Re: Why are Mormons mostly conservative Republicans?
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 4:14 pm
Historically, Utah was a Democratic state. The republican platform was built on the idea of ending the "twin barbarisms" of polyogamy and slavery. Most of the 12 and 1st presidency were democrats, and genral membership was occasionally assigned a party for "balance".
Inbetween ww1 and ww2 utahs political identity began to shift. Rather than detest Washington dc, members begin to embrace it, wave the flag and reveal in nationalism. leadership began to be mixed between the two parties.
Than came the civil rights movement and sexual revolution which was moved forward by democrats and counter to the accepted gospel of the time. Anti Vietnam war and anti American empiricism countered the idea we were a nation lead by God to save mankind, and the honor code was established to re-inforce those values that made america great.
Church leaders such as hugh b brown and james e Faust (both lifelong democrats) became rare as ezra taft bensons believe that "No good Mormon can be a Democrat" took hold in the membership. How could they when democrats pushed forth ideas like racial and gender equality, birth control and abortion, secularism and same sex marriage? Such beliefs are counter to the gospel, and mock God-- do says the prophet, and we must sustain him.
So tldr version? Leadership became older, and change scares the elderly.
Inbetween ww1 and ww2 utahs political identity began to shift. Rather than detest Washington dc, members begin to embrace it, wave the flag and reveal in nationalism. leadership began to be mixed between the two parties.
Than came the civil rights movement and sexual revolution which was moved forward by democrats and counter to the accepted gospel of the time. Anti Vietnam war and anti American empiricism countered the idea we were a nation lead by God to save mankind, and the honor code was established to re-inforce those values that made america great.
Church leaders such as hugh b brown and james e Faust (both lifelong democrats) became rare as ezra taft bensons believe that "No good Mormon can be a Democrat" took hold in the membership. How could they when democrats pushed forth ideas like racial and gender equality, birth control and abortion, secularism and same sex marriage? Such beliefs are counter to the gospel, and mock God-- do says the prophet, and we must sustain him.
So tldr version? Leadership became older, and change scares the elderly.