Election 2012 by Park N Sun

My curiosity rules once more. Last month the New York Times and the Star Tribune published the same piece on Lenore Romney, Mormon mother of Mitt.

More than 40 years, and I still remember hearing Lenore Romney speak at Brigham Young University. I can’t remember the details other than she outshone her well-known husband, George of American Motors’ Rambler and Michigan Governor fame. I was impressed!

Reading the afore mentioned article I get a hint why I remember Lenore Romney. She was a woman ahead of her time as well as of my time. There are hints of her time and my time in Mormon culture when she was later honored by the BYU Associated Women in 1968 and spoke at the Tuesday Devotional attended by a majority of the students. She was a woman who had her own opinions and stated them. She was involved in life around her.

Much has been said of contemporary Mormon women. About a year ago Salon.com posted a piece referencing a number of Mormon Mommy bloggers that had caught the interest of many. In the past year there have been more references to Mormons -- Jimmer on the basketball court, "The Book of Mormon" musical and Jon Hunstman and Mitt Romney in Election 2010.

What of the women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

This year is the 170^th anniversary of the LDS Church’s organization for women, Relief Society. This is a time for looking back and also of looking at now.

Looking back there are many Mormon women to admire. One I admire is the original Polly Parkinson in our family. Reading in her husband’s missionary journal of 1884 I admire our grandmother as she supported their growing family and managed their small farm in his absence by her faith and her hard work. I admire the confidence and respect he had in her. She was a remarkable woman.

Another Mormon woman I have come to admire is the artist, Minerva Teichert. She was a gifted student of Robert Henri in New York. When she returned west to marry a Wyoming rancher, Henri advised her to paint her 'birthright'—the story of her Mormon west--to paint the story of her faith. Her doing so is amazing. Her collection of letters and biography reflect her life of cooking for the ranch hands, painting murals in her living room and raising her family. She found a way to do what mattered most to her and she did it remarkably well.

“The heritage of Relief Society is not just about women who lived in the past; it is also about women all over the world today who make and keep covenants” (Daughters in My Kingdom).

It has been interesting to me to observe the diversity of LDS women today. Mormon women are found in the homes of the world as well as the professions and occupations of today. They continue to do what matters most to them. Just as every other woman, not one is exempt from challenge or hardship.

What does matter most to Latter-day Saint women? What do Mormon women do? They do much today as they did in the past. Each one is figuring out life with the help of her faith and remembering promises made to God. Mormon women of Relief Society find providing relief lifts them.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Christians, as well as Jews and Muslims are often known for the list of don’ts of their religions, “Thou shalt nots.” In politics the LDS Church has another. The LDS Church does not promote or oppose political candidates or platforms. However, the Church does expect its members to be involved in the political process wherever they live.

It is a worldwide church and it is naturally diverse. Elder Glenn L. Pace explained,

"Whenever numerous people with unique talents are given a set of rules or laws, along with the freedom to either obey or disobey and to work at their own speed, a diversity of progress in those individuals will result." Diversity has many faces.

Members are going to have differing background and experiences and therefore they may differ in opinion in partisan politics. Narrowing the geography to the United States does not change the official statement on politics. There are Mormon voters of diverse political views of Election 2012 but, where are they?

True, Mormon Democrats are fewer in numbers than Mormon Republicans. In this current United States election cycle the media tends to promote the uneven ratios of Mormon Republicans and Mormon Democrats, depicting Mormons as Republican and conservative. Trinity College researchers summarized their findings:

“Mormons are more than twice as likely to be Republicans (59%) than non-Mormon Americans (27%), and

“Mormons in Utah are more likely to be Republican (66% to 56%) and less likely

to be Democrats (7% to 17%) than Mormons outside the state.”

The Pew Forum gives ratios of 9 to 1 and 5 to 1 in Utah and nationally, respectively.

There is diversity of political thought among LDS General Authorities. The late President James E. Faust is quoted in his biography, "I am a conservative on fiscal and property matters and I am a liberal in terms of human values and human rights." Prior to his general authority status he had been a Democratic state legislator. In 2008, Elder Marlin Jensen, and a Democrat, was assigned by President Thomas S. Monson to urge the Utah legislators to be more compassionate in their deliberations on immigration issues.

Last month, Doug Fabrizio's, forum guests were four Mormon Utah legislators, two Democrats and two Republicans, discussing how their political beliefs are informed by Mormonism. They argued that it is possible to be not only a faithful Mormon and a Democrat, or Republican, but also pro-choice or pro-life on abortion or opposites on immigration policy, gay marriage and other issues.

