Mormons and American Government

This article was written in late 2011, when there were two members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints running for the office of president of the United States. Much controversy has been generated during the presidential campaign due to these candidates' Mormon beliefs. As much as 40% of the American citizenry claims it would not vote for a Mormon president. The Constitution of the United States says there may be no religious test for the office, but people are influenced by their own religious beliefs when they vote, especially where social issues are concerned.

There are two kinds of people most opposed to a Mormon candidate for the American presidency. One comes from the left side of the political spectrum and is opposed to the conservatism of the LDS Church and its members regarding the gay marriage issue. Mormons are also against abortion. Mormons worry about the compromising of religious rights as America becomes more liberal and secular on social issues.

The other challenge to a Mormon president comes from the 'religious right' in America, made up mostly of Evangelical Christians who consider non-Christian religions, Catholicism, Mormonism, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other non-traditional Christian sects to be cults, and which condemns adherents of these sects to damnation. One claim made by the religious right is that Mormons want to take over America and remake it into a theocracy. This is false. The following is an explanation of Mormon doctrinal views of America and why American Latter-day Saints are good citizens of the United States.

Mormons and Religious Freedom

In the Book of Mormon prophets explain the cause of evil — God allows opposition in order to give us "agency," the opportunity to choose right or wrong. The Lord goes to great lengths to guarantee our agency in all things, and that is why He doesn't interfere when nations, governments, and groups of people make "evil" choices. He does, however, grant personal miracles to those who call on Him, and if it doesn't seem like He protects them during mortality, He assures us that all will be made right in heaven.

The agency of man is central to the economy of God and the Plan of Salvation for His children. Though detractors may state otherwise, Mormonism is not a coercive religion. With an active missionary force of over 50,000 members, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is obviously a proselyting church, and members are ebullient about their faith and overjoyed when anyone expresses an interest in the Church. But conversion comes from the Lord, through a spiritual witness from Him that this is His true and living church. Without that personal revelation, no one should commit to become a member. The eleventh Article of Faith of the LDS Church says the following:

"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may,"

One of the reasons that the LDS Church and its members are active in the public square when social issues are at stake is to protect religious freedom against creeping secularism that would banish religion to the chapels of America, never to see the light of day.

What the Book of Mormon Says about America

The Book of Mormon is exactly like the Bible in that it is the compiled accounts of prophets among Israelites, but unlike the Bible in that it was only translated once to English. This is why Joseph Smith called it a perfect book. The record begins in 600 B.C. in Jerusalem, just prior to the Babylonian Captivity. Many prophets were preaching in Jerusalem, and the Lord warned one of them, Lehi, that his life was in danger and to take his family into the wilderness. Eventually, the Lord led them to a promised land, somewhere in the Americas. The family were descendants of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, and as such, they became a separated branch of Israel, independently nurtured by the Lord. In the Book of Mormon prophets recorded what they saw of the future, that only those inspired by God and approved by Him would be led to America, and that they would be required to remember Him and keep His commandments, or they would be swept off.

Some of the descendants of these Israelites became Native Americans, and the Book of Mormon predicts their decimation by the peoples of Europe who would migrate to America. The Book of Mormon predicts the coming forth of the American constitution and the establishment of a free country into which the Book of Mormon would come forth. Note the following quotes:

"...we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed...and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord. Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.

"Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve Him according to the commandments which He has given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever" (2 Nephi 1:5-7).

The Founding Fathers and the Constitution

Mormons believe that God raised up the founding fathers of the United States, a group of men displaying such genius as to be unequaled in history, for the purpose of founding this great nation under an inspired constitution. The Lord revealed the following to Joseph Smith, first prophet of the last dispensationof time, the following:

"And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood" (Doctrine and Covenants 101:80; 109:54).

Joseph Smith said, "