LDS Primordial Political Identity

Blog 5

Sophie Lefens

Yes, there is a distinct LDS political identity here in the United States. There are many different reasons that the LDS population tends to lean more towards the side of conservative Republicans. First of all, the LDS understanding of family and life on Earth make homosexuality and abortion two issues that Mormons strongly oppose. This instantly puts many people on the side of the Republicans, even if they disagree with all other Republican policies. Usually, however, Mormons also support the idea of a pro-business, strongly capitalistic, limited government. Although Mormons are taught not to seek after the riches of the world, men are also told from a young age that they will someday need to provide for their families. Thus, acquiring wealth becomes a top priority for many Mormons and they want their country’s government to support and enable these pursuits. Yet another factor is the Mormon cultural emphasis on self-reliance and hard work which casts a negative light on the welfare programs and social reforms that the Democratic party are usually more supportive of.

            This homogenous LDS political identity is especially interesting when analyzed through a Primordial context. The Comparative Politics textbook says that, “Primordialism emphasizes kinship bonds which are a connection to others formed by blood, marriage, or other family relations, as the fundamental building blocks of collective political identity (153). Primordialism suggests that identity becomes politicized as a result of deep emotional and psychological attachments individuals feel towards members of a broader community (Samuels 157). In many ways this definition is incredibly in sync with LDS cultural and political thinking. First, the importance of family and ward communities within the LDS culture suggests that these “kinship bonds” are of great significance to Mormons. Central to the LDS faith is the belief that families are forever and from birth, children of all Mormon families are taught to love their brothers and sisters and respect their parents and leaders. In the most formative years, these children are taught to follow after the righteous patterns of their parents. Likewise, from an early age Mormon children are taught a very clear distinction between what is right and wrong. Because of the emphasis on family cohesion, obedience and respect, most children will accept and have the same political beliefs as their parents. And since most American Mormon parents are Republican, their children will follow after these traditions.

In addition, LDS wards create tight knit community groups that contribute to strong sense of belonging and identity. Most Mormons feel a strong sense of “us” and “ours”. Sometimes calling themselves a “peculiar people”, Mormons recognize that they stick out and often this causes them to be fiercely loyal, supportive and protective of their fellow church members. This idea is reinforced in a recent study conducted by Utah Data Points in which it was found that 79% of Republican Mormons in Utah said that Romney’s candidacy is a good thing for the LDS church (Patterson). This example highlights the idea that Mormons believe that a Republican presidential candidate would reflect well on the church as a whole. Because of the insular nature of Mormon culture, many members of the LDS faith are not exposed to ideological opposition, but rather surround themselves with people and situations that already support and bolster what they have always been taught to believe. A fear of straying from the straight and narrow path also keeps many members of the church from really asking themselves if they know why they believe and act in the way that they do- politically, religiously and otherwise. 

Of course, not all Mormon political identity is inherited through close cultural and familial bonds. Constructivism, which assumes that political identities are malleable and suggest that we think of identity as an evolving political process rather than as a fixed set of categories, also plays a significant role in Mormon political identity (153). Many educated and thoughtful members of the Mormon church expose themselves to different ways of thinking, study what they have been taught is the accepted norm and still choose to be Republican. Other members of the church choose to align themselves with the Democratic Party or remain independent. 

Works Cited

Patterson, Kelly. "Who Thinks Governor Romney's Candidacy Is Good for the LDS Church." Utah Data Points. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012. <http://utahdatapoints.com/>.

Samuels, David J. Comparative Politics. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, 2013. Print.