National media report on Mormon Republicans and Mormon Romney supporters. Where are the Mormon Democrats among the general membership--the one in nine, the one in five?

The political diversity of Mormons can be found by a simple search at Mormon.org. These are a few: Karl, Matt, Jean Jean, Gloria, Janan, Tom, Diana, Stacia and there are many more.

Mormon Democrats--they are everywhere.

A mother in West Africa, a single mother in the United States, victims of hurricanes across the globe, a struggling newly-wed couple in Latin America. All these people have something in common with Mitt Romney. All of them, and many more, are tithe payers of The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints. They are committed Mormons who tithe their income, however large or small. Every one has his/her personal story of the importance to them of paying ten percent of their income.

Mormons and tithing:

Romney's published 2010 taxes have prompted comments in the media. Gloria Goodale, in her Christian Science Monitor piece, “Mitt Romney's tithing: Do voters see it as very generous or very Mormon?”explores the possible political ramifications of Romney’s very large donation to the Mormon Church. Goodale reminds some of us of the fuss over John F. Kennedy, a Catholic, running for president in 1960.

I remember. Kennedy’s candidacy was a palpable concern among many. Common in my youth was the statement, “A Catholic will never be president.” I find that statement hard to digest. I didn’t vote for Kennedy for other reasons. We didn't agree on the real issues. Now, I agree with much that was accomplished during his presidency. I’m chagrined that I voted for Richard Nixon.

Bill Gunderson, HuffingtonPost.com, asserted the honesty of Romney’s payment of taxes and cited the Old Testament prophet, Malachi’s teaching of tithing that “Jews, Christians, and Mormons alike, recognize . . . as a canon of scripture.” Tithing is not unique to Mormons.

These are just two mainstream media responses to Mormons and tithing. Its appropriate to also look at what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said about tithing.

President Henry B. Eyring of the church’s First Presidency which directs the church, recently wrote about the blessings of paying tithing in The Ensign, a monthly magazine of the LDS Church.

“ When we pay our tithes to the Church, our Heavenly Father pours out blessings upon us. Anyone who has consistently paid a full tithe knows that is true. . . . As those blessings come, our faith is increased that God is the source. . . . [We] feel greater confidence in asking God for what we and our families need. . . . [We increase in] confidence in what the future holds, . . . that things will work out for the best. As we keep our promises, He will keep His. A feeling of peace is one of the great blessings of paying a full tithe. Those who have kept the commandment of tithing can testify that the blessing of peace is real and precious. Those who pay tithing feel an increase in their love of God and of all God’s children. That increase of love comes from understanding how the Father uses the tithes we offer to bless people in this world and for eternity.”

Payment of tithes, ten-percent of income, is a commandment. It is a commitment followed by faithful Mormons. The LDS Church uses the tithes of its members with great care, building temples and chapels, supporting its world-wide missionary efforts, relieving hunger and suffering of members as well as non-members throughout the world. What is more the LDS Church has no debt!

Everyone has challenges in their lives whatever their income. Latter-day Saints all have their personal story of the influence in their lives of consistently paying their tithing.

There is diversity among Mormons. Not all will vote for Romney. Few have the monetary wealth of Mitt Romney, but all who consistently tithe have what they need and more. They tithe because they are committed to Jesus Christ. They have been blessed by doing so.

Briefly we found:

Fact Checker's Assessment of President Obama's State of the Union address is interesting and informative. Any Pinocchio's will show up in coming days.

FactCheck.org also featured President Obama’s State of the Union Address-- President Obama “got the facts right -- mostly.” In addition FactCheck had follow-up of Monday’s Republican candidate Florida debate.

PolitiFact.com rated four points of the President's 2012 State of the Union Address giving HALF TRUE, MOSTLY TRUE, TRUE and HALF TRUE ratings on Truth-O-Meter.

Keep in mind that these fact checkers are just beginning the “morning after”. They anticipate more follow up as the fact checking continues on President Obama’s State of the Union as well as the Republican candidate debates.

Forty minutes later and we are more informed for Election 2012.

Monday night we heard the Florida Primary Election 2012 debate among the remaining four Republican candidates -- Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. As is typical the debate was followed by commentaries from various respected news analysis groups. These are interesting, but I particularly value the morning after opportunity to visit online sources that have had a little more time to consider what was said. Three such sites are:

FactCheck.org, Annenburg Foundation

The Fact Checker: Truth Behind the Rhetoric. Published in the Washington Post

PolitiFact.com. Tampa Bay Times

Perhaps the following examples of facts checked from the January 23rd Florida debate will peak curiosity to look at more.

