Politics and Religion

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. I read the Book of Mormon Regularly, say prayers, attend the temple, and teach my kids in Family Home Evening. I really believe in the Gospel and I try to live it.

Ironically it is the Gospel that prompts me to be involved in the political struggles of my state and nation. The Book of Mormon often talks about the dangers of the rich being prideful, and discriminating against the poor; the rich become prideful because of their "fine twined linen" and "chances for learning". The pride of the church becomes a stumbling block for those who are not of the church. There is even a story in the Book of Mormon when everyone is at peace, and they mention that instead of everyone being known as "nephites and lamanites" and "Ishmaelites" (names of different groups of people descended from Nephi, Laman, and Ishmael) 'there was no manner of -ites among them' So racial equality was an important part of their peace. obnviously there is more to the Book of Mormon, but these are recurrent themes. There is a great warning against pride.

Now Modern Mormon culture is not such a wonderfully clear cut place. Mitt Romney and Glenn Beck are also members of the LDS church. SO is the senior Missionary that I met who recommended that I read "The 5,000 year leap" which is white supremecist propoganda. He also talked at length about how red hair is going extinct.

Mitt Romney wants to run for president in 2012. However he is being financed by big business both over and under the table. Romney's Platform is the ALEC agenda-- which promotes the lie that debt brought on by corporate tax breaks can only be solved by cutting services to the poor--

Glenn Beck uses hate speech mixed with LDS phraseology to promote the same message.

I don't want either any of these men to leave the church; they are more likely to repent if they are reading the book of mormon and going to church. Someday I hope that they will see the error of their ways.
I want the church to work harder to stop a lie that is pervasive in LDS culture. I want the church to officially denounce the lie that poor people are poor because they deserve it, and that the rich are successful because they deserve it.
I hear this lie all of the time, it is phrased differently, but it amounts to the same message.