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30 August 2012 By Stephen
Lendman Romney is America's first
non-Christian presidential nominee. He's a Mormon (aka
Latter Day Saints Church member - LDS). Does it
matter? More on that below. Before he entered politics, he
spent years as a Massachusetts Mormon leader. He began
in the mid-1970s. From 1986 - 1994, he was president
of the Boston Stake. It's similar to a Catholic
diocese. Before that he was a Belmont and Cambridge
bishop. His duties involved organizational work and
counseling. Later he taught Sunday school and
oversaw church programs for teenagers. He overstepped
by lecturing women on their sex lives and roles as
homemakers. A 1994 Boston Phoenix cited an anonymous
woman. As bishop, Romney discouraged her from having
an abortion vital for health reasons. The same article mentioned an
area professor. She urged him to address domestic
abuse. He refused and wouldn't do it. He's an elitist.
He surrounds himself in church, business, and
political life with powerful white men. He's insensitive about ordinary
popular needs. He doesn't convince people he cares. He
calls homosexuality "perverse and reprehensible." His
dark side is largely hidden. He believes in traditional gender
roles. Male dominance is fundamental. Women should be
child bearers and homemakers. As Massachusetts governor, his
style was imperial. He's aloof and patrician. He
frowns on single parenthood. He follows hidebound
Mormon rules. Obey or face excommunication. He ordered
one single mother to give up her son or religion. At times, he feigns
understanding. He doesn't fake it well. Most often
he's distant and indifferent. He's hardline about
parishioners doing what they're told. His arrogance
toward one church member made her feel like he "kicked
(her) in the stomach." Another parishioner called him
racist and anti-Semitic. He's part entrepreneur,
predator, church leader, politician, and now
presidential aspirant. He combines the worst of each
one. Last May, Jodi Kantor headlined a
largely flattering New York Times article "Romney's
Faith, Silent but Deep," saying: With presidential aspirations, he
"speaks so sparingly about his faith….that its
influence on him can be difficult to detect." Friends "describe a man whose
faith is his design for living." It's not his only
influence, but "its impact cannot be fully untangled
from that of his family, which is also steeped in
Mormonism." As a young entrepreneur, he was
very "deseret." It's a Book of Mormon term. It means
"industrious as a honeybee." He went all out
recruiting colleagues and clients with Mormon like
missionary zeal. He's hardline on rules. They
mirror his Mormon ones. As Massachusetts bishop and
president he excommunicated adulterers. He discouraged
mothers from working instead of being good wives and
homemakers. In private, he's "demonstrative
about his faith." In church, he "belt(s) out hymns."
He fasts on designated days. Wherever he is, most
often he finds a congregation "to slip into on
Sundays." According to Mormon founder
Joseph Smith and his successor Brigham Young,
practitioners of other religions are wrongheaded,
abominable, blind, damned, ignorant pagan heathens
hatched in hell. Romney buys this stuff. He
follows church dogma and rules. Responding to critics
about his religion, he once said: "They would prefer it if I would
simply distance myself from my religion, say that it
is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or
disavow one or another of its precepts." "That I will not do. I believe in
my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith
is the faith of my fathers. I will be true to them and
to my beliefs." Mormon temples are only for
strict adherents and its leaders. Secrecy surrounding
them is extraordinary. Before church members can enter
a temple, they're interviewed to determine worthiness.
They're asked if they support,
affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual
whose teachings or practices differ from church dogma?
Romney gained entry. Blockage denies it to heaven.
Repentance can change things. Church ordinances include the Law
of Consecration. It requires members to pledge all
their time, money, and abilities to establish the
Mormon kingdom of heaven on earth. Absolute obedience
to the church president is also demanded. If Romney buys this stuff and
abides by it, as president he'll be beholden to a
higher power than his own office and must obey what
he's told to do. Political con men like having
things both ways. Promise voters what they want to
hear. Govern according to political priorities.
