What Mitt Romney will say about faith

Even as you're reading this, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is polishing an important speech he's written himself, likely the most important of his well-organized campaign so far, which has hit some Baptist bumps in recent days.

Although, come to think of it, all the political buzz about the Romney speech this week sure diluted much of the attention that otherwise would have focused on Mike Huckabee's move into first place in the Des Moines Register Iowa poll Sunday. Huckabee is running a new TV ad there now which flashes the words "Christian leader" on the screen, a not-so-subtle play on the belief of many evangelicals that Mormons are not Christians,

Thursday morning we'll hear Romney's carefully-chosen words, titled "Faith in America," delivered to an invited audience of 300+ at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University in College Station. There, Romney will receive a priceless political cameo in the form of an introduction by the former president himself. It will be one of the more dramatic moments of the fall campaign.

According to Romney insiders, the decision to finally confront the whispers about Mormonism in a formal speech, while a political gamble that risks identifying him even more as a Mormon, was Romney's alone (there was no staff consensus). It came last week and was driven by the regular religion questions at his 400+ "Ask Mitt Anything" forums and, most recently, the anonymous push-polling in Iowa and New Hampshire seeking to spread rumors about Mormon tenets that can seem strange to non-members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Past polls as well as a new one coming this week show that around 25% of Americans say they would not vote for a Mormon, though typically such polls do not offer the name of any specific Mormon. Romney himself has joked that anti-Mormon feelings among Republicans may come because of confusion over Harry Reid, another Mormon and Democratic Senate majority leader.

Many political strategists believe that since it is not usually socially acceptable to express such religious bias openly, anti-Mormon feelings are what have helped give legs to the safer "flip-flop" criticism of Romney.

Wisely, in his speech Romney will not seek to explain any Mormon doctrine which, for instance, according to some, places the Garden of Eden somewhere in Missouri. Just as in his 1960 speech to Baptist ministers confronting the Roman Catholic issue (also in Texas), John F. Kennedy did not seek to explain how his wife Jackie was descended from a rib of Adam's and what in the world Noah did with all that manure on the Ark. Kennedy had one advantage going for him: about 28% of the country's population then was Roman Catholic. Today, about 2% is Mormon.

Instead, with his five strapping sons and wife Ann of 38 years, a convert to Mormonism, as silent witness nearby (and an....

unspoken contrast with other GOP candidates who've had up to three wives), Romney will talk more about his personal faith and how it has shaped his values and driven his life.

Romney's longest campaign discussion of faith, which aides point to as a model for Thursday's speech, came earlier this fall when the candidate told CBS's Bob Schieffer:

"What I can tell you is that the values of my faith are founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and the same kind of philosophy that`s associated with other Christian faiths and the Jewish faith and others is very much consistent with ours. The view that there is a God that created us, that all the children on Earth are of the same, if you will, divine origin, that the loss of one life anywhere is the loss of a fellow son or daughter of God, that liberty is a gift of God. These fundamental principles are the same faith to faith."

Romney said he wasn't asking people to vote for his church but to look at the candidate and his conservative values. "By and large," he said, "people will make their decision not based on where you go to church but instead based upon your values, your vision for the country and your ability to actually help the country at a time of great need."

Romney added:

"I accept the teachings of our church, and I do my best to live by those teachings. It hasn`t made me perfect. I`m far from that. But I`m probably a better person than I would have been and my kids are better than they would have been without faith. And you know, I don`t try and be critical of other people`s faith. Actually, I`m of the view that religious individuals have an enormous advantage in stability in their life. And I respect the work that`s being done by ministers of all faith. I think it draws people closer to God and makes us better people."

Schieffer asked Romney how he felt about the endorsement of Bob Jones III, chancellor of South Carolina's evangelical Bob Jones University, who said he preferred Romney's values despite his erroneous faith to the lack of faith of Hillary Clinton.

"I'm not expecting him to endorse my faith" Romney replied. "I'm not asking anyone to do that. I'm asking him to look at me as an American and judge my values, learn about me and my family, my character, and decide whether I could help America at a critical time. And I`m pleased that you have an evangelical Christian leader who says, look, Mitt Romney is a guy who is a social conservative, an economic conservative, a foreign policy conservative."

Interestingly, Romney's religion did not play a significant role in his Massachusetts campaigns for the Senate against John Kennedy's brother Ted, nor Romney's successful bid for the governor's office. Nor even in his father George's unsuccessful campaign for the GOP nomination in 1968. At that time, however, the Southern evangelical vote was Democratic.

(UPDATE: A new Los Angeles Times Poll indicates religion is not Romney's only problem; authenticity figures in too.)

(Second UPDATE: For a controversial look at the Mormon church, its teachings and tenets, check out this PBS website and documentary. For the official website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints go here.)

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Bot]

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is often accused by Evangelical pastors of not believing in Christ and, therefore, not being a Christian religion. This article http://mormonsarechristian.blogspot.com/ helps to clarify such misconceptions by examining early Christianity's comprehension of baptism, the Godhead, the deity of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

The Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) adheres more closely to First Century Christianity and the original New Testament than any other denomination. Harper’s Bible Dictionary entry on the Trinity says “the formal doctrine of the Trinity as it was defined by the great church councils of the fourth and fifth centuries is not to be found in the New Testament.” The Church believes in the New Testament, not the man-made Creeds.

Perhaps the reason the pastors denigrate the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) is to protect their flock (and their livelihood). It is encouraging that Paul Weyrich, Wayne Grudem and Bob Jones III, (along with Jay Sekulow, Mark DeMoss, and Dr. John Willke, a founder and past president of the National Right to Life Committee.) have rejected bigotry and now support Mitt Romney on the basis that he is the most moral candidate with the best qualifications.

