Filmmaker seeks to shed light on Mormonism

[survivor999]

By Scott Helman and Michael Paulson, Globe Staff | July 20, 2006

A prominent Mormon filmmaker has launched a nationwide political organization to demystify the religion he shares with Governor Mitt Romney, in an effort to pave the way for a Romney presidential run.

Mitch Davis, who wrote and directed the 2001 movie ``The Other Side of Heaven," about a Mormon missionary to the South Pacific, unveiled a multipronged campaign this week to help explain the faith to American voters who hold deep suspicions about Mormons and probably wouldn't vote for one for president.

The campaign, which could include billboards, television ads, and cameos by famous Mormons, is designed to educate people about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and aid Romney on an issue Davis believes is unfairly dogging him in his probable 2008 presidential campaign.

``If Mitt can be allowed to have a human face without all the folderol that might be slung at that face gratuitously, he will speak for himself, and he will be our next president," said Davis, whose efforts were first reported yesterday in Utah newspapers.

Davis established a political organization, called RunMittRun.org, under section 527 of the IRS code in May, which means it must remain independent from Romney's political operation. The website was launched this week as Romney increasingly faces questions about his religion, particularly in key primary states such as South Carolina, which is home to many Southern Baptists, many of whom view Mormonism as a cult.

Suspicion about the religion abounds among American voters, polls show. In a nationwide Bloomberg-Los Angeles Times poll last month, 35 percent of registered voters said they would not vote for a Mormon for president.

More: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/07/20/filmmaker_seeks_to_shed_light_on_mormonism?mode=PF

[bryant69]

1. This should be interesting.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Sammy Pepys]

2. There's really nothing all THAT mystical about Mormonism

Most of the things you hear are pretty well exagerrated, or apply mostly to fringe sects that count maybe 20 or 30 members total.

[helderheid]

6. You're absolutely right. I'm not LDS but I live among them.

[LostinVA]

7. Actually, nothing is exaggerated that I've ever heard

Except for some people thinking many Mormons have plural wives, instead of the FLDS (and teh culture). I have several Mormon and ex-Mormon friends an acquaintances, and they back up everything I ask them about (the garments, etc.)

[noonwitch]

24. Did you read "Leaving The Saints" by Martha Beck?

Her dad was Hugh Nibley, the Mormon apologist.

I don't know if I believe her whole "recovered memory" thing, but she has some interesting things to say about her life as a Mormon, both good and bad. They have a strong sense of community, as do Jehovah's Witnesses, but they also will shun you if you reject the faith.

The garments thing seems weird, but is it any different than some things taught and practiced by some catholics? The garments allegedly protect them from evil, like wearing a saint's medal.

[warrens]

28. The saving dead Jews things

Strikes me as incredibly weird. And arrogant.

[Rosemary2205]

30. Mormons think they are jews.

Their doctrine says those born of Mormon parents and those who convert to the LDS church are actually blood members of lost tribes of Israel. And they don't just do Temple work for dead jews. They do Temple work for dead anyone who's name and birthday or deathday they get thier hands on.

Mormons actually refer to non Mormons as "gentiles".

[Sammy Pepys]

29. Ex-Mormon myself

I never heard a thing about garments.
I think we've had this conversation before.

[Rosemary2205]

31. They are still worn once one recieves temple endowments.

The Garment of Holy Priesthood (Garment, Regulation Garment, Temple Garment) is distinguished as the only article of Temple clothing members are expected to wear outside the Temple confines. It represents the garment given to Adam when he was found naked in the garden of Eden. It is an undergarment with religious significance and has four symbols known as the "Marks of the Holy Priesthood" sewn into it. Over the left breast is "the mark of the compass"; over the right breast is "the mark of the square"; over the navel is a mark, and another appears over the right knee (the latter two are one-inch horizontal lines). These marks remind the wearer of the covenants assumed in the temple ritual. There are currently a variety of Church-approved Garment styles available for wear (manufactured by the LDS-owned Beehive Clothing Mills). Garments are currently available in one-piece (ankle-length, long sleeve; ankle-length, short sleeve; button front; knee-length, short sleeve) and two-piece styles, some of which are available in square back, V-back, crew neck, maternity and nursing varieties. They may be made of cotton, polyester, nylon, nylon-mesh, rayon and/or rayon-nylon (Bemberg) fabrics. Early Garments were reportedly made of unbleached muslin and/or cotton.

http://lds-mormon.com/veilworker/endowment1.shtml

[Warpy]

3. Good luck to him and the Red Sox

because the Mormons have very deservedly gotten a lot of bad press over the years for their secrecy and cult like behavior.

