ShareThisSALT LAKE CITY - With Mitt Romney as a top GOP contender, some Americans may wonder about Mormon views on government and if they may affect a potential president.
"I don't think the rest of the world needs to be worried," said Salt Lake City, Utah, Mayor Ralph Becker, a Democrat who is a non-practicing Episcopalian.
"I don't see in my experience that people of the Mormon faith are different from people of other faiths in their approach to making decisions about politics," Becker said. "All of us are affected by our values and principles in terms of how we look at the world."
Scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints called the Doctrine and Covenants, a compilation of mostly 19th-century Mormon teachings, says, "We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government."
As a result, the Mormon church says it does not dictate policy to its members who are politicians.
That's the way the church acted with him, says former U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah.
"The church, of course, was a major constituent," he said. "Like any other major corporation in the state of Utah, they had a variety of problems that they would bring to their senator. But never at any time did they bother me in a way that was inappropriate."
Romney addressed the issue directly in a 2007 speech. "Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions," he said. "A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States."
Early in its history -- and into the early 20th century -- the LDS Church endorsed some candidates but "learned pretty quickly that was a problem," said Quin Monson, a political-science professor at LDS Church-owned Brigham Young University in Utah.
Monson notes some people do not believe the church is truly neutral on politics, but he says that comes largely from misunderstanding what the church considers the moral issues it will take stands on -- such as fighting liquor, gambling and gay marriage.
"The church would say it has every right and responsibility to speak out on moral issues," he said, "and if the moral issue happens to divide people in a partisan way, you're going to have people who look at it as a partisan activity."
Bennett and others say Mormons are free to support beliefs across the political spectrum without worry it may affect their church standing.
Monson said he saw numerous Mormons take public stands opposite that of the church on California's Proposition 8 initiative on gay marriage and saw no formal repercussions. But there can be social consequences.
"There are likely occasions when church members in the minority are very uncomfortable," Monson said.
The church officially is neutral on political parties. But a recent Trinity College poll showed U.S. Mormons favor the Republican Party by a 4-to-1 margin nationally, and more than 9-to-1 among Utah Mormons.
Church leaders on occasion have addressed the issue and assured their nonpartisanship, including sending out a statement to that effect before every election cycle.
Mayor Becker believes top LDS leaders are serious when they stress neutrality on parties. "But there is the almost bizarre but thoroughly ingrained view among the rank and file that you can't be a good Mormon and a Democrat," he said.
Some exceptions exist. U.S. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada is a faithful Mormon.
In addition to the usual reasons cited for a disconnect between many Mormons and the Democratic Party -- moral issues -- Monson says the clarity of conservative stands appeals to members.
Utah Democratic Party Chairman Jim Dabakis, who notes he is a former Mormon and is the first openly gay chairman of a major party in Utah, says more Mormons are being attracted to a new LDS caucus in his state party because more of them do not feel at home among Republicans.
The LDS Church now bans its top full-time leaders and their spouses from participating in political campaigns, including making donations or endorsing candidates. Part-time leaders -- such as bishops over congregations -- are allowed to do that, but are cautioned to make clear they do not represent the church.
Bennett said that helps ensure the church's stance on partisan neutrality is taken seriously. He said that even part-time leaders are released from major callings when seeking statewide or higher office.
The ban on leaders running has come only in recent decades. Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of the church, ran for U.S. president. The last top LDS authority to hold political office was Ezra Taft Benson, then an apostle. He was agriculture secretary during the Eisenhower administration.
Bennett said bias against Mormons in politics has been reduced over time as the faith and its members have become more familiar to Americans.
Still, a recent Salt Lake Tribune poll revealed that 26 percent of likely U.S. voters say they are somewhat or very uncomfortable about voting for a Mormon for U.S. president -- showing the church still has far to go in winning the trust of many Americans.
(Contact Lee Davidson at ldavidson(at)sltrib.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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