mormon value. Again quoting Tillemann, “Under her direction, we established a groundbreaking 70-member task force on religion in foreign policy that included members of the church. . . . She spoke out often about the persecution of religious minorities, even when doing so was politically unpopular. I saw her . . . advocate for the principle that people should be able to worship how, where, and what they may.” The same could not be said of Trump.
By voting for and then supporting Clinton, should she be elected, Mormons could help promote harmony and unity in what is now a seriously divided and polarized body politic. In the Book of Mormon, which Latter-day Saints consider scripture, the resurrected Christ declares, “It is not my doctrine to stir up the hearts of men [and women] with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.” And another scripture enjoins Mormons to relate to others by “persuasion,” “long-suffering,” “kindness, “gentleness,” and “love unfeigned.” That injunction applies in all arenas, including politics.
Following such principles, Latter-day Saints could set the example for the healing that will be necessary following what has clearly been one of the ugliest and most contentious campaigns in our history. My hope is that Latter-day Saint virtues of fairness and generosity will cause Mormons to be less harsh in their judgement of Clinton and thus help prevent a candidate as odious as Trump from claiming Utah as a political prize.
Robert Rees
Bob Rees holds a BA from Brigham Young University and an MA and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has taught at UCLA and UC Santa-Cruz and was a Fulbright Professor of American Studies at Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania. Currently he teaches at Graduate Theological Union and the University of California, Berkeley. Rees is the author and editor of numerous studies in the humanities, education and religion. He is the co-editor (with Eugene England) of The Reader’s Bookof Mormon (Signature Books, 2008) and the editor of Proving Contraries: A Collection ofWritings in Honor of Eugene England (Signature, 2005) and Why I Stay: The Challenges of Discipleship for Contemporary Mormons (Signature, 2011). Currently, he is completing a second volume of Why I Stay and writing a books on Discipleship and Mormons and Gays. Rees has served as a bishop and a member of the Baltic States Mission presidency. He lives in Mill Valley, California.
All posts by Robert Rees
Newsspeek
Newsspeek–as in “a peek into the news”? Hopefully.
Terrific Bob –thanks!
If you are attempting to beatify Hillary Clinton you are working with half a deck! She is the most consistently corrupt politician that we have seen in decades. She doesn’t represent Mormons in her constant focus on abortion rights. There has never been a tax that she did not like. Donald Trump is no more self serving than Hillary. You can rag on Trump but at least he has done something. He has built a successful business, warts and all. He has met a payroll and all the challenges that come with running a business.
Hillary has spent her whole career talking and talking and talking and fighting off one scandal after the other. She is the establishment. She will bring another four years of Barack Obama. This is the crowd that brought you health care with a 20-30% hike in premiums this year. Remember you can keep your doctor!
Her election will tilt the Supreme Court to the left for the next 30 years. The constitution, as written, will be disregarded in view of new rights and privileges that were never intended by the founding fathers.
Your arguments against Trump may all be true. They would be more believable if you at least laid out the flaws of his opponent instead of setting her on the road to sainthood.
So many people explain “why” for each candidate. I would argue, take the candidate at their own words. See their fruit. Here is Clinton’s main rally from last week:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=m30VBIf6bTM#t=164
Here is where she comes out on stage, and in her own words:
“…when I see them here, this passion and energy and intensity, I don’t even know where to begin, because this is what America is my friends!”
I think the fact that Clinton had a rally with Jay-Z and Beyonce is significant. For those of you who did not notice any of the occult/satanic symbols in their performance, I would suggest looking at this video by a Christian group:
Ilove obama care, with the cap removed on our healthcare that has helped so much with a cancer pt, and with out children being able to stay on our insurance thank God, and with preventive healthcare having to get a colonoscopy every 3 yrs, and a mamagram, helps alot out of pocket expensie. Thanks Obama..Vote Hillary, I dont believe in abortion, But I believe in God and he is my redemmer, and Thank Him I dont have to judge people who think they have the right to judge others. He has no sin cast the first stone.
Thank you Bishop Rees (I think you’re the Bob Rees I know from many years ago). I never comment on articles but felt prompted to here. After living in many places throughout the world, I am currently living in Utah and find the blind partisan loyalty to “being Republican” surprising and dangerous. Even when pointed out that a non-Republican candidate is more aligned with what they say they care about, many will still have a knee-jerk reaction and struggle to support the “Republican.” I have puzzled as to why.
