# PonderIt

## Wednesday, January 11, 2006

### Why Are U.S. Mormons Republicans?

Scott Hinrichs at Reach Upward provides a thoughtful answer. He see three factors leading to the Republican dominance among American Mormons: two party system, church promotion of political activity, Vietnam, Roe v. Wade, labor unions.
UPDATE: Um, it is only me that can't count. Scott just provided the list. I took the list of five items and got three. Nice work, Bradley.

#### 4 Comments:

- I think the abortion issue dominates this. From what I observe, if the political parties flipped on this single issue there might instantly be more democrats in the church than republicans.

  By Eric Nielson, at 1/17/2006 6:42 AM

- The fact that the LDS Church stresses personal responsibility, fiscal restraint, and social conservatism have a lot to do with it...

  By Craig S., at 1/17/2006 8:57 AM

- Your post only explains why a conservative would vote Republican, not a Mormon.
  I simply can’t understand how someone that believes in the LDS version of the gospel can support big business over the common laborer and war over peace. I don’t understand how Mormons that have a church welfare system and a system that promotes communal care for its members can oppose government programs designed to implement compassion, or how members of a church that strongly promotes education can be at odds with the public education system. I don’t understand how Mormons can ally themselves with evangelicals, who by and large despise Mormonism. I can’t understand how Mormons can work to implement moral laws and stand against the “agency” of others with alternative lifestyles, when the LDS Church itself argued for so many years in the latter half of the 19th Century to be left alone to live per their religious convictions while allowing all others the same privilege.
  True Mormonism is, indeed, quite a liberal religion.
  I suspect James E. Faust was one of many Democrats among the leaders of the church, but most simply choose to keep their mouths shut.

  By Eric, at 7/02/2009 11:38 PM

- +1. Well said, Eric.

  By Jeffrey, at 12/08/2009 3:14 PM

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