I just participated in an excellent bloggers conference call questioning Hugh Hewitt on his book "A Mormon in the White House?" (see link over the right).

Hugh has hoisted and hosted a deluge of interviews on the book and is now channeling Henry Kissinger with a decisive rasp in the voice.

(quick tip for Hugh from a family of professional singers: mug full of hot water, 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one heaping tablespoon of honey, balance to taste and sip).

Great questions all around from the crowd. I asked about the discussion of religion inside and outside the campaign.

Thomas Lifson, the editor of AmericanThinker.com had this to say recently:

We are all going to be learning about the Latter Day Saints, should Mitt Romney gain the nomination. One side benefit of a Mormon candidacy for the president would be sustained attention to a fascinating religious group, comprising a distinctive thread in the American tapestry. To be blunt, this is a group of people who stick to traditional values and thrive brilliantly. Their success speaks for itself, epitomized by Romney himself. The more people who look closely at the Mormons, the better off we will be. There are implications to be drawn, and nothing teaches like example. Work hard, be thrifty, save, give, emphasize family, and have kids are values that transcend any one religion.

Hugh has indicated that Romney gets to set the terms of the debate around his religion. To date the Governor and his campaign have avoided the detailed doctrinal questions around Mormonism (which in my estimation is a good thing).

I asked whether or not a larger debate and dialogue is necessary outside the campaign to relieve the concerns (legitimate or otherwise) that people have about Mormonism.

Hugh believes it would be a good thing and notes that it has already started. The appendix of his books is a transcript of a dialogue he had between two prominent theologians. Get the book and read it... it's very instructive. (I'm penning an article on this as we speak).

Another question was raised about the Salt Lake City issue (dubbed the Linker issue). Namely, that if elected, Mitt will be beholden to the Mormon powers that be. The Damon Linker article (from the New Republic) was decisive in it's conclusion: absolutely yes!

Of course, they probably never bothered to ask any Mormons about it.

As a Mormon, I can tell you unequivocally that this is a false premise and notion. Two quick points.

1) The Articles of Faith are thirteen points that every Mormon memorizes in their youth. While not comprehensive, they represent the salient points of Mormonism and represent our core doctrines.

Article 12 reads:

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

This is not just an idle creed.

I served my mission for the Mormon Church to Poland from 1990-1992. I was in one of the first groups of missionaries to be called to Poland (after the wall came down). Until that time the Communist government of Poland had allowed very few missionaries to enter the country. Up until 1989 there were only 4 representatives of the church in the country. Other faiths (such as the Jehovah's witnesses) did their proselytizing illegally behind the Iron Curtain. Mormons did not.

Interestingly enough, this became a benefit for us in other former Soviet block countries as governments gave us more leeway on land leases and missionary permits than other evangelizing groups because we had respected their bylaws in previous years.

This creed is also why the Church submitted to the congressional decrees baning Plural Marriage in the late 19th century. In short, we obey the laws of the land.

2) The New Republic also failed to ask Harry Reid about this. Here's an interesting story you may not know.

In the spring of 2006, the LDS Church took the rare (if not unprecedented) move to have Mormon Bishops across the country read a statement to their congregations supporting a marriage amendment. Then (in a very unprecedented move) the Church sent one of their Senior Apostles, Elder Russell M. Nelson, to appear next to Senator Allard in support of the vote and urged members to call their Senators and express their opinion.


Elder Nelson in D.C. last summer
Credit: Meridian Magazine
Meanwhile, down the hall, devout Mormon Harry Reid was mustering his troops to oppose the amendment. Was Harry Reid later reprimanded or excommunicated? No.

That about settles the issue in my mind...

I'll have a lot more to say in coming months.

In short, just know that Mitt Romney is as independent as John F. Kennedy from the supposed binding grasp of his religious ecclesiastical authority.

Labels: book, damon linker, elder nelson, hugh hewitt, mitt romney, Mormon, mormonism