FLOWER MOUND, TX, January 27, 2012 — In his introduction of Republican candidate, Governor Rick Perry, Rev. Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church (Southern Baptist) in Dallas pronounced Mormonism as a cult. The Southern Baptist convention is the largest protestant denomination in the world. This began a firestorm of controversy that resulted in the fear of discussing the influence of Mormonism’s influence on a President Romney’s administration.
The term cult is a strong word often used to label followers who have an intense interest in the devotion to a person, or idea such as Jim Jones, David Koresh, or religious worship deviating from mainstream religion. While Mormonism has been traditionally included in books on the cults, it is recognized as a legitimate contemporary religion.
It is not helpful to the conversation to place such labels on groups that are considered by society as a legitimate religious belief system. No one questions the legitimacy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The issue between traditional Christianity and Mormonism has been differences in doctrinal beliefs.
The issue within Christianity rests squarely upon its source of authority. Mormonism draws doctrine and practice from at least five written sources of authority in addition to the Bible (The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, The Doctrine and Convents, and The Pearl of Great Price) in addition to living authority from the President of the Church, the "prophet, seer and revelator." Protestant Christianity embraces the authority in one book only, the Bible. The issue of the deity of Christ is also a major difference.
With all the negative accusations the Republican candidates are leveling at each other, are they leaving out the “elephant in the room?” Should the influence of Mormonism be a matter of vetting of Governor Romney? What role would Romney’s Mormonism play in his job as President of the United States? Would the Mormon Church influence his decisions? What policies would reflect his religious beliefs? A brief question was asked in the Thursday CNN debate, but the answer was vague and unsatisfying.
We have had presidents who have represented a wide spectrum of religious beliefs: conservative Protestant (Jimmy Carter), Catholic (John Kennedy), Presbyterian (Ronald Reagan), Unitarian (Howard Taft), Quaker (Richard Nixon), and non-religious (Ulysses Grant). We have had candidates for the office who embraced Mormonism (Orrin Hatch), and a Jew (Joseph Lieberman). Is religion an issue for voters?
Governor Romney has avoided discussing his religious beliefs beyond acknowledging his enthusiasm for Mormonism. Some suggest his Mormon faith is primarily focused on moral and social values rather than doctrine. His 2010 and 2011 tax returns show he donated a total of $4.13 million to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon doctrine requires 10 percent tithing for a member to be in good standing. He certainly has put his money where his faith is.
There are many differences between mainstream Christianity and Mormons. The statement of the LDS reads: “We believe that we lived with God as spirits before we were born (Romans 8:16), and that according to His plan of happiness we can come to earth to receive physical bodies in order to learn and grow. Through the work done in Mormon Temples, we believe our family relationships can be sealed eternally. All this is contingent on our living righteous lives according to God’s divine guidance, as revealed by prophets, and repenting when we make mistakes. The Church’s mission is to help us meet the challenges of this life so that we will be worthy of the temporal and spiritual blessings God wants for us.”
This statement of faith is significantly different than traditional Christian teaching that salvation is dependent upon the biblical teaching that Jesus is God. Salvation is placing ones faith in the finished work of Christ in his atoning death on the cross, not by good works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Unlike Mormon teaching, mankind does not progress to eventually become gods (eternal progression).
Then what would a Romney presidency mean? He would not make the nation Mormon, nor would he make decisions based on orders from the leadership in the Mormon Church. He would be an advocate to protect the rights of religion in America, an act not commonly practiced today. He would encourage continued tax deductions for religious charities and promote tax exemption status for charitable and religious organizations. Beyond that he would govern the country with the cooperation of the House and Senate according to the principles of the Constitution—a welcome change.
The issue for many evangelicals is that a Mormon president would bring about a great boost in a Mormonism that advocates aggressive proselytizing. While a legitimate concern, one needs to ask the question, “Will the religious practices of a President Romney administration be any worse than the country’s current path, often marginalizing religion and leading to a liberal government by the bureaucrats for the people?”
While Governor Romney may not be everyone’s first choice, he certainly is a far better choice for the country than the current administration.
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