Church and State: The Mormon Political Identity

With the current presidential elections pushing Mormonism into the political limelight, the question of whether or not being Mormon is considered a political identity is an important one. A political identity defined as “the ways that individuals categorize themselves and others, and how they understand the power relationships of domination and oppression that exist between groups” (Samuels, 149) Being Mormon is a political identity currently, just as it has in the past, and has been in part, been influenced by the values taught to the members of the LDS Church.

            In the past, the LDS Church was very active in political issues, setting up their own government in Nauvoo, and in the Utah Territory. The creation of a political party, the Liberal Party, or the Anti-Mormon party was formed in direct opposition to the People’s Party, which claimed to speak for the LDS Church in the late 1800’s. The People’s Party was supported, unsurprisingly, by the majority of the population until its dissolution in 1891. (Gentile, 67) In the 1800’s, being Mormon had the same effect as belonging to a particular political party in that Mormons supported a particular political agenda. This statement is fairly true today.

Currently, the LDS Church remains neutral on most political issues, preferring that its members vote their consciences, and be involved in politics. According to a PEW Poll in January of 2012, 66% of Mormons describe themselves as “politically conservative,” with 74% of Mormon voters identifying or leaning toward the Republican party.(PEW) This rather impressive majority of Mormons leaning toward the Republican party points to Mormonism as a political identity. In addition to this study, Quin Monson of Utah Data Points did a similar study, seeing if the LDS Church’s support of a particular statement changed the political views of voters. Of the 170 people polled, 61% maintained the same opinion. However, 27% of individuals who did change their view, changed their view to that of the LDS Church, strongly implying a distinct political identity in conjunction with the PEW study. (Monson) These individuals changed to meet the current viewpoint of the church.

This political identity can be viewed with either of two lenses, the primordialist view, or the constructivist view.  Primordialism states that political identity is inherent, and unchanging.  (Samuels) The LDS church supports whatThe LDS Church does promote teaching of children particular standards, which do mostly coincide with current Conservative political platforms, emphasizing traditional family values, and personal responsibility, which would agree with an political identity established when young, or a primordialist view. This does not account for any of the many converts to the LDS Church and their subsequent transition to the Mormon political identity. The Mormon political identity can be most easily seen from constructivist viewpoint. The constructivist view states that political identities are malleable, and can evolve and change over time. (Samuels)  This would explain how converts adopt a Mormon political identity, either abandoning or subordinating their previous political identity.

In conclusion, there is a distinct Mormon political identity, just as there was in the past. From its founding, until the late 1800’s, the LDS Church was very politically active, and sponsored the People’s Party, which was opposed by the Liberal’s Party. Most members of the LDS Faith today consider themselves conservative, and relate to the Republican party, and a portion of individuals change their views depending on the views of the LDS Church. This distinct identity is most easily explained in a constructivist view, which accounts for the changing political identities of converts to the LDS Church.

Works Cited:

Samuels, David. Comparative Politics. New York: Pearson Education, 2013. Print

Gentile, A. Social Problems of Today; or the Mormon Question in Its Economic Aspects. 1886. E-Book

Monson, Quin. "Utah Data Points." Utah Data Points. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2012.  http://utahdatapoints.com/2011/04/did-the-utah-compact-actually-change-attitudes-about-immigration/

Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. 2012. Mormons in America. January 12. http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america.aspx (accessed October 10, 2012).