As a fellow Latter-Day Saint, or Mormon, I have listened with great interest to the coverage Mitt Romney has received from many different areas about his faith. It is interesting to me at how much of an issue this really is - or rather, it is becoming. Recently while driving into work I listened to an NPR new story on former Governor Romney and his faith. You can read/listen to it here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16315111
The topic was if a Mormon could be elected or not. Although an interesting topic, I don't think this should be an issue. The Sixth Article of the U.S. Constitution states, "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." It feels an awful lot to me like this race is becoming so much less about who is going to do their best to keep their oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and so much more about race, religion and gender - three things that, in my opinion, are not the rel event issue. The office of President is not about a statement of gender, race, or religion - it is about faithfully executing the office of the president and keeping their oath.
The duty of the media should not be to make the race, religion or gender of candidates the subject of discussion for any office of this Country - it should be their values, morale compass, competence, leadership experience, stands on core issues, records, plans for the future of this great land and the recognition that God does govern in the affairs of man. Let us not get distracted by the outward form and by so doing get cheated out of tangible substance - a President.
Thank you for reading.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16315111
The topic was if a Mormon could be elected or not. Although an interesting topic, I don't think this should be an issue. The Sixth Article of the U.S. Constitution states, "but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." It feels an awful lot to me like this race is becoming so much less about who is going to do their best to keep their oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and so much more about race, religion and gender - three things that, in my opinion, are not the rel event issue. The office of President is not about a statement of gender, race, or religion - it is about faithfully executing the office of the president and keeping their oath.
The duty of the media should not be to make the race, religion or gender of candidates the subject of discussion for any office of this Country - it should be their values, morale compass, competence, leadership experience, stands on core issues, records, plans for the future of this great land and the recognition that God does govern in the affairs of man. Let us not get distracted by the outward form and by so doing get cheated out of tangible substance - a President.
Thank you for reading.
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4 comments:
Ken, you are spot on. While the "Mormon" issue is distracting, I do pay attention to the personal values of the candidates. Unlike many voters, I DO believe that the values of the individual matter. This was a big topic while President Clinton was in office. The question was whether what occurred in his personal life affected his ability to run the country. Such observations miss the role that God has in the presidency of this nation which was founded under His name.
As a rule for this voter, the President of the United States should be a God-faring individual. The President should have the values that we often refer to as being based on Judeo-Christian beliefs. I believe that an individual whose life, personal and public, is centered on this will have the support and help of the Almighty.
Mike,
Always great to hear from you. You are right - the values of the individual matter so much - it is a matter of self rule in line with moral principle.
I have heard so many people say, "What was the big deal about President Clinton? So what - it didn't make him a bad President. Why should we hold the President to such a high standard?" I feel that politically, President Clinton was in many ways a very good president. He was fiscally wise and made some good foreign policy judgements. I do not agree with a number of his political stands but he was not all bad. Regarding the scandal, we as a country and people did not hold him to a higher standard; we simply held him to the standard of every American - the standard of honor, trust, fidelity and virtue. These are written into our laws and are the basis of all contracts, covenants, deeds, laws and wills. We, as a people, were not trying to hold him to any other standard than we would for our own selves (a standard that is harder and harder for our country to abide by it seems). Additionally, as the highest elected official in our country, it was up to him to honor, sustain and uphold those laws and to serve as an example of what it means to be an American. I honor his wife as well as him for overcoming that difficult time and am glad it is behind all of us.
Great thoughts. Please remember, with regard to leaders who might do good for the land but not to themselves, the passage in the Book of Mormon (Ether 10:9-13) which reads:
"9 And it came to pass after the space of many years, Morianton, (he being a descendant of Riplakish) gathered together an army of outcasts, and went forth and gave battle unto the people; and he gained power over many cities; and the war became exceedingly sore, and did last for the space of many years; and he did gain power over all the land, and did establish himself king over all the land.
10 And after that he had established himself king he did ease the burden of the people, by which he did gain favor in the eyes of the people, and they did anoint him to be their king.
11 And he did do justice unto the people, but not unto himself because of his many awhoredoms; wherefore he was cut off from the presence of the Lord.
12 And it came to pass that Morianton built up many cities, and the people became exceedingly rich under his reign, both in buildings, and in agold and silver, and in raising grain, and in flocks, and herds, and such things which had been restored unto them.
13 And Morianton did live to an exceedingly great age, and then he begat Kim; and Kim did reign in the stead of his father; and he did reign eight years, and his father died. And it came to pass that Kim did anot reign in righteousness, wherefore he was not favored of the Lord."
I ask, do we really want a leader who is cut off from the presence of the Lord? We know what Abraham Lincoln said about the office of the Presidency: "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day."
Take care Ken.
Your brother in your calling,
Justin
Justin,
You are absolutely right. God governs in the affairs of man and any president of this great land should be humble enough to receive that guidance. I have updated my post to reflect those accurate views.
God bless,
Ken