On Being A Mormon Democrat

Over Christmas break, I attended my in-laws’ ward in Logan, UT.  The Gospel Doctrine class was filled to capacity with approximately 50-60 people of all ages.  The lesson was on the Book of Revelations, which admittedly is not an easy subject.   The teacher, a young guy no older than 25, handled it in a fairly rote fashion, leading a class discussion about the “signs of the end times” seen in the U.S.’s rapidly-devolving-into-pure-evil popular culture.   He hit all of the usual suspects:  abortion, gay marriage, naughty television shows, etc.   Then, he held up a picture from the front page of the local paper showing a picture of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.  Photo in hand, he said something to the effect of, the fact that either one of these folks could lead this nation is surely sign of the latter days.  The teacher said that while he wasn’t necessarily taking a partisan stand, the scriptures make clear that, in the final days, wolves in sheeps’ clothing would rise to power and we should be on guard.  All heads nodded in knowing agreement.

This, unfortunately, was not an isolated incident.  Over the years, I have witnessed numerous other instances of Democrat/liberal bashing in Church.  You likely have seen a few yourself.   I say, enough is enough!  It is high time that those of us on the left of the politial spectrum make our voices heard.

The purpose of this post is neither to explain to you, dear readers, all of the reasons why I am a Democrat (you’ll have to buy me lunch for that rant), nor to sway you over to my side of the political fence (although, you do know that one of the Republican Party’s founding principles was anti-Mormonism, right . . . I’m just saying).  Indeed, it has been pretty well established by now that (i) yes, Mormon Democrats are out there (heck, they have even infiltrated the Lord’s University), and (ii) yes, you can be a good Mormon and a good Democrat all at the same time. 

What I am interested in discussing is how (and whether we should attempt) to curb anti-Democrat political bias in our Church meetings.  Let me offer a few more examples to give a feel for what I talking about.  By no means is this an exhaustive list: 

• An Elders Quorum lesson last year, taught from the Spencer W. Kimball manual, about self-sufficiency devolved into a rant against the evils of “governmental programs” and reliance on “the Welfare State.”

•  Just last Sunday, a member of our Stake Presidency (for whom, by the way, I have a lot of respect) taught the combined Priesthood meeting during Ward Conference.  Speaking from the pulpit, he implored everyone to get off their rear ends and vote on February 5, a message with which I wholeheartedly agree.  However, this charge was backed by all-too-typical scare tactics.  He talked about the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the “increasing number of abortions in this country.”

• A few years back, my wife was asked to give a short lesson in a weekday Homemaking meeting about patriotism.  Despite my valiant efforts, my wife is no left-winger.  However, during the lesson, she expressed a very mild dissatisfaction with Pres. Bush.  Out of respect for my wife, I’ll spare you the details of what happened next, but let’s just say, the RS sisters still talk about that crazy lesson and my wife has not been asked to teach again.

• I was in law school during the last few years of the Clinton presidency.  Virtually every week in Gospel Doctrine class, there would be at least one or two comments from members about “Slick Willy” and/or references to the Monica Lewinsky affair.

As I see it, these comments have no place in worship services.  Although we can quibble about how the policy is actually applied, the Church is officially apolitical.  Similarly, our leaders counsel with politicians from both major parties regading moral issues.  Nevertheless, many of us feel all too comfortable making, and agreeing with, conservative political/partisan statements made in lessons, talks and classroom discussion.*

The threshold question question is, am I (and others like me) simply being oversensitive?  Should I simply let it roll off my back, and say nothing?  I willing to consider the possibility that, in fact, I am overreacting.  As a bearded, blue-shirt-wearing Mormon Democrat, I am often prone to feeling offense where none is intended.

If not, then the more interesting issue is, what do we do about it?  In each of situations above, my reaction was the same:  I did and said absolutely nothing, believing that if I piped up, it would likely derail an otherwise appropriate lesson.  Thinking about it now, I have come to see such silence as tacit approval.  Muttering to my wife on the way home on Sunday afternoon does absolutely nothing other than cause me to be resentful towards others.  

There is a wide variety of possible approaches ranging from walking out of class in an angry huff (which is clearly the wrong answer) to responding to each and every perceived slight by taking time enlighten everyone on my political views (equally wrong).  The more measured approach I hope to use when (not “if”) I find myself in a similar situation is to ask myself the following two questions: (i) what point is the teacher/speaker trying to make with this example/statement, and (ii) can I make a contribution that not only will balance out the comment in question, but will not take away from the Spirit of the lesson? 

If the answer to the second question is “yes,” then I believe that it is my prerogative, perhaps even my duty as a member, to say something.  I have little patience for complaints about lessons from folks who refuse to participate.  This is my (our) Church, too, after all.  I can’t expect the tenor of our discussion to change unless I am willing to inject an alternative (or contradictory) line of thought.  So, fellow Democrats, I say stand up and make yourselves heard!  Next time your Gospel Doctrine teacher expounds on the righteousness of Pres. Bush’s “war on terror,” take a deep breath, raise your hand, and then let ‘em have it!  Only by doing so can we ensure that our worship is truly “fair and balanced.”

* This is not (another) attempt to blast my Republican brothers and sisters.  Of course, I fully support the idea that Church membership, and ward attendance, should represent a number of political views, even ones with which I disagree vehemently.  But query, when was the last time you heard a Democrat/liberal make overtly political statements in Church?  It may happen, but I have not seen it.   

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