One apparent reason is that they are rarely adequately informed. Instead, they spout surface, hyperbolic rhetoric that (I can tell by the verbiage) is from Fox News, which for years has been found by independent studies to be one of the least accurate and most biased news sources. In fact, some studies have shown that those who regularly watch Fox News score worse on questions testing factual knowledge about history, current events, geography, constitutional law, etc than those who don’t watch any news at all. It could be surmised that only those with a severe lack of knowledge choose Fox; but I know some smart people who watch and, unless they are discerning and actually do some research on their own (which we all should do no matter the news source) they are left with only emotional inaccuracies and inflamed propaganda with which to reach conclusions. When given original sources, I have found they often form opinions contrary to what they were left with after watching Fox. Similar situation with Breitbart and altright outlets (but most around here rely on FoxNews). I’d be interested to know Mr. McMullin’s news, primary and secondary sources, and how much time/effort he has spent on researching his claims himself. As any good attorney, historian, journalist, scientist or other professional concerned with accuracy can tell you, reliability of evidence is highly dependent on the integrity of the source.
Anyway, we will each have to answer to God for our choices, including how we educated ourselves, how wisely we voted, and how those choices affected others. I pray for our country, fellow citizens and leaders to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and to follow it.
My reference to Mr. McMullin was to Phil McMullin (a previous commenter to this article) — not to the candidate Evan McMullin.
Thanks Bob.
I think it would do us all well to humanize instead of demonize our politicians. Yes, there are problems, but are these candidates trying to work effectively toward the common good?
This was obviously an attempt to find ideals that Mormons and Clinton hold fundamental and I think that you did a good job. Obviously there are going to be critics that see that as a one-sided political garbage post, but I don’t.
My personal assessment (for the moment) is that both candidates do actually believe they are the best candidates and believe they know what is best for the country.
I do think it would be awesome if Clinton was elected and did a phenomenal job. She has overcome some serious challenges in the past, this would be the biggest yet.
Interesting. I submit a comment with a video link of Clinton at her rally last week and it isn’t approved. At the top of this post the author puts Clinton next to the temple of our Lord. Clinton’s rally last week was flush with satanic/occult symbols, profanity, degrading of women, etc. yet you choose to “filter” it. I am no Trump fan, and most likely won’t vote for him. But the fact you have to filter and wash Clinton’s rally and what she said at it makes me question if the mod has any principles at all. We should take the candidates at their face value, and look at their fruit. And her fruit is rotten and evil.
Lastly, I would like to point out that my comments on this article was the first post I’ve made on Rational Faiths. I’ve been a lurker for some time, and felt the community was more open to other opinions and suggestions. The filtering of my comments about Clinton show to me your no different than http://ldsmag.com/ Another LDS “themed” website that chooses to filter comments that do not match their agenda. Such a shame.
I take what I said back about Rational Faiths being like ldsmag.com. When I saw several other comments being posted, when I posted my this morning, I figured the same thing happened as what usually happens on other mormon themed websites. Thank you mods for allowing me to post my opinion even though it may not have been in agreement with the author’s post.
Lee Grant Porter: I am not a fan of Trump. I do not want my name on the memorial plague at Trump Tower. He was not my choice as a Republican candidate for president. I too believe he can be bombastic, rash and untactful in his remarks, comes off egotistical in some of his claims, and is capable of taking advantage of others in achieving his goals; in fact I believe he has been his own enemy in not exercising some thoughtful restraint in his speech, but he has not been his worst enemy. His real lynch-mob has been the liberal media and the Clinton campaign operatives who have consistently taken his sometimes clumsy comments out of context and twisted his meaning by substituting their own interpretation of his words in their headlines and analysis. Or knowing Trumps penchant for spontaneous defensive remarks, they have deliberately engineered situations in interviews and debates to elicit those unmeasured responses, and then insisted that they had nefarious meanings, which it was obvious to me he did not intend. This I have witnessed time and again by listening to him, considering the context, and then seeing and hearing the reports and interpretations of the liberal media and his political opponents. So I think if ones assessment of Trump comes in any measure from liberal TV, most internet commentators, interviewers, newspapers and political opponents, he will come off looking much worse than he really is and with having viewpoints attributed to him which he really does not have. That is why I have made it a point as far as possible to listen to live or unedited rebroadcast events, listen carefully to what is said and in what context it is said before making a judgment about what Trump really said or meant to say. I cannot trust all observers and commentators to give me a true perspective of circumstances and meaning of statements or an accurate reporting of the whole story. I could point to many examples of such occurrences, but will not in the interest of Brevity.