Practice your religion as you choose out of public
view. Perhaps if elected, they'll be
three Romney presidents. He's a chameleon, an
opportunistic con man. He'll combine campaigner,
office holder, religious extremist. He'll one up the
worst of Obama enough to give his supporters pause or
should if they take the time to find out. His December 2007 GHW Bush
presidential library speech was planned to allay fears
about his Mormonism. He failed. He only mentioned it
once. He said nothing about its beliefs or practices. In September 1960, Kennedy
removed the Catholic Question by boldly defending
secularism. Romney preached the importance of "faith
perspectives" in political life. He claimed he and fellow Mormons
are of like mind with evangelical Protestants and
fundamentalist Catholics. He feels the same way now. Perhaps he was wise not to defend
what's indefensible. It's less extreme now than
originally but bad enough. The same goes for all
religious extremism. It's one thing to be an adherent.
It's quite another to govern by its dictates. When asked "(w)ill all be damned
but Mormons," founder Joseph Smith said: "Yes, and a great portion of them
unless they repent and work righteousness." The Book of Mormon describes two
churches: the church of the Lamb of God and the church
of the devil. The latter is the great church. The
other is "the mother of abomination….the whore of all
the earth." In the Journal of Discourses,
Brigham Young said: "Should you ask why we differ
from other Christians, as they are called, it is
simply because they are not Christians as the New
Testament defines Christianity." "The Christian world, so-called,
are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of
God." "With a regard to true theology,
a more ignorant people never lived than the present
so-called Christian world." "….the professing Christian world
are like a ship upon a boisterous ocean without
rudder, compass, or pilot, and are tossed hither and
thither by every wind of doctrine." "….the time came when Paganism
was engrafted into Christianity, and at last
Christianity was converted into Paganism rather than
converting the Pagans." John Taylor succeeded Young. In
the Journal of Discourses, he said: "We talk about Christianity, but
it is a perfect pack of nonsense ...the devil could
not invent a better engine to spread his work than the
Christianity of the nineteenth century." "What! Are Christians ignorant?
Yes, as ignorant of the things of God as the brute
beast." "What does the Christian world
know about God? Nothing ...Why so far as the things of
God are concerned, they are the veriest of fools; they
know neither God nor the things of God." Other Mormon leaders expressed
similar comments about Christianity and Mormon
exceptionalism. Be wary when religious leaders demean
other faiths for not being true believers. Mormonism's dark side masquerades
as wholesome, special, and benevolent. It's pernicious
and malevolent and about non-believers. Adherents feel
a Mormon is destined to become president and lead
America. They stop short of explaining harmful
policies he'll endorse. The 19th century book titled "The
Mysteries of Mormonism" is harsh. It condemns a
religion it calls "the twin relic of barbarism." It
was written by an unnamed "Apostle's wife." New York-based Police Gazette
Publisher Richard K. Fox published it. Books then cost
around 25 cents. Times changed. So has Mormonism, but
very much not in all ways mattering most. It's still
hidebound, reactionary, intolerant and dangerous. "The Mormon missionary goes
abroad in the highways and byways of the earth,
preaching his creed of the bagnio to the ignorant and
depraved and gathering them into the fold." "Mormonism was a swindle from the
very start….Joseph Smith (was) the worst of a bad
breed." He established a church based on
alleged divine revelations given him by God the
Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and other angelic/divine
visionaries. Flaws and contradictions define it.
Adherents claim challenging them is heresy. "The 'Book of Mormon' consists of
sixteen books, professing to be written by as many
different prophets. In it over three hundred passages
of the Christian Bible are found, stolen without
credit." "Polygamy has no foundation
either in the principle of faith promulgated by Joseph
Smith and the founders of the Mormon gospel." Brigham Young initiated the
practice. He produced a document. He claimed it was a
revelation given Smith. It allegedly commanded him to
enter into polygamy. No such revelation existed. After Young died, church
governance changed. America grew up and expanded.
