FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Question: Does consecration of everything that one has to the Church include political offices?
Question: Does consecration of everything that one has to the Church include political offices?
Mormons who hold political office are responsible to those who elected them, just like any other politician
It is claimed that covenants that they make to consecrate all they they have to the Church implies that those who have been elected to political office must be subservient to the dictates of Church leaders rather than their constituents. One critic proposes posing the following question to Mormon political candidates as a religious test for fitness to hold office,
In the temple ceremony Mormons also take a secret oath to "consecrate your time, talents and everything which the Lord has blessed you, or with which he may bless you, to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints..." Did you take that oath? Would you consider the office of the presidency of the U.S. to be a "blessing" with which the Lord had blessed you? [1]
Mormons who hold political office are responsible to those who elected them, just like any other politician. They do not take orders from the Church on political decisions. In fact, the Church deliberately distances itself from the political process.
Notes
- ↑ Richard Packham, "Questions for Mitt Romney," 2008.