I do admire them for one thing: no hell. However, they tend to be clannish in the extreme, to the extent of refusing to patronize "gentile" businesses if there's a Mormon in the area, giving the cold shoulder to "gentile" neighbors, and so forth and so on.

I doubt his little film will sanitize them enough to allow Romney to become president. That's a good thing.

[sgxnk]

5. i admire them

i admire them for their very strong/cohesive social structures. i know several devout (and some not-so devout jack-mormons) and they DO tend to be very insular, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

politically though, they tend to vote overwhelmingly republican

on a stats basis, they have low suicide rates, crime rates, and low social pathologies in general

interestingly, even though they tend to have relatively high levels of obesity, they have lower levels of heart disease than would be suggested by their eating habits

i have seen it suggested in medical literature that the former is trumped by other factors that make them physically healthy despite a tendency towards obesity

they are clannish, but that is not surprising for a beleagured minority group that has faced a lot of prejudice and discrimination in the past.

[helderheid]

9. welcome to DU!

:hi:

[sgxnk]

11. thank you

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. I don't think tribalism is very good for mankind as a whole

Especially religious-based tribalism.

[helderheid]

8. Many a good Democrat in Utah are Mormon. So is Harry Reid.

[sgxnk]

14. i think

that mormons are "reliably republican" in probably near the same #'s that jews are "reliably democrat"

meaning the majority votes that way, but there are PLENTY of exceptions

vs. say catholics, who are more closely 50/50 split between the two parties

[helderheid]

17. Oh they most definitely mostly vote R here - the Church intervenes

regularly in our State politics and the Church is a big business - how does Big business vote? R. However, I think it's about 50/50 LDS/non-LDS that form our State Democratic Party leadership.

[Warpy]

26. Harry Reid is antichoice

which brings up another problem with Mormons: they're hard on women, as much or more so than Baptists.

[patcox2]

19. Won't hire anyone but Mormons, either.

And will "take over" a business with their brand of mormon nepotism, if allowed to.

[sgxnk]

22. FUBU?

FUBU- Mormon Style?

[Rosemary2205]

4. 15 years ago they were all excited over Hatch's Pres possibilities.

they made a bunch of movies then too, trying to convince Americans they aren't really a secret society of polygamists.

I will say this about LDS followers. They are persistent. Once they get your name, addy and/or phone they won't stop pestering you until you either answer the door with a gun or sic the law on them. - and even then you can expect some dear LDS soul will put your name in at the Temple for prayers.

I believe if they decide they want one of their own for President it will happen. They will make it happen. They are nothing if not persistent.

[helderheid]

10. I have to agree there! My step father was Mormon and he got himself

excommunicated (hard thing to do) and they informed him that he could still tithe to the church, but it would have to be via a goodstanding member! :rofl:

[sgxnk]

12. speaking of...

speaking of polygamy

i don't find anything "wrong" with polygamy. i see it as just as valid as gay marriage fwiw

i realize that it is illegal, but i am talking about how things should be, not how they are

polygamy does get kind of complex when it comes to some finance issues etc. when a marriage is dissolved, but i have no real problem with it

it is no longer part of mormon doctrine and from what i understand was largely a response to some historical issues that are no longer relevant

[niccolos_smile]

13. Didn't South Park already do that?

Joseph Smith - dum dum dum dum dum.

:rofl:

[sgxnk]

15. you beat me to it

i was gonna mention that episode

a classic

the scientology one was classic too

and the hybrid/george clooney episode

and the...

pretty much every episode is hilarious

[niccolos_smile]

20. Smelling farts...

That was hilarious. I nearly pissed myself when that guy farted into the wine glass and sniffed it.

:spray:

I was in tears I was laughing so hard.

