Not much talk has revolved around the faith of Republican nominee for President, Mitt Romney. Mormonism, or the Church of Latter Day Saints, is growing worldwide thanks in part to huge families and the grueling phenomenon known as the mission. At age 19 men, and women at 21, go on a mission abroad to sell their faith to people around the world for two years. When they come back, they have not only a broader world view, but they are laser focused.
"Is that a kite?"
Most of the youths of the United States at age 19 are busy learning to build beer bongs. They are either taking courses at a university or college, or are starting their careers and bringing home their first paychecks. Either way, there is an assumed wildness that the throws of adolescence, which have yet to be shed, excuse. Not so for Mormons.
A young Mitt Romney, son of a one-time Presidential hopeful and governor of Michigan, was sent to France to develop the religion there. Actually, Mitt Romney speaks fluent French, a fact that he has rightfully said nothing about during the campaign, due to Republican notions of France and the French (especially after the election of a Socialist President). But what is more important is the mission itself: try to convince people to join a faith that bars drinking alcohol and caffeine, and doesn’t allow smoking either. How Romney was able to make anyone convert shows that the man can be persuasive.
The rigors of the mission may explain why so many Mormons are successful in business and government. Orrin Hatch, Harry Reid, Jon Huntsman, Jr, are all examples of Mormons who have risen to the top, with Romney being the latest to try for it all. Deeply conservative but with consistent values, Mormons normally vote Republican. However, a liberalized worldview made possible by the missions and time away from America also means that some break out of conservatism and side more with the left.
With all of the funny talking points aside about their beliefs and traditions (saying other religions’ beliefs and traditions out loud can sound pretty crazy too) there is no reason that Romney’s religion should enter into the conversation during the election, and Obama does not seem like the one to bring it up. Some of the nation’s electorate who are deeply Christian and view the Church of Latter Day Saints as heretical might not accept Romney’s bid on religious grounds, but it is doubtful that these same people will ever vote for Obama. America has entered into a period of religious tolerance without even knowing it.