I point these things out not to defend Trump as a suitable candidate for the President, but as protest against those who would attack him by misinterpreting his words, make false statements and tell half-truths to make him appear more reprehensible or make it appear that he has opinions which he does not have. I would extend the same defense to Hillary Clinton who like no other woman in politics has been charged with being a perennial pathological liar, not above graft to further her political and financial ends, and with exhibiting extremely poor Judgment in her political career by her detractors.
I do think however that Clinton’s subtle, undercover, devious maneuverings and evasions with several accomplices are far more dangerous than Trump’s solitary bombastic outbursts which are tempered afterwards. Hillary is far more likely to be the wolf in sheep’s clothing from which we have been counseled to turn away or the evil foe appearing as a beacon of light to deceive even the very elect, than is Trump, who in no way outwardly or subversively is posing as a sheep or an un-flickering beacon of light. Trump’s campaign exaggerations are easily perceived and taken with a grain of salt.
As to Trump choosing leaders for his political administrative team, that he would choose decent, well-meaning, courageous, highly-capable people to help make good decisions is very likely because he already has chosen a fine VP and has a list of respectable Supreme Court nominees.
When I look at the pool of Trump supporters who likely will fill other positions, I see no other individuals like Trump, only men like Ben Carson whose moral compass cannot be questioned and a host of retired military leaders whose leadership and judgment in the area of defense and international relations has been proven. I know Trump will be an outspoken unreserved President, but I believe he will listen to his chosen advisors.
When I look at the pool of Hillary’s supporters likely to be nominated for or retained in leadership positions, I see individuals already in political positions who are very like her, a Nancy Pelosi who would pass an unpopular bill to see what it contains, Obama who has repeatedly tried to circumvent legislative processes by issuing executive orders, a group of Forced Union leaders and their operatives on Labor Boards who take advantage of the forced dues of workers to support extravagant life styles and fund self-serving political agendas not supported by dues paying workers, and Harry Reid like politicians who would back them up in seeking to repeal Right to Work Laws already adopted by many states and which have proven to be advantageous in respect to productivity and economic health.
When it comes to the issue of Supreme Court nominees, many who have opted to back Trump in spite of his ineptness and lack of political experience feel it may be the most significant issue because some of the major differences in the platforms of the two parties on social issues (abortion, same sex marriage, I am opposed to both) are predicated on supreme court decisions which were far from unanimous, margins of a single vote in some cases. So the dispositions of Judges appointed to life time positions on the Supreme Court are very important to both parties.
There are planks in Hillary’s platform that pledge to advocate and support abortion and same-sex marriage. Those statements alone are sufficient for me to reject the platform as not reflecting the ideals and doctrines of the LDS Church that I have adopted and pledge to defend. There are other ideas in their platform that I think are amiss, but there is no need here to discuss them.
I must vote for a platform of what I consider correct principles, ideals and objectives and not for any person or I would not vote for either major candidate. I have every reason to believe that voting for a third party, no matter how honorable or popular with Mormon voters, or not voting at all would have the same impact on the outcome of the national election; and while voting for the third party candidate may appease my personal conscience, I cannot in good conscience not vote for the platform that I believe will have the highest probability of benefiting our society both nationally and internationally. Trump has pledge to stand on that platform with others who I deem capable of endeavoring to implement it. So I have no regrets or compunctions about having abandoned my moral convictions when I say that I vote for Trump’s platform.
Thanks, Bob. I’m sending a link to this to family and friends, primarily in Utah, but do not know if they will read or heed.
Secret combinations run deep with Hilary…. but who cares? Trump says rude things!!!!
It is hard to be leave the Clinton Crime Family is a better choice. How bad would they have to be to be worse than Trump in your view?
The fact the Clinton is not in jail shows how corrupt Obama and the DOJ are.
Unfortunately the the dirtiest complain usually wins. It starts real early. Pick the opponent you think you can beat then do what ever you can to get them to win their primary. I was told that is the main thing that got Harry Read elected last time by a person who was closely connected.
If you control the media you get the free air time.
If not you set up pacts that run adds for them. You organize how ever you can to help your victim win but not to much, you do not want to make them stronger than you have to, after all you are going to run agents them. As soon as the Primary is over you pull all support from them and let them go it alone.
Then you do things like send people to their events to provoke fights.
Take their words out of context for you adds.
Have your news friends cover the most negative stories you can create
Ms. Clinton along with Pres. Obama destroyed Libya based on false information. 30,000 Libyans have died because of her actions and the country is far worse off than before. This alone should prevent anyone from voting for her. Watch her “we came, we saw, he died” video and tell me you want this person as commander in chief. She is a man of blood.