[sgxnk]

21. i have heard

that after much hand-wringing, comedy central is now agreeing to re-air the scientology episode

[niccolos_smile]

23. Yeah, they re-aired it last night...

Kinda late though. I posted an article about it in the media forum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x26707

[durrrty libby]

16. He can make all the films he wants but Mitt, as charming as he is,

will never be pres.

It is true that many Americans think LDS is as weird

as Scientology.

The other thing is, Mitt's wife has MS,
and I recall him saying her condition would be a key
factor in his decision to run or not.

[survivor999]

25. Exactly right.

It's like Scientology in the sense that it was created by the rambling of a man not too long ago. The difference with more ancient religions is that it is not clear who came up with the ramblings 2000 years ago or so and so it is easier to believe they were from a supernatural entity.

[greguganus]

27. I wonder if the film maker will include this in his film:

http://www.lds-mormon.com/racism.shtml

[DELUSIONAL]

33. ah yes -- Indians were told they would become "white" after

they converted and were baptized.

Indians were also told that there were the lost tribe of Israel. DNA does not support this Mormon theory (or Joseph Smith's con job).

[DELUSIONAL]

32. I'm half Mormon -- ALL of my father's side are

Mormon pioneers -- they started out with Joseph Smith in CT., went with him to Illinois where Smith was killed (assassinated) and then on to Utah.

My grandfather left Utah and had few good words for Mormons --

It wasn't until I started checking into my genealogy that I discovered that my Grandmother was also from Mormon heritage. Mormons have done a tremendous favor to anyone who studies genealogy and I thank them for their efforts (although their motives are religious -- it helps with health related genealogy detective work).

The ERA was killed in large measure due to efforts of the Mormons -- they are NOT friends of women.

Although ironically the "sister-wives" had the right to vote before Utah became a state -- and they lost their right to vote. Way back in the suffragette era the sister wives marched for women's rights.

It is a male centered, male dominate religion -- women only get to heaven with the aid of males.

Joseph Smith the Mormons founding prophet was a con man -- there are several websites which expose his con man ways.

Several books have been written exposing the Mormon life-style and religion by ex-Mormons.

It is a cult -- just like so many of the American brand of religious. It is a death cult -- the good stuff comes AFTER death.

Oh -- John F. Kennedy was baptized by the Mormons -- so his spirit (or whatever) could make it's way out of Limbo (or whatever). I've met the ex-Mormon who was baptized as a stand in for JFK.

[elehhhhna]

36. Yep. They baptize AND MARRY dead non-mormons to other Mormons

(also dead) so they can be a family in heaven. Grandma was Catholic? No problem! You can arrange her after death marriage (it's cheap! No flowers! No fussy outfits!" to dead Mormon senior citizen and VOILA! If he's in heaven, so will she be. It's easy!

Let's put a "Postdeath Marriage (a threat to traditional, live-people-man-woman-type marriage!)" Referendum on the ballots in '06. It's a winner, by cracky!

[survivor999]

37. That's correct

"Joseph Smith the Mormons founding prophet was a con man -- there are several websites which expose his con man ways. "

It's puzzling that anybody with a brain could fall for this...

[WI_DEM]

34. Romney being Mormon didn't affect his getting elected governor

of a heavily Catholic state.

[bluethruandthru]

35. I grew up in Utah...

It's very tough on a non-mormon in Utah. I have been against school prayer since elementary school - where LOTS of praying was going on in public school - and I was teased because I didn't pray the way the mormon kids did!!! (they fold their arms, I only fold my hands).
Back in the late 70's/early 80's...I was turned down for lots of jobs because I wasn't mormon. They would ask in an interview "What Ward do you belong to?". (Ward is similar to a parish) When I said I wasn't mormon...they ended the interview. Same thing with trying to rent apartments...
Ask a non-mormon businessman what it's like trying to open a business that may compete with the business of good mormon person. Church members are told to patronize particular businesses...vote for certain candidates, etc.
Women traditionally vote for who their husband tells them to vote for.
Maybe it's different now. I haven't lived there for nearly 20 years...but I doubt it.

[survivor999]

38. Seems like there should

be a string of lawsuits in Utah.

[ToeBot]

39. The ACLU of Utah, one of the only things standing between me and...

the tyranny of the Mormon church. They are truly hated here.

[helderheid]

40. check this out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1687242