Mormon Political Identity viewed through a historical lense

Mormon Political Identity viewed through a historical lense

By David Jarman

The most influential influence of political identity and ideology is without doubt, familial ties. Generally religion is a large part of family identity, especially in Mormon culture. However, it is not the only influence and it is common for ideology to change over time. Ideology shift is a clear indicator that political identity is constructed around the individual and is not innate within the individual. However, it is often difficult to come to the conclusion that political identity is constructed because of how emotionally tied people become to this identity. Because the roots of political identity spring from the innermost emotions of a person (such as does life begin at conception), people become dramatically involved with political outcomes. It is difficult for them to separate where identity was learned and it is difficult to detach their identity from their core values.

To prove that political identity is constructed let us look at the history of Mormon politics. Today Mormons are pro-life, against illegal drugs, against same-sex marriage, etc. Naturally, Mormons who espouse these values are going to identify with Republicans as a whole. As well, Mormons are generally industrious and self-sustained, with a valuable religious structure that provides welfare incredibly well and efficiently. Because of this economically they believe in lower taxes, lower welfare, and smaller government. Historically Mormons have espoused themselves with smaller government, so naturally they identify well with the Republican Party.

However, Mormons have not always identified with Republicans. When the saints entered Illinois being forced out of Missouri the people of Illinois took them in. Missourians were southerners, and people of Illinois were northerners. They had opposing political beliefs. The Missourians were considered almost savage in the eyes of their northern, Illinois, counterparts. The people of Illinois were kind and welcoming to the Mormons and upon arrival when Joseph Smith found out they were Democrats, he claimed that he would be a democrat too.

The saints took on that democratic identity for a few reasons. First was the fact that the people of Illinois were democrats so they identified with them. Second the state powers did not give them the tools necessary to take back the land in Missouri that rightfully belonged to them. President Van Buren said, “Your cause is just but I can do nothing.” He meant truly that the federal government did not have the authority to intervene. The Mormons desired to increase the power of the federal government to meet their own interests.

Later the Mormons were forced out of Illinois as well. On entering the Salt Lake Valley they had the idea to separate themselves entirely from the United States. Following the Mexican American War this became impossible and instead they sought statehood. Despite the Southern disposition to keep slavery legal, Brigham Young decided that he identified more with the south and did his best to build political ties with them. He wanted statehood and smaller government because that meant the federal government would have less influence on the state of Deseret, changing political identity within a few years. Nearly the entire Mormon population changed with him.

With the abolishment of slavery, polygamy, and eventual attaining statehood, political identity among Mormons shifted back and forth. Political divisions in the quorum of the twelve apostles created tense feelings at times. At times there were so many democrats that the leaders would call men to change their political affiliation so as to bring balance. However, sometime later ideology changed and Mormons for the most part became Republicans with Reed Smoot, identifying most with conservative values both morally and economically.

 Despite the vastly homogenous ideology amongst Mormons the ease of changing the majority of the political identity shows that constructivism is the correct theory. Mormons affiliate themselves first and foremost with their religion. For Instance, in an article by Quin Monson in utahdatapoints.com, he identifies a statistic that shows how ideology can be influenced by other circumstances. He states, “While 23% of all Utah Democrats view Governor Romney favorably, that proportion goes up to 42% when looking only at Mormon Democrats.” For the Mormons religious beliefs obviously take precedence over political identity and political identity is learned from the culture surrounding them. Mormon Democrats like Romney more because he is Mormon too. Their political identity is constructed not innate.

 Sources:

Monson, Quin. Do LDS Dems like Mitt Romney? http://utahdatapoints.com/2012/08/do-lds-dems-like-mitt-romney/ August 22, 2012. Accessed October 12, 2012

History facts come from lectures by Susan Easton Black: Joseph Smith and the Restoration and from lectures by Spencer Fluhman: Utah history