The LDS Political Identity

The LDS Political Identity

The LDS community, especially within the United States, has a noticeably different culture from any other group. The LDS people have social differences in regards to dress codes and even speech habits, but does this particular culture also unite in their political views? In this blog, I will examine possibility of an LDS Political Identity and what causes or prevents one from existing. As I do this, I will use polls taken across the state of Utah, as well as points from class room discussions with Dr. Hawkins. Through an analysis of the LDS community, and the data collected, and then given in class, I will show that an LDS political identity not only exists, but has a prominent effect upon much of the LDS population.

            The LDS people are one who has always been encouraged to support government. Dating back to the church modern day founder, Joseph Smith wrote, “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”[1] Smith himself was even a candidate during the early months of the 1844 presidential election. The LDS community has no pressure to vote for, nor join a particular political party, yet according to the Salt Lake Tribunal, “one recent poll showed three-quarters of LDS faithful lean toward the GOP.”[2] A logical cause of this statistic is the close relation between LDS moral values, such as abortion, and gay marriage, and the general republican view to oppose these practices as well. This connection alone drives the LDS population towards a political identity supporting the GOP because, by some, it almost could be judged as a reflection on a person’s testimony. A large part of the LDS culture, whether it’s correct or not, is to be accepted by others as one with a firm belief. By rejecting the Republican Party, one can be seen by others to indirectly support issues which are contrary to the standards of the church. I conclude that this is the main reason for this political identity is due to these standards, as they are the one thing that all faithful members of the LDS faith have in common. Based upon these comments, the political identity is primordial because a large part of the church is born into the church. Most LDS people are raised with beliefs congruent to the Republican Party. It would be incorrect and frankly impossible to say that it couldn't be constructivism, as all people are different, and many thousands join the church each year. The demographics do still indicate that most people are born into the church, therefore primordial when it comes to politics.

            As discussed in class, political identity is the defining factor on how a person feels towards a party. It is not just the fact of voting democrat or republican, but it is the party with which ones feels most connected. Dr. Hawkins specifically cited that a political identity can “be so deep and powerful that that it shapes our political decisions: how we vote, our stance on issues, and who we will listen to.” To show more clearly that a political identity does exist, the Utah Data Points did a survey to display what affect this current presidential election will have on the votes of LDS members.[3]  

Our June telephone survey in cooperation with Key Research asked Utah voters whether they have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Mitt Romney. A higher proportion of Utah Democrats have a favorable impression of Mitt Romney (23%) than the approval of Utah Republicans of Barack Obama’s job performance (5%). While the comparison is complicated by the fact that the question about Romney measures “favorability” and the question about Obama measures “approval” it appears that Utah Democrats are happier about the Republican nominee than are Utah Republicans about the Democratic nominee. We did include additional questions probing why they like or do not like either politician…While 23% of all Utah Democrats view Governor Romney favorably, that proportion goes up to 42% when looking only at Mormon Democrats.

I chose this article because it shows that the political identity of staying in harmony with the church is much more powerful than nearly half of LDS democrats feel for the Democratic Party. The data also confirms the existence of a political identity.

             Due to the data collected, it’s evident that the LDS community largely effected by its own political identity. The causes have to do with being raised in an LDS home that supports values that the GOP is not afraid to oppose. Another cause is that this election is more than just democrat against republican for the LDS people; it is, in the eyes of many, considered to be more of a social issue than political. Many LDS democrats have switched their vote to Governor Romney. In regards to all collected and cited materials, an LDS political identity is clearly existent.

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[1] “Articles of Faith,” http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,106-1-2-1,FF.html

[2] Thomas Burr, “Republican Party Started Out Anti-Mormon” The Salt Lake Tribune, February 17, 2012

[3] “Do LDS Dems like Mitt Romney?” Aug. 22,2012, http://utahdatapoints.com/