Political Identity

Matt Merrell

Political Science 150

10/10/12

Blog 5: Political Identity

                Political identity is defined as “the ways that individuals categorize themselves and others” (Samuels 149). Everyone has a political identity, or a group that identifies with them. Religion often plays a key role in determining the political identity of an individual, since its values are what help create or define the beliefs of individuals. Growing today are the values and culture of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the LDS church, or the “Mormons.” Church membership records as of 2010 show that there are currently 5,974,041 members of the LDS church, and the number continues to rise (www.ncccusa.org). With such a trend and growth in the LDS church, the question arises: Is there an LDS political identity here in the US? The answer is very clear. There is absolutely a distinct political identity from the LDS church.

                In 2008, a proposition was passed titled “Proposition 8”, banning gay marriage in California. The law passed by a very narrow margin, of only two percent (projects.latimes.com). In campaigning for this law to be enacted, the organization that donated the most money and time of its members was the LDS church. It is estimated that nearly half of the 40 million dollar campaign contributions were given by the members of the LDS church. 80 to 90 percent of the early volunteers in the campaign were LDS as well (www.nytimes.com). This shows that the largest determining factor in the outcome of this example was the LDS church.

                Why did the LDS church choose to become so politically involved over the issue of same-sex marriage? In 1995, the Church released “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” a document that states “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God… [and] gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World). The Church’s fundamental beliefs are towards marriage between a man and a woman, and when the government tried to pass laws allowing same-sex marriage, the Church mobilized in order to defend that belief.

There are many more examples in history when Church members have politically mobilized to uphold the LDS church’s ideals, whether it be opposition to same-sex marriage, or abortion. Members of the LDS church have a set of core beliefs, and as they protect these ideals through political participation, it becomes their political identity.

Works Cited

"National Council of Churches USA." National Council of Churches USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100204yearbook2010.html>.

Samuels, David J. Comparative Politics. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2013. Print.

City., Jesse Mckinley And Kirk Johnson; Jesse Mckinley Reported From Sacramento, And Kirk Johnson From Salt Lake. "Mormons Tipped Scale in Ban on Gay Marriage."The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Nov. 2008. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/us/politics/15marriage.html?_r=1>.

"Gay Marriage Ban: How Cities in Los Angeles County Voted." LA County Prop 8 Results By City. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://projects.latimes.com/elections/la-county-prop-8-results-by-city/>.

"The Family." : A Proclamation to the World. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation>.