Mormons no longer lived "entrenched beyond the reach
of the government whose laws they violate…." US President James Garfield
campaigned against "Mormon infamy." So did his
successor Chester Arthur. He called Mormonism "an evil
calling out loudly for reform." "(T)he black outrage of Mormonism
cannot continue unmolested many years longer. The
people are awakening and crying out for justice
against it…." "When it is hurled to ruin there
will fall the most monstrous structure of fraud and
infamy cemented by the blood of sacrifice ever reared
in the history of the world and a creed of lust that
transforms a vast stretch of our continent into a
community of prostitution, and physical and mental
debasement will become the by-word for iniquity it is
still a triumphant monument to." Mormonism today officially
rejects polygamy. Thousands, however, still practice
it. Former Mormon practitioner Chris
Tolworthy left the LDS church. He expressed anger and
frustration. He moved on and explained. In 2006, he
published "Ten Reasons to Protect Your Children From
Mormonism." He began saying it's "better than
many alternatives." It's better than raising children
"in an even worse cult….But Mormonism is not the
best." It's "dangerous." He belonged to the LDS church for
34 years. For the sake of his children he left. Why he
waited so long he didn't say. His reasons include: (1) Mormonism "destroys your
integrity." It's based on "lies" and "sin." (2) "It makes you covenant to do
evil. Some Mormon teachings and practices are evil."
They destroy integrity, put church before family,
divide communities, preach racism and homophobia, lie,
and endorse other harmful practices. The church keeps its dark side
well hidden. Methods it calls righteous are unethical.
It also teaches honesty and other good things. Its
virtuous side doesn't compensate for its harm. (3) "It might kill your children.
Utah is the Prozac capital of the world." It also the
leading state for suicides among adolescents and young
men aged 15 - 24. Many high school girls feel sad and
lonely. Teenagers are taught to feel
different from other people. They're made to feel
guilty about normal sexual feelings. (4) "It limits their emotional
development." The church teaches that "obedience is
the first law of heaven." Children get very early
indoctrination. Faith is force-fed. (5) It's "divisive" because "it
has so many core beliefs that can be proved false." "The church puts itself before
the family." Individuality and free choice get shut
out. (6) "The church teaches
prejudice." It's racist, homophobic, and hardline.
Church scripture says "black skin is a curse for
wickedness." It's on the wrong side of other
social issues. Polygamy was finally abandoned but not
entirely. Millions of dollars are spent
attacking gays. (7) "It takes good ideas and
makes them worse." Its Proclamation on the Family
excludes singles and gay couples. Same sex marriage is
called evil. (8) "It is unethical." The Book
of Mormon says Nephi kills Laban, steals his property,
and is praised." Using gospel is a bad way to teach
ethics. The "God said so" approach creates more
problems than equitable resolutions. Parents are
perfectly capable of raising children sans gospel. The church wants your time and
money "under false pretenses." Donating either or both
should be personal choices, not mandates. It says
"either you do it our way or the wrong way." It wants control over "every
aspect of your life." It's "totalitarian." The church steals childhoods.
Kids are forced to sit hours in church learning and
worrying about sin. They don't have fun like others
their age in non-Mormon households. (9) "Poor decision making."
Feelings and dogma guide them more than facts. (10) "Empty promises." The church
takes your time and money. In return, it doesn't make
people better. So-called Mormonism benefits "are
empty." The church claims its way is
righteous and good. Compared to dysfunctional
lifestyles, it's true. Compared with better ones, it
falls short. "If you want better for your children,
you can protect (them) from the dangers of Mormonism."
Exercise free choice and do it. Modern Mormonism differs greatly
from its original form. Critics, however, call it a
longstanding elaborate fraud. Its scripture contains
numerous contradictions and errors. Founder Joseph
Smith was a convicted con man. He was more huckster than
prophet. A purposeful deceiver in his day was called a
"juggler." In 1849, New York Herald
founder/publisher/editor perhaps first used the term
confidence man. Smith lived from 1805 - 1844. Herman Melville titled his 1857
novel "The Confidence Man: His Masquerade." Some
believe Smith was his archetype. "The Con Man is Devil
and God," said Melville. He preaches aphorisms like
"Charity thinketh no evil." "Charity believeth all
things," and "Charity never faith." Melville believed
scamming represented everything wrong with America in
the pre-Civil War decade. Many of his confidence man's
entreaties make perfectly good sermons. Smith filled
the bill. His mixed messages reflected good and evil.
