By Jaime Ortega Simo.
Jabriel Ballentine
Jaime,
Thank you for this opportunity to share my perspective. I have done what I feel best approaches an intersection of the sentiment of your search and my considerations.
As a theologian, I think Mormon theology raises tough questions. The major question is with the foundation of the Mormon story. When one reads Diarmaid MacCulloch in Christianity: the First Three Thousand Years, one comes to understand that Mormons believe that White Americans were the original inhabitants of the Americas and that “Red Indians” came and destroyed White society in the fourth century CE. As a result, the goal of Mormonism is to restore the Americas to (those Mormons deem) the “rightful rulers” of the land, before the Second Coming. Following the model of Joseph Smith in 1844, this is effected by assent to the US Presidency.
With this as the founding principles, I think that everyone could find something disturbing in the Mormon text. Further, I think that everyone should question the beliefs of all the candidates. We might not agree with all of the beliefs of any candidate. However, we must pay attention to the implications of one enacting their beliefs.
When we understand the foundational principles of Mormonism, we gain a deeper understanding of Mr. Romney’s brand of American Exceptionalism. And it raises concern as to what really guides Mr. Romney’s presidential aspirations.
In peace,
Jabriel
The United States Political landscape has deteriorated over the past couple years due to media bias. We need to stand up for our future and take back our world from Big Pharma, Big Tobbacco, Big Insurance and really just big corporations. It’s time for our elections to stop being bought out.