The Religious Sales Pitch: Where Romney Lost a Fellow Mormon

Why is Gov. Mitt Romney’s (R-Mass.) faith such an important issue in the 2008 election?

Voters have done everything from lightly question to drill him vehemently about the Church of Latter-day Saints. That Romney continues to be subjected to such scrutiny is a clear sign he has not succeeded in assuaging people’s fears about the influence of Mormon leaders and doctrines in his candidacy, policy and potential presidency.

I do not believe Romney should be required to teach the nation about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS).

There is an LDS presence in every state, thousands of missionaries are available to any curious non-member, and the church is available online at multiple Web sites. If anyone has a question about this church, numerous sources of information on LDS are readily accessible.

Nevertheless these resources are not able to explain exactly what Romney’s religion means to him and his policy positions. Many called for a JFK-esque speech from Romney to address these issues. Finally, on Thursday, Dec. 6, he did so. But ultimately, it was too little, too late. Unfortunately, he has procrastinated until such a speech was no longer an asset to his campaign.

Ultimately, it is becoming clear that Romney is simply unable to deal with the pressures of being LDS while campaigning in this presidential election.

In multiple interviews, Romney has either refused to answer questions regarding his faith, or his has answered in very general and occasionally incorrect terms.

In a Newsweek interview, the interviewer noted that “never has a man so polished looked so uncomfortable” when the subject turned to the church Romney attended in his youth.

Furthermore, Romney has repeatedly stressed the Christian nature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And yet even here, he has been unsuccessful at reassuring distressed voters.

I believe this is directly related to his inability to reason the other viewpoints of those concerned citizens.

“Christian,” as defined by dictionaries, and thus Mormons, regards a belief in Christ and his saving role.

As such, Mormons are certainly Christians. However, for many of the Southern Evangelical voting blocs who express uncertainty over this, a different definition must be established.

For many churches, “Christian” refers not only to a belief in Jesus Christ, but also a belief in several main tenets outlined in documents such as the Nicene Creed, including the Trinity and the singularity of the Bible. As thusly defined, Mormons are not “Christians.”

In his speech on faith, Romney said “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of Mankind. My Church’s beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not basis for criticism, but a test of our tolerance.” Again, based on the definiton of dictionaries, Romney told the world that Mormons are Christians. Based on the definition of Evangelicals, he did not answer their concerns.

It is certainly important for Romney to tread with care as he answers questions about his faith.

Nevertheless his continued inability to answer questions with strength is his greatest weakness.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I am disappointed in the lack of skill Romney has exhibited when discussing his faith. In my opinion, Romeny is wasting his time trying to tell people to ignore his religion, rather than explaining its benefits.

I am not alone in this confusion; at the 2007 General Conference of the Church, multiple high-ranking leaders of the LDS Church spoke on the significant and important differences between our church and other churches.

It is time that he placed himself firmly in the mindset of the voters of whom he seeks approval.

He needn’t waste all of his time and energy trying to sell Mormonism as a church that differs only slightly from other churches. It differs significantly.

Until he is willing to admit those differences and explain the role, or lack thereof, those differences will play in his campaign, and how it would play in his presidency, he has lost the respect and the attention of at least this voter.