Why LDS, (Mormons) Should NOT Support Mitt Romney for President of the United States

No other group of people has put its support behind Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, more than the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have. This fact is particularly alarming to me in light of the fact that some of Mr. Romney's stated positions are in blatant opposition to, what I see as, Latter-day Saints' most respected beliefs, and as an informed Mormon, I am worried that my brethren and sisters are unwittingly being led into a trap.

And God created man in His own image

And Mitt Romney spake saying, "Corporations are people too, my friend."

Latter-day Saints have a particularly profound concept of what constitutes a person. Mormons believe that every person who is born on Earth, regardless of creed, color or political party, is literally a spirit child of God who lived with Heavenly Father before coming to Earth to receive a body. This concept of pre-existence gives Latter-day Saints a unique perspective of a person's role in the eternities. To Mormons, people are literally eternal beings who are continually progressing toward perfection. Or as Mormon prophet Lorenzo Snow stated, "As man is, God once was, and as God is, man may become." 

Mitt Romney no doubt believes this too, but the popular presidential candidate has broadened his definition of people to include corporations. In other words, Mitt Romney believes that "corporations are people," created with special rights and privileges that provide them a "more equal" status than that of the people who are legitimately the children of God. In reality, corporations are soulless entities that are NOT the children of God, nor do corporations have any share in God's kingdom, therefore Mr. Romney's view of what constitutes a person is blasphemous at best in light of the eternal potential of real people, created in the image of God. Not surprisingly, corporations are Mr. Romney's biggest financial supporters and have poured tens of millions of dollars into his presidential campaign.

The Constitution is Hanging by a Thread

To Mormons, the US Constitution is a document inspired by God to protect the liberties of American citizens from intrusive government activities. The Prophet Joseph Smith warned that the time would come when personal liberties would be in great peril in America, and that the Elders of Zion, would save the constitution which he said would be "hanging by a thread." Mitt Romney wants to snip that thread and do away with the personal liberties Americans have enjoyed for over two centuries by supporting the ever intrusive Patriot Act, and more recently, the NDAA which was signed into law on January 1, 2012 by President Obama. By his endorsement of the NDAA, Mitt Romney is in favor of giving the military the authority to assassinate or arrest any American, anywhere, and detain them indefinitely without legal representation and never charging them of a crime. And as if that isn't bad enough, Mr. Romney is in favor of reinstating the heinous torture technique of water-boarding to extract information from detainees deemed as enemies of the state. Mormons were once considered to be enemies of the state, and when history repeats itself, will again find themselves under governmental scrutiny.

Golden Rule - Would the Prophet Joseph Smith vote for Mitt Romney?

International sovereignty was a topic of major concern to the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Jr. who, while running for President of the United States in 1844, proclaimed:

“I will adopt in part the language of Mr. Madison’s inaugural address, To cherish peace and friendly intercourse with all nations, having correspondent dispositions; to maintain sincere neutrality towards belligerent nations; to prefer in all cases amicable discussion and reasonable accommodation of intrigues and foreign partialities, so degrading to all countries, and so baneful to free ones; to foster a spirit of independence too just to invade the rights of others...”

Obviously the Prophet Joseph Smith's views of national sovereignty are in direct opposition to those of Mitt Romney, whose pro-war rhetoric toward Iran is putting the US at risk and making the world more volatile. Iran is paying attention and taking Mr. Romney's threats of crippling sanctions, espionage, regime change, and preemptive attacks seriously. Latter-day Saints, as proclaimed Christians, should consider our situation from Iran's perspective. How would we react  if a proclaimed enemy to America was flying drones through our airspace, threatening us with preemptive military strikes, and regime change? We shouldn't expect Iran to behave any differently than we would, and according to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ, our policy should be to do unto Iran as we would have Iran do unto us.

Mitt Romney may be a great businessman, father and husband, but as a statesman, he is dangerous to our nation and the freedoms we enjoy here. His lack of regard for humanity should be a serious concern to Latter-day Saints and everyone who loves liberty.