The Church Being Political

For those who support abortions, gay marriage, illegal immigration (obeying laws of the land, remember?), etc…how can they answer “no” to that question?

It’s my understanding that the affiliate question was originally a way of asking someone if they were secretly a polygamist without coming out and saying the word polygamist. I’m not sure what that question means in the 21st century, especially outside of Utah where there’s not a history of secret polygamy.

I feel like they want to fight part of politics, but are now becoming too politically correct.

Like, they don’t want to offend anyone, so they don’t take hard stances.

Like, they are getting too soft and that leaves me (and maybe others) feeling like there isn’t a foundation upon which to stand.

**I don’t usually say “like” this often.

Do you have an example of a hard stance you’d like for them to take?

Here’s the church’s more recent statement that came out shortly after the proposed immigration ban:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is concerned about the temporal and spiritual welfare of all of God’s children across the earth, with special concern for those who are fleeing physical violence, war and religious persecution. The Church urges all people and governments to cooperate fully in seeking the best solutions to meet human needs and relieve suffering.

I can see how both sides can feel good about that statement. The pro-immigration folks like the call to relieve suffering and feel like letting people seek refuge is the way to do it. The anti-immigration folks like the “best solutions” part and believe that the ban is the current best solution.

I’d prefer the church stay out of politics altogether, I feel that we’re already too political in our church meetings but I understand how it’s not as black and white as that. Politics and religion are intertwined in many ways. I’m not sure how I would react to a church issuing more definitive statements (on either side of the debate). I feel like if the church became more involved in politics it would cause me to reduce my interactions with the church. It’s bad enough as it is.

I feel like we are on a slippery slope.

If the Lord accepts everyone and no one does anything wrong…well, isn’t that what we were warned about in the BOM?

There is no moral compass anymore, and maybe I was holding out hope that the Church would provide some stability and guidance, but (at least to me) it feels like they are kowtowing.

I’d like to understand your perspective a little more. What kind of stability and guidance do you think the church should give? I know lots of members that would be upset if the church took a certain stand, I know lots of members that would be upset if the church took the opposite stand… but one group is used to being disappointed so you might as well keep the happy people happy.

I wish the church was bigger into the humanitarian issues of the day. Things like soup kitchens or warming stations. I would also like it if our Mormon experience was somehow helped to connect to and do good for the outside world. Things like micro-loans in Indonesia or digging a well in Uganda. At the moment the Mormon equivalent of this is to check the box that says “humanitarian aid” or “Perpetual Education Fund” on the tithing slip. It is just so disjointed from the end recipient as to make it difficult to get excited.

HC,

I agree that the Church keeps a pretty low profile about its efforts world-wide. I’m not actually sure that blaring it from speakers on Temple Square would be any better. I do think a little more discussion would be good, but there is a line that can be crossed and the Church’s approach seems to be to stand nowhere close to the line so as not to cross it inadvertently. I actually think this is a sign that the Church is sincere about its use of funds for good, and following the counsel in this passage from the NT:

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. –Matthew 6:3-4 (NIV)

Here’s an example from a few years ago of what the Church does… according to this report:

http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2010/jan/14/haiti-quake-aid-pledges-country-donations#data

and this article:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700009189/Mormon-church-provided-425M-in-Haiti-relief.html

The LDS church provided more in disaster relief to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake than the countries of Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland, combined.

But, the church does far more in non-dollar-amount support for the poor, in the form of education, donated labor from local ward members, and spiritual support. Like many of you, I assume, I know people personally who were sent at the behest of the Church to help in New Orleans after Katrina.