Presidential Preclusion?

With Jon Huntsman's recent announcement that he is entering the United States presidential race, I have been disappointed and yet not surprised at the tenor of media attention his religion has brought. This attention began four years ago when Mitt Romney made his presidential bid. Now, with two Latter-day Saint presidential candidates for 2012, what began as a spark of controversy over a possible "Mormon president" has now erupted into a full-blown wildfire.

I find it unfortunate that religion is such a dominant factor in the current presidential race. The United States has come a long way in the 235 years since its inception, but it still has a long way to go considering religion is erroneously becoming a candidate's only platform. Article 6, Paragraph 3 of the United States Constitution specifically states that "...no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States." Further, Article 2, Section 1, Clause 5 of the Constitution outlines the qualifications for Office of the Presidency, none of which are religious in nature. So, why is this even being discussed?

It seems to me the reason people are concerned with the thought of a Mormon president is because they are either misinformed or uninformed about the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There are many who associate Mormon beliefs with that of polygamy, despite the fact that the mainstream LDS Church has not practiced polygamy since 1890; in fact, the Church has even taken a strong stand against it, and those who practice polygamy are not permitted to hold Church membership. Additionally, many do not consider the LDS faith a Christian religion, even though the Church's name -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- and its doctrines and practices are centered on Jesus Christ.

At its core, the LDS Church teaches the importance of family, service to others, humanitarianism, good citizenship, and education, all of which are sound principles regardless of one's religious beliefs. While it's true the LDS Church has its own specific beliefs, its core foundation is not much different than other mainstream religions who simply encourage their members to be good, law-abiding citizens wherever they may live.

Mormons have fought and died on the front lines for this country, just as those of other faiths. Mormons uphold this country's laws and standards, just as those of other faiths. All across this country, Mormons are upstanding teachers, doctors, civic leaders, business men and women, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters. Sure, there are those who profess to be LDS and yet act contrary to their religion's teachings, but is this not the case of all religions? In any group, religious or not, there are the good and there are the bad. As citizens of this country and with the freedoms we have, it is up to us whether or not we will choose to look past the superficial and discover a person's true character, regardless of what his or her religious beliefs may be. And, as we do, I would bet that we'll find ourselves pleasantly surprised by those with whom we share citizenship but not necessarily religion.

More than 50 years ago, a similar religious-based question was posed in the US presidential race when John F. Kennedy made his bid -- can a Catholic win the presidency? Well, he did, and we now regard him as one of the greatest presidents this nation has ever known. Religion was a notable factor in the 1960 election when Kennedy won the presidency, and unfortunately race was a factor in the 2008 election when Barack Obama became our Commander in Chief. The United States prides itself amongst other nations in the world as providing the most freedom available anywhere. So, why have circumstantial issues been diagnostic factors in 21st Century elections? I feel we have come a long way as a nation, and I am more than proud to be an American. However, I am also more than proud to be a Mormon and find it regrettable that a person's religious beliefs would hinder him (or her) from being a viable presidential candidate.

The current debate over whether or not a Mormon can be elected president disappoints me. While I recognize that because I am an active LDS Church member, some will dismiss my thoughts and overlook the fact that I am also a law-abiding and contributing United States citizen. However, in a nation that encourages free speech, I thought it important to express my opinion. Whether a person is Mormon or Muslim, black or white, male or female should not influence our opinion as we enter the voting polls. Instead, we should be evaluating the candidates based on their core values, political views, leadership abilities, and all-out Americanism.

Personally, I would vote for a Mormon presidential candidate, but would it be because we share religious beliefs? Not in the least. I would also vote (and have voted) for non-Mormon candidates, and my decisions have been based on characteristics completely aside from faith. I find it regrettable that Romeny's and Huntsman's religion has been the cause of so much political uproar in recent days, but I also appreciate the fact that perhaps it is bringing awareness to Mormonism and providing an opportunity to dispel some of the incorrect notions people hold of LDS beliefs.

In a country founded on religious freedom, why would our inalienable right to worship how we please preclude someone from becoming our nation's president? Why do we not afford the same rights to our political leaders that we ourselves fight to defend? If we discriminate against our civic leaders based on their religious beliefs, are we no better than the repressive leaders our forefathers fought so diligently to escape? We are better. We must be better. For our country. For our children. For our future. As Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently expressed, isn't it the intent of this country to be a nation where people are not judged by the color of their skin, or on the premise of their religion as the case may be, and instead on the content of their character? Yes. It is my belief, religion aside, that our nation is one of freedom for all men and women and, according to our Declaration of Independence, "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal" regardless of their religious beliefs. I am proud to be an American and sincerely hope that as the race for the Office of the Presidency commences, we do not allow peripheral factors such as religion, race, or gender to cloud our decisions.

Inevitably, a candidate's road to the White House will not be easily traveled; however, it is unfair of us as citizens of this free country to plague the road with religious barricades. It is our responsibility to challenge the candidates on political issues, core values, and leadership to ensure a qualified nominee takes office as the most powerful leader of the free world. It is our responsibility to be informed citizens and cast our vote based on a thorough understanding of the candidates' characters, not the places where they choose to worship. It is our responsibility to provide the presidential candidates with the same inalienable right we wish to have in worshipping how they choose. It is our responsibility to recognize that in a world where governmental democracy is limited, we should appreciate that as US citizens we even have the opportunity at all to participate in the election process. And finally, it is our responsibility as citizens of this great nation to stand together and elect a candidate who will lead us best, regardless of religious affiliation. Abraham Lincoln once said, "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." Let us not destroy ourselves by focusing on and arguing about a presidential candidate's religious beliefs. Instead, let us continue to work together in electing a capable president who will help strengthen this great nation and the freedoms members of all religions have given their lives to protect.

~Tiff T.