Mormons and the GOP

Blog 5: Political Identity

            There are quite a few cultural taboos in today’s society. You know, those things that happen or those things people say or do that just make you cringe or gasp? Here’s a few that come to mind: chewing with your mouth open, picking your nose in public, cussing (in public), etc. We, here at BYU, live in a very different kind of atmosphere than do most Americans. Along with the earlier-mentioned taboos, we have our own set of no-no’s: sex before marriage, illegal drug use, being 25 and not married, throwing a party without green jello with carrot bits inside, etc. I would also submit that one of those things that just is unheard of in Mormon culture is one who is a member of the church, and also a member of the Democratic party. I’ve met a handful of Mormon Democrats, and every time that politics has come up, they seem to sheepishly admit their affiliation with the Democratic Party, bracing for the anticipated shock of those present. But why is it such an odd thing for one Mormon’s political ideology to be different from the rest?

Why the lack of variety?

            In a church that teaches the importance of using our free agency, why does it seem as if most Mormons are programmed, or pressured, into being Republican? Let me share a personal experience of mine. This happened a few weeks ago during the Democratic National Convention. I was in my apartment watching President Obama’s speech. When some of my roommates came home, the way they acted would’ve made you think that I had turned our apartment into a meth house. They demanded that I turn off the TV and to never listen to anything that those “lying Democrats” say again. Lucky enough for me, my roommates are not my parents, so I didn’t have to obey. My response was that regardless of whether or not I agreed with President Obama’s policies, he was my president and that I would like to actually know and hear from his own mouth what his plan for the country is. I have had other similar experiences during my time at BYU, but none as vocal or powerful as this one. My point for sharing this experience is to illustrate that there are some members of the church who will not even pay attention to what the other side is saying or doing. I am not blaming this on the church in any way, shape, or form. I’ve been to countless church services and I know that politics is not something that is taught within the walls of a Mormon church. So, since the church does not openly endorse any political party or candidate, how is it that some Mormons seem to be so closed off to even the idea that a Democrat might have a good idea. To understand this, we must look at this in a primordial way.

            Primordialism has been defined as “an approach to understanding identity which assumes that identities are something people are born with or that emerge through deep psychological processes in early childhood, given one’s family and community context.”[1] Mormons, as a whole, believe strongly that there are certain eternal truths that are universal and never ending. Some of these beliefs have been transferred into the political arena, such as gay marriage and abortion. The GOP holds the same stance on many of these issues that the Mormon Church teaches. Members of the church are taught from a very young age, in church and at home, about the difference between right and wrong. Therefore, many Mormons join with the Republican Party, with which they share many social views, because they focus on issues, such as gay marriage, and therefore declare that the whole party is right, while saying that the Democratic Party is wrong. It is just something that has been bred into the culture of Mormons everywhere, more so in Utah.

Just out of curiosity, how many Mormons are Republicans?

            This statistic actually took me a while to find, seeing as how there aren’t many studies directed towards Mormon politics. At least, there hadn’t been up until the running of Mitt Romney for president. Now, it seems as if the Mormon Church has been in the spotlight, much like Catholic Church during the candidacy of John F. Kennedy. According to a study done by Trinity University in Connecticut “Fifty-nine percent of Mormons nationwide identify themselves as Republicans, compared with 14 percent who say they prefer Democrats…. The remainder classify themselves as independents.”[2]

            As a conclusion, I would indeed say that there is indeed a Mormon political identity. It has been made a part of us. Although there is nothing wrong with being a Democrat, it is evident that Mormons tend to be drawn more towards the right of the political spectrum.

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[1] Samuels, David J. Comparative Politics. 2. 1. New Jersey: Pearson Education, 2013. Print.

[2] Gehrke, Robert. "Survey: Mormons embrace GOP, shun Democrats." Salt Lake Tribune 14 12 2011, n. pag. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. <http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/53110048-183/mormons-utah-lds-party.html.csp>.