[David T.]

The jury is still out over who I'm going to vote for. Nevertheless, I am impressed by the way Romney is handling his campaign, particularly his responses to the barrage of anti-Mormon sentiment that's snaking around. While he's talking issues, others throw in, "Yes, but he's not a Christian." Then Romney doesn't get ugly or offensive about it, he just tries to clear the air about what his faith actually is. Frankly, his class tells me he's more Christian than his accusers. So far, he's been playing the game deftly, despite the handicaps. I'll be interested in what he has to say Thursday.

[Mike]

He's worthless no matter what faith he practices if he can't say waterboarding is torture.

He will have no chance against any of the Democratic candidates.

Actually, I hope the GOP nominates him - it will only serve to harden the opposition and drive them to the polls!

[Pastor]

Romney seems to represent more moral courage and ethics than any other candidate. Is that what the nation is interested in?

[Tim Kelley]

Lunatic, Liar, or Lord?

Agree or disagree with the claims...but you cannot refute that the claims were made. This is the dividing line between Christianity & the others. Jesus did not reject WORSHIP from his disciples. There was nothing to misunderstand when Jesus made a claim that he was equal with God the Father. Gospel of John 10:30. The Pharisees started to pick up rocks because this was considered blasphemy. When people started to worship Paul and Barnabas after they had performed a miracle they said for them not to do this..because they were just men. Jesus NEVER said this. He accepted worship. The question is do Mormons WORSHIP Jesus as Lord or do they think him and Joseph Smith are equal. Jesus does not leave people with alot of options....you can have only one of 3 conclusions about Him as CS Lewis noted...Either He is a Liar, a Lunatic, or Lord...His claims leave you with NO other options. If Mormons believe he is LORD to be worshipped as such then Fine...they ARE Christians...otherwise they put Joseph smith on the same level and this is unacceptable to Historic Christianity.

For an excellent Documentary go to "DNA & the Book of Mormon"you tube -these are Mormon scientist grappling with the lack of archelogical, linguistic, historical evidence for any of the events that took place in the Book of Mormon. Also along the same lines: "The Bible and the Book of Mormon" compares the archelogical, linguistic, historical references in each one and how they match up with the evidence.

With the advent of the computer and the rise of the internet, the public has become more informed; and people's views, once undisposed, and in the background will come under greater scrutiny. Truth always prevails so what are we so afraid of? I think the idea of faith has become infused with radicalism. People are afraid of that which they are unfamiliar with. Judaism, Christianity we are familiar with. Other religions that practie secretive rituals are a question mark in our minds. I don't think this is wrong. This is natural human curiosity to know what informs the decisons of those who are seeking the highest office in the land.

Either way neither religion will threaten to kill you if you named your Teddy Bear Jesus or Joseph Smith.

[Evan Gelled]

Reply to Pastor: I agree. You can be against the religion all you want, that's OK. But to say they don't worship Christ when the church is called "The Church of Jesus Christ" is just plain ignorance. It doesn't say the church of Joseph Smith or anyone else. They did the same thing when JFK was found to be Catholic. Even Obama has been slammed a few times for his church. The biggest reason why Mormonism, in my studies, is not considered Christian is becuase they believe three separate beings rather than three in one Godhead, which to me seems like a funny reason to throw away a perfectly good Christian religion. To say that a crappy Catholic has a better chance of heaven than a good Mormon is ignorant, in my eyes. "Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will come into my Kingdom"

[mperry57]

Tim - As a practicing member of the LDS church, I can tell you that Mormons do NOT worship Joseph Smith. We revere him as a prophet, similar to others such as Abraham and Moses, but do not put him on the same level as Jesus Christ. We believe wholely in the divinity of Christ, that He is God's only begotten son, that He is our Savior and Redeemer.

[Dusty Gregory]

As a member of ex-Mormons for the real Jesus, I can truly say that the Jesus of Mormons and the Jesus of the Bible are totally different. Mormons try to downplay a lot of things and say they believe a lot of what "Christians" do. Some Mormons will try and deny that they believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers. If you don't believe me, look it up. This is just a tip of the iceberg on the difference between Mormonism and Christianity.

[Shawn M. Hussey]

I believe Mitt Romney's candidacy for President should not be judged by what religious affiliation he posseses.I am a Catholic who accepts the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as an upstanding Christian community.I respect Governor Romney's pro-life principles and will vote for him in the general election if he earns the Republican nomination.Each presidential candidate deserves to be judged on his or her character and ideas for leading our nation.I believe in the right to life and will vote for a leader who supports this conviction.My vote will not be based on the candidate's religion.

[manaen]

RE: Tim Kelly’s comment 12/4 @ 12:26pm,
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“If Mormons believe he is LORD to be worshipped as such then Fine...they ARE Christians”
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I offer these excerpts from The Book of Mormon in answer:
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Ether 3: 14 Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.
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3 Nephi 9:15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
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Moroni 7: 38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name
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Alma 38:9 […] there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ.
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2 Nephi 25:26 And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
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Helaman 5: 9 […] remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ,
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Omni 1: 26 […] come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption.
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Mosiah 3:17 […] there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
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Alma 34: 8 […] I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
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Mosiah 5: 8 […] There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ,

[manaen]

In further response to Tim Kelly's comment 12/5 @12:26pm, here is The Book of Mormon's summary of Christ's mission:
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Alma 7:
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9 But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying—Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.
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10 And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem* which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
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11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
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12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
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13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
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[* Bethlehem is 6 miles from Jerusalem, Alma is referring to the nearest major city]