From FactCheck.org:

As they say, “facts took a beating,” a beating from all four candidates in varying degrees and importance. You decide.

A sampling:

Mitt Romney goofed claiming “our Navy is now smaller than any time since 1917.” He claimed wrongly that Obamacare would increase the national debt and that President Obama “has no plans for NASA.”

Newt Gingrich was wrong to claim responsibility for “four consecutive balanced budgets.” The fact of the matter is that he was out of Congress for two of those.

At The Fact Checker

Rick Santorum was over the top claiming Massachusetts healthcare law was a “government-run health-care system.” Fact Checker gives the details and two Pinocchio’s.

Fact Checker will have more reports in the days ahead; it takes time to check out all this stuff.

In the meantime they commented on Romney’s claim of Gingrich resigning “in disgrace,” and that Santorum’s claim to have been part of an effort to restrain Freddie and Fannie is problematic. Gingrich was promoting rumor regarding the canceling of military exercise with Israel.

From PolitiFact.com

Romney’s claim that Gingrich’s Freddie Mac contract was for lobbying was given a TRUE rating.

Romney’s claim that we have 25 million Americans out of work was HALF TRUE.

Gingrich saying electric co-ops and credit unions are “government-sponsored enterprises” as is Freddie Mac earned Pants on Fire! His claim to be speaker during four-consecutive balanced budgets, FALSE.

There are more clarifications at each of these sites. Go take a look and check back when you wonder about a statement of a candidate during a debate, their campaign ads and speeches.

These sites are timely in researching and reporting. They are an archive of earlier claims which have checked out to have varying degrees of inaccuracy or are blatantly false.

Having followed these fact checking efforts the past year I now find myself identifying many of the outrageous claims when they are made. I look forward to the morning after debates and speeches as well as the days that follow to get some of the FACTS straight. I also find myself minding my own tongue better. When others reuse erroneous claims I have greater confidence to give an alternate view to consider.

About this time during Election 2008, my son sent me a link to a helpful site at MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) on all the presidential candidates and issues. As I clicked on candidates and issues I was surprised what little I really knew on the issues and the candidates. As I made my choices on the issues the site calculated which candidates were most in line with my choices. I was VERY surprised which candidate was most like me, causing me to think more carefully. I also became more informed on the issues. As I made my choice of candidate I was also able to better defend my choice among my neighbors and relatives where my choice was not their choice.

I was more Current, Relevant, Authoritative, Accurate and had Purpose in what I said. No guarantee of changing the choices of others, but I like to think I caused people to think. We had meaningful discussions, not bonehead arguments. There were opportunities to clarify misconceptions of issues and candidate positions. I became more confident in my choice.

If you want to change government start with you. Become informed with good information. Discuss, listen to opinions of others and come to better understanding. Your better information just might influence others to get the best information.

Here are several Election 2010 candidate and issues comparison options.

VoteMatch Quiz (PBS)On The Issues: Every Political Leader on Every Issue.

Candidate Match Game (USA Today) Answer questions to see which candidate is most like you.

Glassbooth glassbooth connects you to the candidate that represents your beliefs the best.

SelectSmart: Before you decide.

FindTheData: 2012 Presidential Candidates

Take a look. Get accurate, unbiased information on the issues and the candidates.

All of us need information. The best job I ever had was reference librarian at a public library. Every day was interesting helping people find answers to their questions. We all know Google has made it even easier. So why is it that people fall prey to scams, political lies, and every other kind of misinformation? This is a good year to try to make a difference for good information.

I like this easy to remember test to determine good information.

CRAAP Test

Currency

Relevance

Authority

Accuracy

Purpose

2012 is a banner year for information, all kinds of information. Everyday Iowans, New Hampshirites, South Carolinians, Floridians, . . . have been flooded with media pros and cons about presidential candidates of whichever party. The candidates themselves have been talking up a storm, some times without accuracy. Some media personalities make their living by their notoriety of statements masquerading as news.

How’s a person to know? If you care, you can find the truth--the facts.

This week, I received a FWD: from a friend entitled, “Frightening, Why Obama . . . .” It is my habit to check the source when I receive a message such as this. This article was mistakenly attributed to Dr. Walter Williams on April 1st, April Fool's Day. Snopes.com is an easy site to check authenticity. [Just click the blue link and read the report.]

Don’t be a fool. Get the facts!

These current subjects have my interest--presidential election 2012 candidates and issues, and the Mormons. Lots of stuff on both --good and bad information. I hope to shine a little light to clarify. You can do the rest and decide for yourself.

Good information!

Park N Sun