Tuesday, March 14, 2006

LDS Statement on Political Participation

The First Presidency has added a new line to the statement on political participation that they instruct local leaders to read each year before elections and primaries:

"Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of all major political parties."

34 comments:

woo said...

* except Democratic.

Marc said...

That fine print will always get you.

woo said...

So, does that apply in all countries, or just the U.S.? The Communist party is certainly one of the major parties for some members of the church.

Marc said...

Well... it is my understanding that the statement on political participation that we are familiar with is only read in the United States. Whether something similar is read by local leaders in other countries I do not know.

woo said...

Research that and get back to me will you? Thanks.

Sue Ellen Mischke said...

I was going to read that article, but I kept getting distracted by the gross advertisement for vericose veins next to it.

Sue Ellen Mischke said...

Oh and I watched Sons and Daughters for the first time tonight. It was pretty funny. I missed the first episode so it took me a minute to figure out what the hell is going on, but I laughed out loud several times. Not Arrested Development laughter, but laughter still.

Marc said...

Err... All I saw was some Carpet One ad. Vericose vein advertisements would probably have thrown me for a loop too.

I say give Sons & Daughters a few of episodes... it'll grow on ya'. (You should bittorrent the first couple of episodes).

Marc said...

For those interested, another article on the statement (Sidenote: Todd Taylor certainly proves that Mormon Democrats can be sexy beefcakes).

Sammy Pow said...

I bet Ralph Nader will probably be the most excited about this new announcement. And Misty, she's a Libertarian after all.

I guarantee most of you all didn't like AD the first time you saw it. It was an acquired taste. S&D shouldn't be compared to AD, nothing will ever be AD, but it is definately a quality show that won't make it if people don't watch.

Lizzy said...

Guess which show I'm talking about, Sons and Daughters or Arrested Development:

A poor guy/son who is just trying to live his life the best he can and build a better relationship with his son while being surrounded by his crazy, abnormal family.

Arrested Development was better. But S&D is pretty funny. Because it's the same show.

Marc said...

I think there is a marked difference. I think the situations in the first few episodes of Sons & Daughters have a more realistic angle to them. Arrested Development had crazier more zany developments in its scripts. I think it makes the shows completely different.

Marc said...

I saw your post Misty. I just don't know what the hell a "New Age Democrat" is.

Anonymous said...

When I was working for Wayne Owens in the Congress, ETB was quoted as saying you couldn't be a democrat and a good mormon. So I wrote him and asked what I was to think of the 4000 members of the church in Denmark where I had served a mission who were socialists. His secretary wrote back that he had been misquoted. Actually, he hadn't, because I knew the Associated Press reporter who wrote the story. But I heard that stuff for four years at BYU. How can we use a narrow American political definition to define one's spiritual standing?

BTW, my current bishop was born and raised a Jew, and he is a Democrat and all his kids are too.

Sammy Pow said...

Okay what show am I talking about? There is a fat, kind of funny guy, married to a chick who is way to hot for him?

Oh, that describes most shows on TV?! I'll quote Janis Joplin here "it's all the same f---ing day, man" (I choose not to pollute Marc's blog with unneeded profanity).

Mormons who think you can't be Mormon and a Democrat are usually extremely ignorant. I think that was an old debate and most semi-intellectual Mormon's today would say you can bat for either team (that's politics, we're not THAT progressive).

Sammy Pow said...

... or are we?

Sammy Pow said...

It sounds like Misty is for minimal Government intervention. So I guess New Age Dems are essentially Libertarians?

Marc said...

I don't follow your logic at all Misty and I don't see how that statement "apparently" means what you've chosen to interpret it as meaning.

Pot-Smoking: I know of no mainstream members of either party that advocates the use of marijuana. Although extremes in both parties have supported legalization.

Homosexuality: This is another issue that tends to transcend party lines. Take gay marriage for example. I'd say a majority of democrats in Congress oppose gay marriage. Hell, Bill Clinton himself signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act. Contrast that with the slew of conservative libertarians who support gay marriage.

Gambling: What?! I'd say most Democrats are opposed to gambling! Tom Delay singlehandedly did more to help gambling interests in Congress over the past few years than any other member. Just look at the debate in Maryland right now. Republican Governor Erlich wants to introduce slots as a way to raise revenue and the Democratic legislature has opposed him on it.

Informant said...

I think you mean COULDN'T care less.

Marc said...

Thanks for clarifying Misty. You might want to avoid going by what cheesy quizes tell you in the future.

You're not alone, most people struggle with a certain "lesser of two evils" feeling when voting. I actually think it's quite rare to come across candidates that mirror all of your views.

Most issues are pretty nuanced. I for one fully support the idea of gay rights, but I am also concerned with the rights of those who have religious issues with homosexuality.

Anonymous said...

Yeah Misty, I'm sure you did...

Anonymous said...

It's all fun and games until someone gets an eye shot out.

Marc said...

Ain't it just like me to spoil a good joke.

Tara said...

Sounds like someone is scared to admit she's a full blown democrat. I don't blame her though with all the fools in that party.
KIDDING MARC!!

Marc said...

It's not just me you should be worried about... Mind Spewer may just spew something your way if you're not careful.

Lizzy said...

Where is Mind Spewer? Haven't heard a word from her all day. And what's with the preapproved comments on her blog?

Kris said...

I haven't participated earlier because I was trying to pay attention in class today.

I became interested in the Democratic party based on one issue--the treatment of the environment of which the Dems did a better job according to my personal ideology. Now I vote Dem on other issues, but I still like to hear all sides to the story.

And I have a secret belief that being a Mormon Dem makes me more of a tiger in the bedroom.

Lizzy said...

You hellcat.

syd said...

sorry, my upper class whiteness won't allow me to explore anything other than republican. Gotta look out for numero uno.

Marc said...

So basically you're saying that you're not a tiger in the bedroom then?

syd said...

Basically im saying that with all my money i don't need to be anything. Although most girls feel greater amounts of passion just brushing up against me than they ever have or ever will again in their lives.

Kris said...

Is it because of your furry firecat mane?

syd said...

They may be part of it...

Marc said...

Woo - Here's a blog post about the "international" implications of the statement. I'm not sure it quite answers your question, but it's as close as I can find for now.