Erika Ralph
10/11/2012
Blog 5: Political Identity
From a
social and cultural perspective, yes, the LDS faith does distinctly identify
politically with Republican ideals and conservative philosophy. This identification could quite possibly be
caused by patterns of political involvement throughout Latter-day Saint
history. For purposes of this blog, I
will not discuss each historical event in-depth, but rather its relevance to
the LDS political identity with conservatism, and eventually the United States Republican
Party.
Simply put, the idea of
conservatism does not emphasize a powerful central government. According to William F. Buckley Jr.,
conservative philosophy asserts:
“It is the job of centralized government (in
peacetime) to protect its citizens’ lives, liberty and property. All other
activities of government tend to diminish freedom and hamper progress. The
growth of government (the dominant social feature of this century) must be
fought relentlessly.”[1]
History of the Latter-day Saint church shows a branch of
thought similar to, if not based on the idea of conservatism in the United
States.
The disturbed relationship between
religion and government has not escaped the experiences of the LDS faith. Historic evidences of separation from a powerful
national government could have perhaps fueled this identification of the LDS church
with conservative theory. The establishment of an LDS community in none other
than Independence, MO seems to capture the appropriate beginnings of the LDS
political identity.[2]
The very name “Independence” seems to
reflect the budding separation of this historic LDS community from a centralized
government.
Moving forward, eventual expulsion
from Independence and the Jackson County area shows a turn to national
government for assistance, where none was to be found. Clearly reinforcing further divorce from
federal government. Similar experience
soon followed in the extermination of the Mormon community from Nauvoo, IL and
the murder of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
So the cycle continued, no government assistance returned an equal sense
of disloyalty from the LDS community.
Eventually, Brigham Young separated
the Latter-day Saints further by moving out west to establish the State of
Deseret, practice the “heinous federal crime” of polygamy, and continue a governing
Council of Fifty.[3] Therefore, Brigham Young’s “Political
Kingdom” was an estrangement from, again, a central government.[4]
The State of Deseret “existed for
slightly over two years and was never recognized by the United States
government.”[5]
However,
once becoming a recognized territory by an Act of Congress in 1850, federal
government and Brigham Young’s political organization began some
compromise. Thus, relinquishing their
form of conservatism, perhaps the Republican idea most closely honored LDS
historical experiences with federal government. The Republican Party most closely associates
with conservative ideology, possibly being an easier transition for LDS
conservatives to accept.
From this
historical perception, it seems to be clear that we still see prominent
individuals today and throughout history - such as Reed Smoot and today’s Mitt
Romney- representing the Republican party.
And how in 2011, according to a Pew Forum Survey on Religion and Public
Life, U.S. Mormons identified politically with 66% Conservative, 22% Moderate,
and 8% Liberal.[6]
As well, it seems that
primordialism matches closely with this historical perception; that long past
experiences and events have shaped the LDS association with conservatism (or
today’s Republican Party) and this has become an engrained sense of
identification.[7]
However, aside from historical evidences of Republican support and conservative
thought, it is important to note that the LDS church today proclaims political
neutrality, identifying with no particular party. Therefore, constructivism within the LDS
church might be on the rise as we see more and more Mormons identifying
according to individual choice regarding political standing.
[2]
(2012). Mormonism & American politics:
Early encounters. (2012). [Web Video]. Retrieved from
http://fora.tv/2007/11/09/Mormonism_American_Politics_Early_Encounters
[3]
(2012). Mormonism & American politics:
Early encounters. (2012). [Web Video]. Retrieved from
http://fora.tv/2007/11/09/Mormonism_American_Politics_Early_Encounters
[4] (2012). Mormonism & American politics: Early
encounters. (2012). [Web Video]. Retrieved from
http://fora.tv/2007/11/09/Mormonism_American_Politics_Early_Encounters
[5]
State of Deseret. (2012, September 29). Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Deseret
[6]
Pew Forum (2012, January 2). Mormons in America
certain in their beliefs, uncertain of their place in society. Retrieved
from
http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-politics-society-and-morality.aspx
I enjoyed your paper. I like how you tied the identity with Mormon history. I think your point is very valid that the church as a whole has always disfavored a strong central government ever since the persecution of the saints.
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