silverfox
16th March 2006, 06:38 AM
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3607163
Excerpts:
A one-sentence nod to political diversity by LDS Church leaders has been embraced as a life raft by Utah Democrats drowning in a sea of Republican partisanship.
From pulpits around the state on Sunday, Mormon bishops and other local leaders read a statement urging members to participate in next week's neighborhood political caucuses, and reaffirming the church's neutral stand toward candidates and parties. But the statement, which is traditional in general election years, had this added twist that excited Democrats: "Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of all major political parties."
Utah Democratic Chairman Wayne Holland seized on the statement Wednesday as debate-ending proof that a person can be a good Mormon and a Democrat.
He said it "gave Utah Democrats of the LDS faith a much needed boost in morale."
"The statement from the First Presidency is a clear comfort to the many thousands of LDS Democrats in Utah," said Holland, who went on to assert that Democrats' belief in a societal responsibility to care for the poor, elderly and disabled fits well with principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Moreover, he took a shot at the majority party, saying, "We recognize that on some issues the Republican Party steps away from certain tenets of gospel teachings."
Republican leaders and even church officials cautioned against reading too much into the statement.
The added comment "should not be overinterpreted," said one LDS official, asking that he not be named.
Utah Republican Chairman Joe Cannon said flatly that Democrats trumpeting the statement's significance are "grasping for straws."
"If it's not in desperation, it's at best an overreaction," said Cannon. "I think that there are some people - some Democrats - that believe if the [LDS] church would only say the right thing, that vast numbers of Latter-day Saints would suddenly become Democrats . . .. They'll be waiting a very long time."
Excerpts:
A one-sentence nod to political diversity by LDS Church leaders has been embraced as a life raft by Utah Democrats drowning in a sea of Republican partisanship.
From pulpits around the state on Sunday, Mormon bishops and other local leaders read a statement urging members to participate in next week's neighborhood political caucuses, and reaffirming the church's neutral stand toward candidates and parties. But the statement, which is traditional in general election years, had this added twist that excited Democrats: "Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of all major political parties."
Utah Democratic Chairman Wayne Holland seized on the statement Wednesday as debate-ending proof that a person can be a good Mormon and a Democrat.
He said it "gave Utah Democrats of the LDS faith a much needed boost in morale."
"The statement from the First Presidency is a clear comfort to the many thousands of LDS Democrats in Utah," said Holland, who went on to assert that Democrats' belief in a societal responsibility to care for the poor, elderly and disabled fits well with principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Moreover, he took a shot at the majority party, saying, "We recognize that on some issues the Republican Party steps away from certain tenets of gospel teachings."
Republican leaders and even church officials cautioned against reading too much into the statement.
The added comment "should not be overinterpreted," said one LDS official, asking that he not be named.
Utah Republican Chairman Joe Cannon said flatly that Democrats trumpeting the statement's significance are "grasping for straws."
"If it's not in desperation, it's at best an overreaction," said Cannon. "I think that there are some people - some Democrats - that believe if the [LDS] church would only say the right thing, that vast numbers of Latter-day Saints would suddenly become Democrats . . .. They'll be waiting a very long time."