(photo - mittromneycentral.com)As the results of a new FOX NEWS poll are released and the outcome reveals Romney edges out Obama in the general, how far would Barack Obama go to win? Or rather, how big of a race card would he be willing to play?
As most people are now aware, Mitt Romney is a Mormon. We believe that since there is no religious test to hold the office of President of the United States, all persons, no matter what their religious affiliation is, should vote on the grounds of conservatism versus liberalism. Honestly, that is the battle ground here. It all boils down to those two ideologies.
But the issue of the President's faux "christianity" has surfaced in this election year and, in the minds of some, could be considered fair game going forward. Should the Romney machine be worried? Well, in a word, yes.
People look to founders of groups, governments, and even religions to determine the historical intent and purpose behind it. You can look to the founders of the Boy Scouts, for example, and discuss how closely or how far from the original intent they are today.
We can, and do, look to the writing of the "founders" who drafted the US Constitution to consider their intent and thereby make judgments accordingly. The very same can be said for Mitt Romney's religion: Mormonism.
Mitt Romney is a Mormon. The name comes from their constitution - The Book of Mormon. And who wrote the Book of Mormon? - Joseph Smith. If one is to understand the foundation of Mitt Romney's world view one is forced to examine its constitution and the writings of its founder.
A debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney would be a lulz-fest for sure. Biblically neither one can lay claim to being a Christian, yet both of them would likely do it anyway. It would probably be a battle over which one was the least opposed to the teachings of scripture.
With Obama trailing in some polls (a dynamic easily reversed should a popular war break out) he may be forced to play hard-ball with Romney and suggest, God forbid, that Romney is a member of a faith structure which was founded by a racist.
Early Mormonism had a range of policies and doctrines relating to race in regard to black people of African descent. References to black people, their social condition during the 19th century, and their spiritual place in Western Christianity as well as Mormon scriptures were complicated, with varying degrees and forms of discrimination against black people.
Smith believed that the curse of Canaan was blackness of skin (Gen 9:25-27).
"Trace the history of the world from this notable event down to this day, and you will find the fulfillment of this singular prophecy. What could have been the design of the Almighty in this wonderful occurrence is not for me to say; but I can say that the curse is not yet taken off the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great power as caused it to come; and the people who interfere the least with the decrees and purposes of God in this matter, will come under the least condemnation before him; and those who are determined to pursue a course which shows an opposition and a feverish restlessness against the designs of the Lord, will learn, when perhaps it is too late for their own good, that God can do his own work without the aid of those who are not dictate by his counsel." (Joseph Smith Jr., Messenger and Advocate Vol. II, No. 7, April 1836, p. 290; History of the Church, Vol. 2, Ch. 30, pp. 436–40.)
Joseph Smith's views of the true nature of the African American, according to the modern view, may be seen in the following exchange:
Elder Hyde inquired about the situation of the negro. I replied, they came into the world slaves mentally and physically. Change their situation with the whites, and they would be like them. They have souls, and are subjects of salvation. Go into Cincinnati or any city, and find an educated negro, who rides in his carriage, and you will see a man who has risen by the powers of his own mind to his exalted state of respectability. The slaves in Washington are more refined than many in high places, and the black boys will take the shine of many of those they brush and wait on.Elder Hyde remarked, "Put them on the level, and they will rise above me." I replied, if I raised you to be my equal, and then attempted to oppress you, would you not be indignant and try to rise above me, as did Oliver Cowdery, Peter Whitmer, and many others, who said I was a fallen Prophet, and they were capable of leading the people, although I never attempted to oppress them, but had always been lifting them up? Had I anything to do with the negro, I would confine them by strict law to their own species, and put them on a national equalization." (History of the Church, Volume 5, p. 216)
Too bad Smith never received a "revelation" on the story or Moses' wife - the Ethiopian - a black woman. Numbers chapter 12 tell the story of Moses' brother and sister, Miriam and Aaron, who were also racists, and in whom God was not pleased.
Numbers 12:1 ¶And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)4 ¶And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.10 ¶And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
But alas this is the least of the problems with Mormon doctrine. It's no small wonder, really, that they struggled with such things as skin color when they couldn't (and still can't) properly identify who Jesus is. Mormonism even today teaches that Jesus is the spirit-brother of Lucifer, that everything, including spirit-beings like God himself, are physical and everything there is, including God, exists in nature. They teach that God was once a man like us and that we, one day, can be a god and have our own planet.
But what can we say about this as it relates to the 2012 election? If he gets desperate enough could he play this race card? Well, not directly perhaps, but with Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan out there he may not have to. Should Mitt Romney be worried about this? Of course. You see, after Joseph Smith came Brigham Young, a staunch racist who took Smith's reservations about black people to a whole new level and banned all black men from the Mormon "priesthood". Mormonism, Mitt Romney's faith world view, has a long history of racism. And if the gloves come off on matters of a religious nature, well, it could get ugly, brother.
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