Since religion affects ALL my thinking (I even had a dream last night about casting Sylar from Heroes down to hell by throwing him in a baptismal font and ... oh never mind), it always affects my politics. I judge politicians according to their personal integrity according to my religious beliefs, and I judge political issues according to their conformance with my religious beliefs. HOWEVER, I don't bring it up in RS. I don't feel it's necessary. Teach correct principles and let them govern themselves. When I need examples or object lessons I have plenty of other things to draw upon.

The thing that worries me is politics trying to meddle with religion. What if proselytizing is banned, like it just was in Russia? What if religions become required by law to allow gay marriages or lose their tax exempt status or, even worse, their ability to perform legal marriages? I can totally see those happening in my lifetime and that scares me. What can I do? Make sure my religion affects my politics -- so i can FIGHT things like that.

No comment.

I might mix them here, but I would NEVER mix them at Church.

Here, I can say "How can a person be a Latter-day Saint and an abortion supporting, gay marriage loving Democrat?"

Does not compute...

OK if you think the above needs moderation...

moderate away.

It is not possible for me to keep my religion out of my politics. It is part of our "Mormon" theology that the Constitution of the United States was divinely inspired; that our Republic came into existence through wise men raised up for that very purpose. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, there has been an alarming increase in the abandoning of the ideals that constitute the foundation of the Constitution of the United States. And since the Lord has told us that He justifies us, the brethren of His church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land, I have endeavoured to learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers so I can recognize when an act of government is constitutionally unsound and initiate action to oppose it, and to seek for and support candidates for elected political office who espouse constitutional principles.

 

You shouldn't. The church curriculum pretty much sticks to political neutrality and encouraging good citizenship. It isn't the church's place to "teach the Constitution." It can and should encourage people to be involved, and to be educated. But once you start trying to teach one interpretation or another of the Constitution (and yes, people can interpret it differently), then you are inviting dissension and contention.

Boy Scouts isn't church curriculum. It's a separate, secular organization that the church supports and uses.

Rayb asked me earlier  "Do you feel a calling Lundie to teach the Constitution in Sunday School Class?"  First, I don't feel qualified to teach the Constitution beyond the high school level.  So teaching it in Sunday School or even in a fireside is out, even if I were invited to.  And I'll not attempt it here.  However, I have done such things as promote the September Constitution Celebration Week events in Mesa, AZ by making local church leaders aware of it, pointing out to them those activities in which Scouts are especially invited to participate, and giving them posters advising of the events (and making sure they get posted).

 

In any meeting or situation in Church or among members, I take every opportunity to call attention to the facts that the Lord Himself has stated unequivocally that He is the Constitutions author, that almost every prophet in this dispensation has emphasized the vital importance of defending, upholding and adhering to the Constitution, and that several prophets have warned that we have apostatized in various ways from the Constitution.  A few of the many statements by prophets from which I conclude this follow.

  
"[Members of the Church] are under divine commandment to revere the Constitution as a heaven-inspired instrument." (Wilford Woodruff, December 12, 1889, Messages of the First Presidency, 3:185)

"The Lord God Almighty inspired the minds that framed [the Constitution], and I believe it ought to be most sacredly preserved. It is worthy of the defense and should be upheld by all the people of our land." (Joseph F. Smith, April 1918, General Conference)

"I feel bound to conform my life to the teachings of the Ten Commandments. I feel equally bound to sustain the Constitution of the United States which came from the same source as the Ten Commandments." (George Albert Smith, April 1949, General Conference)

"Next to being one in worshiping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States." (David O. McKay, October 1939, General Conference)

"I repeat that no greater immediate responsibility rests upon members of the Church, upon all citizens of this republic and of neighboring republics than to protect the freedom vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States." (David O. McKay, April 1950, General Conference)

"The Constitution under which we live, and which has not only blessed us but has become a model for other constitutions, is our God-inspired national safeguard ensuring freedom and liberty, justice and equality before the law." (Gordon B. Hinkley, October 2001, General Conference)

It seems many LDSs now consider the Constitution of no great significance to our religion, and this is understandable.  20, 30, 40 years ago Church leaders were very outspoken about the importance of our "befriending" the Constitution.  But I have seen no significant reference to the importance of the US Constitution in our lesson manuals for years.  And only subtle discussion of it by General Authorities.  I have concluded that this is intentional, but I do not consider the Constitution no longer important.  The Church is fighting on several battlefields at this time, and to become involved on this battlefield could seriously hinder efforts on the others. 

rayb wrote:

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Honestly I question the motives of anyone who injects their politics into religious discussions at church--it comes off (to me) as self-centered, both in the assumption that a political opinion is on par and as timeless as scripture, and because it attempts to persuade or motivate political action.



--Ray

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I attended an Elder's quorum in a single adult ward back in 1996 while I was living away from home working for my brother.  A member of the bishopric was there, and the lesson was about agency, I think.  Anyway, this bishopric member asks the class if we knew what socialism was.  He quoted ETB at great length.  Later he whined how Steve Forbes couldn't get a fair shake during the primaries because of the Washington D.C. establishment. He brought up politics again the next week, and some young RM actually stood up to him, basicly countering the insinuation that the GOP was the LDS party.  It got a bit heated, and I never went back to EQ meetings while I lived there.

The funny thing is, I was (and still am) a conservative who tends to vote GOP candidates into office.  At the time I was a HUGE Steve Forbes supporter.  I would have loved to talk politics with this Bishopric member out on the church grounds, or at a potluck dinner.  The problem was this guy only wanted to talk about why I never came to their singles activities, althought time and time again I informed him I worked until 8 PM which hindered me.  Never mind I attended Sacrament meeting every week, but I digress.

The point is I went to Elders quorum to learn about my priesthood duties, and the Savior and his gospel, to be edified.  As much as I love talking politics, it seems profane to me to do so during our Sabbath day meetings. The Sabbath is a day of rest, and part of the rest is not having to worry or grapple with the fact that a socialist named Bill Clinton was President of the United States!