Blog 5 - LDS Political Identity

             An identity is a subset of culture, based on our ability to attach labels to ourselves and others or to define ourselves in terms of the groups we belong to. A political identity is the ways that individuals categorize themselves and others, and how they understand the power relationships of dominion and oppression that exist between groups (Samuels 2013). Identity taken even further, stretched from not just an “identity”, but to a “political identity” would be that which becomes so central to us that it shapes our political decisions, even becoming our most important identity.  It has further been discussed in class how these political identities infer intense feelings of loyalty (Hawkins 2012).  Professor Samuels gives the question clearly, “if you’re religious or secular, how do your views about faith influence your politics?” (Samuels 2012).

                Is there a distinct LDS identity in The United States?  I claim that this political identity does exist. I do not claim that all those with an LDS identity will make the same decisions, nor do I claim that they should make the same decisions. However, I do claim that people who identify with this meaning are given a standard with which to measure the decision, to interpret according to what they hold true to.

I believe that this type of identity would be classified as primordialism, “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” (Samuels 2012). This primordialist identity also applies to this LDS political identity. I imagine that those members who have been raised in the church, whose parents have been raised in the church etc... would be more likely to base a political decision on their LDS identity. That is not to say, that a recent convert’s testimony is weaker than a 3^rd-generation member’s testimony. “Testimony” is not the question and does not necessarily define the identity. It is living it that makes the difference. I argue that this identity would be classified as primordial is because the 3^rd generation member is the one who has lived according to this identity their entire lives, they have seen others live it for their entire lives, they have watched their parents live accordingly their entire lives and it really does become a strong identity. I am not suggesting that every time someone with the LDS identity makes a political decision that they think to themselves, “What would President Monson do?”, but I am suggesting that those types of decisions would be affected by their religion, something which they adhere to and firmly believe in. Again, I do not say that because of this identity, they with an LDS political identity should make the same decisions, but I believe they would compare those decisions to what they personally feel is in line with what they believe and with what they feel to be right, a similar yardstick independent from the political sphere.

                A survey from the Utah Data points shows a bit of a trend among Mormon voters, that shows how this identity is continued. “While 23% of all Utah Democrats view Governor Romney favorably, that number increases to 42% when looking at only Mormon democrats. What explains the difference? It is probably shared religious experience that best explains the Democrats affinity for Romney” (Monson 2012). Again, this data obviously does not show that all Mormons must vote for Mitt Romney by any means. However, it does show that more Mormons base this decision on “shared religious experience” because they share an identity. A higher percentage of Mormon politicians connect with him and his policies than those of other identities.  This supports the claim that the LDS identity can be defined as a political identity.

                I assert that there is indeed a possibility for an LDS political identity in the United States. This identity was formed primordially and is shown in the presence of this identity directly affecting political choice.

David J. Samuels, Comparative Politics, (Pearson Education, Inc., 2013), chap. 6.

Hawkins, Kirk. “Identity”. 10 October. 2012. Lecture.

Monson, Quinn. Utah Data Points, "Do LDS Dems like Mitt Romney." Last modified 2012. Accessed October 11, 2012. http://utahdatapoints.com/2012/08/do-lds-dems-like-mitt-romney/.