Mon, 28 Oct 2013

Religious Ties and Politics: Mormon Members


Commonly known as the Mormon Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has been making it to the headlines over the past few years with some of its members establishing their names in politics.

The church, with over eighty thousand missionaries around the globe and numerous Mormons in politics, considers itself as a refurbishment of the church initiated by Jesus Christ. The church has its headquarters in Utah. The church has started congregations and built worship place or temples around the world. It was known to be the fourth largest Christian group in the US.


Mormons In Politics


One of the most prominent Mormons in politics was then Presidential candidate, Willard Mitt Romney. Born in 1947, he is a businessman who had served Massachusetts for four years as its 70th Governor. During the 2012 election, he ran for presidency under the Republican Party. Dedication for his mission had been running in their family lineage. During his younger years, he became a Mormon missionary in France. He stayed there for thirty months as a Mormon missionary in July 1966. He was also the head of the local bishop of ward or congregation.

Jason E. Chaffetz, another one in our list of Mormons in politics, is a Republican and the United States Representative for the 3rd congressional district of Utah since 2008. Influenced by Ronald Reagan, he became a Republican in 1990.

He also helped in the campaign of then gubernatorial candidate Huntsman in 2004. He served as the president of Utah National Guard and was appointed as a trustee for the Utah Valley University in 2007. He was raised by a Jewish father and Christian father. He was, however, converted into the LDS in list final year in college.



Ralph R. Harding served as a congressman in Idaho. He won against Hamer Budge in 1960, winning by 4,000 votes. He was then re-elected two years after. He was defeated, however, in 1964 by Lyndon Johnson. Following this defeat, he served in the Secretary of the Air Force as special assistant. He served as a missionary for two years during his early life and just like most Mormons in politics, had been an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He died in Blackfoot at the age of 77.



John Taylor Doolittle, born on 1950, is also a Republican and was a part of the US House of Representatives, representing the 4th congressional district of California, since 1991 to 2009. He spearheaded the Deputy Whip under the Republican Party in the 109th Congress. He earned a degree in History for his undergraduate studies and a law degree. Before going to law school, he spent two years in Argentina as a missionary for the LDS.



Another one in our list of Mormons in politics is Harry Mason Reid. He was born in 1939, is a member of the Democratic Party and the Senate Majority Leader. He was a state attorney and legislator of Henderson and used to represent Nevada's 1st congressional district. He was raised agnostic but was eventually converted to the LDS Church during his college years. He also reckons that the Democratic philosophy and values are similar to those taught in the Mormon Church.



Robert Foster Bennett (Bob Bennett) was born in 1933 in Utah. He was the grandson of Heber Grant the 7th President of the Mormon Church. Their lineage traces back to the first mayors of Salt Lake City and officials in the 1st Presidency of the Church. He became one of the Mormons in politics when he came to be a US Senate, and a part of the Republican Party. He died in Arlington, Virginia, at the age of 82.



Read:
Any Criminal Records on Donald Trump?
Bushisms - Misunderestimating George W. Bush
Robert F. Kennedy Against The Mafia
Why US Presidents End Their Speeches with God Bless America
The Founding Fathers of the United States
Democratic Danger - The Lack Of Education
People In The USA Are Living In Poverty
One Out of Every Five is on Food Stamps
How Foreigners Legally Can Work in USA
USA And Democracy - A Long Way To Reach The Top Countries
Why Did USA Boycott the Moscow Olympics?
Why the USA Has No Official Language
Will Russia Ever Be A Democratic Nation?