Critics called him an impostor, a fake, a con man. Conning the faithful to believe
continues. Modern day leaders do it their way. They
also created a vast business empire. In July 2012,
Business Week headlined "How the Mormons Make Money,"
saying: Last March, a $2 billion Salt
Lake City megamall was completed. It's adjacent to the
church's neo-Gothic temple and president Thomas
Monson's offices. Adherents call him a living
prophet. The project features a
retractable glass roof, 5,000 underground parking
spots, and nearly 100 stores and restaurants. Luxury
ones like Tiffany's are included. At its grand opening, Utah
dignitaries accompanied Monson. He cheered "one, two,
three," cut the ceremonial ribbon, and said "let's go
shopping!" "Watching a religious leader
celebrate a mall may seem surreal, but (this one)
reflects the spirit of enterprise that animates
modern-day Mormonism." "The mall is part of a sprawling
church-owned corporate empire that" church leaders say
spreads its message, increases economic self-reliance,
and builds "the Kingdom of God on earth." Keith McMullin heads the church
holding company. Deseret Management Corporation (DMC)
is an umbrella organization for many non-profit church
businesses. "We look to not only the
spiritual," he says, "but also the temporal, and we
believe that a person who is impoverished temporally
cannot blossom spiritually." Mormonism combines religious
fervor with money-making. Non-profit status enhances
bottom line priorities. Church holdings are vast.
Little is known about them. Financial transparency is
absent. Even members required to contribute generously
aren't privy to what goes on. According to historian D. Michael
Quinn: "The Mormon Church is very
different than any other church….Traditional
Christianity and Judaism make a clear distinction
between what is spiritual and what is temporal, while
Mormon theology specifically denies that there is such
a distinction." Megamalls and multi-billion
dollar enterprise profiteering is doing God's work.
Quinn adds: "In the Mormon's (leadership)
worldview, it's as spiritual to give alms to the
poor….as it is to make" millions of dollars. Around six million Americans
practice Mormonism. Globally it's around 14 million.
Their influence outnumbers their numbers. The church's business empire and
wealth are vast. DMC alone has six subsidiaries. Its
estimated annual revenue is around $1.2 billion. It
runs a newspaper, 11 radio stations, a TV station, a
publishing and distribution company, a digital media
operation, a hospitality business, and insurance with
assets worth $4.4 billion. AgReserves is another for-profit
Mormon umbrella enterprise. Together with other
church-run agricultural affiliates, it owns about one
million US acres. They're used for farming, hunting,
preserves, orchards and ranches. They include the $1 billion,
290,000 acre Florida based Deseret Ranches. It has
44,000 cows, 1,300 bulls, citrus, sod, and timber.
Foreign based affiliates operate in Britain, Canada,
Australia, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil. The church also runs several
for-profit real estate enterprises. They develop, own,
and manage malls, parking lots, office parks,
residential buildings, and other businesses. Hawaii Reserves owns or manages
over 7,000 Oahu acres with commercial and residential
buildings, parks, water and sewage infrastructure, as
well as two cemeteries. Oahu's Polynesian Cultural Center
is a 43 acre tropical theme park. It hosts luaus,
canoe rides, and tours through simulated Polynesian
villages. Utah Property Management
Associates is another operation. Its new megamall is
part of a $5 billion downtown Salt Lake City makeover.
According to Utah Governor's
Office of Economic Development official Spencer
Eccles: Church officials run "their
businesses like businesses, no bones about it." Given their vast enterprises and
business expertise, Sociology Professor Ryan Cragun
said it makes more sense to call them "The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Holdings, Inc." Like other churches, many of its
operations and donations are tax exempt. They're also
secretive. Religious operations aren't obligated to
explain much publicly. In the early 1960s, the LDS
church stopped reporting finances entirely. In 1997, a Time magazine
investigation estimated its total worth at $30
billion. It said about $5 billion flows into church
coffers annually through tithes. It also owned around
$6 billion in stocks and bonds. A more recent Reuters/Professor
Cragun investigation estimated a $40 billion net
worth, including up to $8 billion annually in
tithing. Church finances are so
compartmentalized that no single person, not even the
president, has access to them all. They're vast,
growing, profitable, and perhaps greater than
estimated totals. Modern Mormonism isn't just a
religion. It's a money making machine. Stephen Lendman lives in
Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is
titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html Visit his
blog site at
sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the
Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio
Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
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