LDS Political Identity

Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or LDS Church, align themselves towards the Republican Party. However, there are still others who are loyal Democrats. The LDS Church maintains a neutral partisan political policy. It does not endorse any candidate running for public office, even when one of its own members is running. The Church allows its followers to choose who should be elected. Because of this policy of political neutrality, I believe there is not a specific LDS political identity strong enough to persuade voters to vote for an LDS candidate.

According to the lecture, political identity is “the ways [people] categorize themselves, with a resulting feeling of close emotional association” that “significantly shapes [their] political decisions” (lecture). Since political identities shape decisions for all people who categorize themselves as such, the LDS political identity should determine the outcome more than partisan identity. This is not the case.

In the 2012 race to the White House, Mitt Romney, the first LDS candidate on a major party ticket, is the Republican nominee. According to recent polling data, 79% of Utah LDS Republicans agree that Romney is a good choice (Patterson). This seems not very significant, as most Republicans would vote for Romney even if they didn’t like the guy. On the Democratic side of the partisan ideology, however, 42% of Utah LDS Democrats have a favorable view of Governor Romney (Monson). Although they agree with some of his views, I believe those beliefs aren’t strong enough to change their votes from blue to red.

Partisan politics have been a part of the American political system from the early days of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Many people often associate with the political party of their parents. Others choose one because of shared beliefs. A primordialist view, a view that says identity is “innate and largely unchanging,” would take this argument (Samuels 153). However, the view that members of the Church can choose which candidate they want, although they got their partisan ideologies from their parents, would be a constructivist view, one that can change, but could stay the same (Samuels 153). Members could all vote for Romney if they wanted to do so; however, many won’t because they disagree with his policies.

Faith is a strong guiding principle that can help people determine what they should do. However, this isn’t necessarily how voters choose their political representatives. Even in the Catholic Church, there isn’t one solid political identity. In the 2012 Presidential election, both Vice Presidential nominees are Catholic. Both agree with their Church’s doctrines about life; however, they don’t have the same views on policies. The LDS Church is no different. Its members can vote for whomever they choose. Faith isn’t the only defining characteristic that determines political involvement.

Works Cited

Lecture

Monson, Quin. ""Do LDS Dems like Mitt Romney?" 2012.Web. <http://www.utahdatapoints.com/>.

Patterson, Kelly. ""Who thinks Governor Romney's candidacy is good for the LDS Church?" 2012.Web. <http://www.utahdatapoints.com/>.

Samuels, David. Comparative Politics. 1st ed. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc., 2013. Print.