Above: Just to be clear, this is NOT a Utah Republican caucus meeting. Though more people might come if it were.
- Gatherings in Zion: LDS leaders have some good advice - Salt Lake Tribune Editorial
Somebody out there is probably, at this very minute, holding last Thursday’s letter from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints up to the light, daubing it with lemon juice, trying to find a way to play it backwards at the wrong speed, all looking for some way to find some secret meaning.
Maybe there is one. Or maybe the leaders of Utah’s predominant faith just have some good, neighborly advice.
The democratic process in Utah, such as it is, starts next month with precinct caucuses, Democrats on March 13, Republicans and members of the Constitution Party March 15. The LDS Church is reminding its leaders all over the state of the importance of those meetings and asking them to avoid scheduling any church meetings that would pose a conflict. ...
... It is possible that church leaders, like many other people, of both parties and various religions, are concerned with the rightward slant of Utah politics, especially on issues such as guns and immigration. But the church’s letter does not use the word Republican, or the word Democrat. It does not carry the slightest partisan or ideological taint — unless one considers participatory democracy an ideology.
This system we have is flawed. But it is the system we have. It will work better if more, many more, regular Utahns participate in it.
Related:
- Should parties say farewell to caucuses? - Felicia Sonmez, The Washington Post
- Can I Get on the Mormon “Do Not Baptize” List? - Forrest Wickman, Slate
