Let’s all be Mormons.
No, not adopt their religion per se. It’s no doubt a fine one, but most of us have our own religions or no religion at all. So this is not about the LDS theology.
But we should adopt one of their apparent tenets, the one that we see especially at times like this, “times like this” being election time.
As we were driving home from church recently, my son glanced at the enormous number of political signs at each corner and noted, “Dad, many of those candidates are Mormons. Why?”
A good question, but one I think I know the answer to.
I think Mormons are taught early on that patriotism, love of our country, is a part of their lifestyle as LDS members.
And a major part of that patriotism is to participate in the political process.
So particularly here in the East Valley but across our state, we see inordinately large numbers of Mormon office-seekers and elected officials.
This despite the Mormon population being only 4 percent of the total Arizona population, and only 5.5 percent of Maricopa County’s population.
Mormons vote, too. In the last Republican primary in 2008, the 4 percent of Mormons made up 11 percent of the total Republican vote.
So their influence is outsized.
And good for them. They are doing just what our Founders wanted -- an involved electorate.
If only the rest of us would follow the Mormon example.
But we have that chance, here in August and again in November.
We can vote in the primaries and vote again in the general election.
If -- as some claim -- this is one of the most important elections in our history, then it’s our duty to appear at the polls.
The shame is, unlike so many of our Mormon neighbors, the rest of us won’t.
Mark Scarp in the Tribune recently reported the voter turnouts. In the last election, 2010, only 30 percent of eligible voters participated in primaries. And that was an 8 percent increase from the previous election.
As we know, here in Arizona, often the primaries are the general elections, in the sense that there is no general election opponent. Yet only one-third of us, at best, show up to vote.
But the Mormons apparently do.
Look what looms ahead in November: a Presidential contest with a clear difference of how our country should be governed, contested seats for almost every Congressional slot, initiatives that can dramatically change the shape of our state, school bond and override elections, legislative seats that color the way our state legislature behaves (or misbehaves).
All that’s on the line in this election. And we can be sure that the patriotic Mormons will exercise their constitutional right to vote.
So let’s be like our LDS neighbors, read up on the issues and the candidates, and vote in the primary and general elections. It might not make us any holier, but it will make our state and country better.
downtownresident posted at 8:51 am on Mon, Aug 6, 2012.
We should all take part in our government's election process.
But, not because, "the Mormons do it".
Maybe "the rest of us" deserve what the Mormons give us if we don't vote. However, let's not confuse patriotism with a political adgenda.
Voting is so simple, now that one does not have to travel any further than the mail box to exercise their right to vote.
I've aready voted and mailed my ballot.
chatmandu002 posted at 10:34 am on Mon, Aug 6, 2012.
Voting is a right, privilege and responsibility of citizenship. Our responsibility to vote should involve meeting any requirements to prove who you are and your citizenship status.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:36 am on Mon, Aug 6, 2012.
"Let's all be Mormons"............if that was the case, Mike, there wouldn't be enough to form a battalion (800)....probably barely enough to form a company (200) in the US Military.
I hate to keep going back to the Mormon "4-D, Minister of Religion" draft deferrments during the Vietnam War but the facts are the facts.
Tens of thousands of healthy, young Mormon men were "DEFERRED" from the Draft for 2 1/2 years to go on "missions". Even 1-Y Classified "gentiles" were designated to be drafted before them. 1-Y meant that you had "flat feet" and couldn't march = they went......"high blood pressure sufferers" = they went....."severe allergies" = they went..."draftees with skeletal or muscular injuries/disorders...aka...cripples" = they went.........but not...big, strapping, healthy, young Mormon men.....no........they were deferred to go on a "mission for the Mormon Church"......while some poor "gentile" sucker (even cripples) went in their place.
Mike, the Encyclopedia Brittanica defines "pa.tri.ot.ism" = devoted love, support and defense of one's country; national loyalty.
During the Vietnam War...the draft-age male members of the Mormon Church who were deferred to go on missions could hardly be called ....."patriotic". A "gentile" , un-deferred Patriot defended our Country in his place.
I want to thank, as all of us should, the male members of the Mormon Church who during the Vietnam War did serve our Great Nation in the United States Military and the Mormon men and women who are serving today. God bless them all.
Cerulean posted at 1:34 pm on Mon, Aug 6, 2012.
Here in Arizona we hire people to lead our state who believe the earth is only 6000 years old. People who believe that guns are more important on a college campus and in movie theaters than an affordable tuition or wholesome community trust. People who believe that it’s ok to make up organizations like the ‘Arizona Teachers Association’ and plaster the ATA endorsement to their campaign signs with the sole intent to deceive. People, who will take money from K-12 education, give it to their supporters in the private prison business and have no conscience about it.
Until there is a shift in the ideals, values and morals of the voting public, kooks will continue to be elected.
samkat posted at 5:40 pm on Mon, Aug 6, 2012.
