The Political Identity of Mormons

Blog 5
Ashlan Neuenschwander

      
         Recently in 2008, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints (LDS) held steadfast to opposing gay marriage by supporting Proposition 8. Furthermore, the LDS Church opposes abortion, another heated debate in the political spectrum. Although the Church is politically neutral, a distinct “Mormon” political identity has formed in the United States. Social scientists often use primordialism and constructivism arguments as a way to describe how and why political identity is present in society. Primordialism argues that the politicization of identity is caused by loyal group membership that is innately present. Conversely, constructivism arguments hold that politicization is shaped by individual choices (Samuels). Strong religious doctrine within the Church shapes the political ideals of its members; most Mormons are conservative republicans that oppose abortion and gay marraige. This political identity has even caused a strong polarity between those political identities that hold dissimilar beliefs with the LDS Church. Although constructive arguments apply to the membership of the Church, primordialism better explains how the LDS doctrines, beliefs, and culture shaped the Mormon’s distinct political identity in the United States.

            The LDS Church can be largely attributed to the primordialistic argument. Because primordialism also emphasizes kinship bonds, this argument can be applied (Samuels). In a recent survey, 74% of Mormons were born into the faith indicating an “innate” nature to follow the LDS political identity among its members (The Pew Forum). But what about those who choose to join the Church? Constructivism tells us that the choice to join the Church, and ultimately a distinct political identity, defines why this identity was formed: loyalty to the religion. Nearly 60% of converts attributed their conversion to the beliefs and doctrine of the Church, not by some inborn desire (The Pew Forum). Although many choose to join the Mormon faith, primordialism makes a stronger argument because of the large percentage of Mormons that are “born into” the Church whose beliefs and political identity is formed early in life.

Mormons across the US have many different political beliefs, ideas, and moral stances, but overall the majority shares a distinguishable political identity. This political identity has led many Mormons to be conservative republics who oppose both abortion and gay marriage. The Mormon Church’s beliefs have shaped the political ideas of its members especially when it expressed that “elective abortion for personal or social convenience is contrary to the will and the commandments of God. Church members who submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions may lose their membership in the Church” (LDS). Furthermore, when the Church publically denounced gay marriage through its support of Prop. 8 and in the Family Proclamation to the World, they received widespread support among its members. Because republicans tend to oppose abortion and gay marriage, Mormons have a tendency to be republican. In fact, 74% of LDS members are registered republican among voters and 66% have conservative ideologies. Additionally, only 4% of Mormon’s believe abortion is morally acceptable (The Pew Forum). When asked in 2012 if gay marriage should be legalized only 28% of LDS members in Utah agreed (Patterson). By this, the political identity and loyalty among LDS members leads many to vote republican, remain conservative, and oppose gay marriage and abortion. Only a few in the Church would agree otherwise. What the primordialism argument tells us, then, is that those born into an LDS family are very likely to have a Mormon political identity. With the LDS Church announcing its stances on certain political moral dilemmas, many of its members conform to the identity associated with the Church itself.

In the United States, Mormons do have a political identity. This identity is highly conservative, republican, pro-life, and anti homosexuality (when concerning marriage, that is). Primordialism explains why this political identity is associated among LDS members: by kinship bonds and a loyalty to the Church. A constructivist approach does explain why members do join the Church and most of its variation, but does not represent the whole LDS population.

Work Cited

The Pew Forum, . "Mormons in America." The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. N.p., 12 January 2012. Web. 10 Oct 2012. <http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-executive-summary.asp&xgt;.

LDS, . "Abortion." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct 2012. <http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?locale=0&sourceId=63c139b439c98010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD>.

Patterson, Kelly. "Public Opinion on Gay Marriage."Utah Data Points. N.p., 09 July 2012. Web. 10 Oct 2012. <http://utahdatapoints.com/2012/07/public-opinion-on-gay-marriage-in-utah/>.

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