Your right. She and Obama have a lot of blood on their hands from the middle east. Somehow people are blinded by both parties to the amount of war and bloodshed we are committing as a country around the world. Our gov. has been threatening Russia, and Clinton was personally trying to pick a fight with them. Clinton and her people want war. The Neo-Con republicans want war. They profit from it. Trump has made many comments against all our wars. Time will tell if it is just talk, or if he really does want peace and will stand up to the military industrial complex. With Clinton war was a guarantee. We as a people need to wake up to reality.
NATO Places 300,000 Troops On “High Alert” In Readiness For Confrontation With Russia
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-11-07/nato-places-300000-troops-high-alert-readiness-confrontation-russia
CIA Prepping for Possible Cyber Strike Against Russia
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cia-prepping-possible-cyber-strike-against-russia-n666636
Will US Go To War With Russia? Clinton, Putin Tensions Could Lead To New Cold War
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cia-prepping-possible-cyber-strike-against-russia-n666636
The world reacts to President Trump: Putin says he wants to ‘fully restore’ ties with America while France’s US ambassador declares ‘the world is collapsing before our eyes’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3919428/Trump-world-reacts-European-governments-express-disbelief-Donald-s-victory-right-wing-populists-Russia-celebrate-new-political-era.html
The Book of Mormon reads like a newspaper of the events of our day. Moroni addressed us about this. We are the Gentiles he speaks of:
Ether 8:
23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.
It is inappropriate for you to use scripture to sway people toward your political objective and ideology. Any faithful Latter-day Saint knows the best candidate is the one for whom the Holy Ghost tells you to vote. These decisions should be made prayerfully and privately. You would serve others better if you simply reminded them of this basic truth rather than trying to convince them that your choice is the only correct choice.
Hi Laurie,
I’m curious what choice you think I’m trying to convince others of?
My intent was to make others aware of the secret the combinations that are abound. It is well known that the Clintons are involved in secret combinations and are corrupt. Obama is considering issuing a pardon for Hillary before he leaves to protect her from future prosecution:
http://nypost.com/2016/11/09/white-house-open-to-a-clinton-pardon/
Hillary has the blood of thousands on her hands in the middle east. She and Obama (along with the Bush’s before them) have waged pre-emptive war. The Lord’s rules for war are clearly defined in D&C 98 as well as many other places in the scriptures (we are not allowed to be involved in pre-emptive war):
16 Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children;
…
32 Behold, this is the law I gave unto my servant Nephi, and thy fathers, Joseph, and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, and all mine ancient prophets and apostles.
33 And again, this is the law that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out unto battle against any nation, kindred, tongue, or people, save I, the Lord, commanded them.
34 And if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people, nation, or tongue;
35 And if that people did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time, they should bring these testimonies before the Lord;
36 Then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them in going out to battle against that nation, tongue, or people.
37 And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation.
38 Behold, this is an ensample unto all people, saith the Lord your God, for justification before me.
Mormons are not the only people that have these type of rules on war, most Christians do too (although many don’t follow it):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_war_theory
FYI- I’m not a supporter of Trump. I actually voted for Castle:
http://castle2016.com/home/
However, I do believe Trump winning averted an imminent war with Russia. Hillary has been actively picking a fight with them. We’ll see how long Trump’s anti-war stance lasts against the military industrial complex.
So why did I vote for Castle? Because out of everyone on the ballot in my state, his stance on issues were most theologically correct. Had Rand or Ron Paul made it, I would have voted for them. The Lord has stated in D&C 98:
4 And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.
5 And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.
6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.
8 I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
9 Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
10 Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.
11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
Our biggest problem is people vote for candidates in the same way the root for their favorite sports team. O4 And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them.
5 And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.
6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.
8 I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.
9 Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn.
10 Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.
11 And I give unto you a commandment, that ye shall forsake all evil and cleave unto all good, that ye shall live by every word which proceedeth forth out of the mouth of God.
Our biggest problem is we simply don’t follow The Law (constitution) that the Lord gave us (D&C 101:80). Students hardly study it in law school. Everything is case law (supreme court rulings). We are a nation ruled by men. We are wicked. And the people, especially the children and of those nations we’ve destroyed mourn. Moroni saw all of this corruption and warned us to do all we can to stop it before we are destroyed (“…yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.” Ether 8).
Hope that helps.
Sorry for the mess-up at the bottom. These boxes are hard to type in, and I can’t edit after I see how the post looks. Hope it still makes sense. 🙂