Actually Mike, it goes deeper than just being raised to vote. From what I understand, they are essentially told to run for office and who to vote for.
By the way, do the public schools even teach civics and government anymore? If they do, they need to increase the emphasis. If they do not, drop the religion course the flat earth conservatives just enacted and use the time slot for a mandatory civics and government course.
Dale Whiting posted at 6:37 pm on Mon, Aug 6, 2012.
Leon, Leon, Leon,
If you only knew the truth.
I voted for Nixon in '68. Then when he instuted the draft lottery, my number was 22. Recall his victory sign? Two fingers held up in each hand, i.e. 22! Having already instituted a draft, I had been deferred for being in college. And having been born early enough in 1947, I got one of the two "missionary deferrments" allotted to each congregation each year for it's youth. Having completed my "mission" before '68, with the lottery, I lost my college deferrement. But already being in ROTC, I got to finish college, then serve as an officer. And I volunteered for EOD, "Explosive Ordnance Disposal," the bomb squad. My contemporary today are waging a war on IED's, improvised explosive devises.
While still in school, I had a Muslim roomate from Pakistan, invited to attend college at BYU in it's Chemical Engineering program pioneered by two of his Engineering college faculty for Pakistanis. I got to know that Muslims are great people. And my sociology professor had been a Benedictine Monk on sabatical and my third semester Calculus teacher was a Shik!
Notwithstanding the fact that three of my fellow high school students died in Vietnam, they not being born early enough in the year to get one of those ministerial defferments you complain about, I served on active duty to honor them. I served in the US Army to honor my father, my community and my country. I know that ignorance is a foe of peace and understanding. I morned on 9-11, knowing that Muslims would become targets Just look at you and your attitude!
And I voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and plan to vote for him again in 2012. He's got understanding, too. How about you? Do you "understand" anything?
Mike McClellan posted at 8:20 pm on Mon, Aug 6, 2012.
samkat, high schoolers in AZ are required to take a semester of government, but it's a broad survey course. Kids can opt to take Advanced Placement gov't, which is much more in-depth and (potentially) more exciting and beneficial.
I'd like to see the class apply the Constitution's breakdown of the three branches to current events and how the Bill of Rights applies in our lives. I believe that'd be a sounder way to teach the course.
feisty13 posted at 10:56 am on Tue, Aug 7, 2012.
Mike, are you a former Nazi trying to tell People what to be? You are sick Puppy! No Wonder they call it the "LSD" Church because they are the greediest, most money-hungry Individuals on this Earth. Get a Life or play in Traffic!
VofReason posted at 1:07 pm on Tue, Aug 7, 2012.
I am not Mormon but live in close proximity to many. I do not share the teneants of their religion, but I cannot see how anyone can think that they are generally very good people. They teach their children responsibility, importance of education, importance of service and importance of physical fitness. How can you go wrong. Part of responsibility is voting for your leaders in a Republic. So perhaps better be responsible and vote and therefore share the desire of responsibility with Mormons
mrconservative posted at 11:20 pm on Tue, Aug 7, 2012.
" . . . because they are the greediest, most money-hungry Individuals on this Earth."
This is a LIE. We are not only generous with our money, but we are generous with our time. We help others out, without thought of a reward. When Hurricane Katrina hit, my Church was the first major organization to respond with relief effort. The same thing happened after World War II. We help each other as well. If not for Mitt Romney, the 2002 Olympics never would have happened. You call what he did greedy?
You, feisty13, obviously do not know the Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints. We send our young men on women on missions to places they, most of the time, have never been to. They spend 18 months to two years away from their families. That is as unselfish as anyone can be.
You ever heard of Mother Teresa? She wasn't LDS, but she spent her entire adult life helping others. She did things that many LDS people would do or have done.
I hope you will one day come to realize how wrong you are, feisty13.
Cerulean posted at 2:59 pm on Wed, Aug 8, 2012.
Dale Whiting, Thank you (and everyone who has served), for your service to our country. I for one, am grateful.
However, I do not believe that Mitt Romney was as courageous as you.
“Though an early supporter of the Vietnam War, Romney avoided military service at the height of the fighting after high school by seeking and receiving four draft deferments,”
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/national_world/2012/06/05/romneys-military-record-faces-new-scrutiny.html
Leon Ceniceros posted at 11:54 pm on Wed, Aug 8, 2012.
There are the names of 589 Fallen American Heroes (of the 58,193) on the Vietnam Wall who were Latter-Day Saints. God Bless them for their ultimate sacrifice in Defense of our Great Nation. God Bless their Families, Friends and Loved Ones too.
The Draft was never just, never equitable. Nothing a Goverment institutes is.
Records show that 4000 - 5000 LDS were drafted or enlisted in the US Military and served in Vietnam in 1968 (the only year that I could find information on) and we all need to thank these men for their Service to our Nation during a time of War.
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