This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Welcome to Behind the Lines, a weekly conversation with Salt Lake Tribune cartoonist Pat Bagley and BYU economist Val Lambson. This week's guest commenter is Joanna Brooks, frequent National Public Radio contributor, senior correspondent at the on-line magazine Religion Dispatches, proprietress of the popular "Ask Mormon Girl" blog and author of the critically acclaimed "Book of Mormon Girl." http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Mormon-Girl-American/dp/0615593445

Bagley: Hi, Joanna. Thanks for agreeing to chat with me about Mormons and the Romney presidential candidacy. The media can't get enough of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints these day, some of it good and some bad. As an LDS general authority myself (an authority on generally everything Mormon), I think I can back up the cartoon's assertion that active Mormons see God's hand in Romney's political success.

Joanna: Shhh, Patrick! You're not supposed to tell people we're all pulling for Romney! We might look, like, weird or something!

Bagley: What do you mean "we,"Kimosabe? (This is from a joke popular in my day, which went something like this: The Lone Ranger and Tonto find themselves surrounded by hostile natives. The Lone Ranger turns to Tonto and says, "It looks like we're surrounded," to which, Tonto replies ... [see above]).

Joanna: I know the joke. But seriously, I'm aware that Mormon Republicans are pretty excited about the Romney campaign. What I wonder is if they truly believe a Romney presidency would save the world. We're a full year into this "Mormon Moment," and my sense is that most people out there have only the foggiest sense of the faith.

Bagley: Back at you: Do Mormons believe a Romney presidency is the fulfillment of prophecy? I think so. Otherwise, why all the suppressed LDS ward house excitement? Being a full year into the "Mormon Moment," has America learned anything worthwhile about the faith? Nope.

Joanna: What I gather out here among the truly chosen — California Mormons — is that the excitement is a little less White Horse Prophecy and a bit more Osmond-style ethnic fandom. That, plus a Fox News-infused dislike for a certain White House Oval Office occupant. People are certainly less worked up for Romney than they were for Proposition 8. In any event, what if you and I seize yet another micro-moment of the mega "Mormon Moment" to let America in on what is worth knowing about Mormonism?

Bagley: The truly-truly chosen — Utah Mormons — are wary of California Mormons: Who knows where they've been? However, I'm sure Mormons of all faiths can set aside their differences and put their collective shoulders to the wheel to get their guy elected while singing hymn number 252. (http://broadcast.lds.org/churchmusic/MP3/eng/Hymns_Words/HW___252__PutYourShoulderToTheWheel_31243_eng_261.mp3) ... You know, if you listen to the words there is something vaguely disturbing about that hymn. "The world has need of willing men, who wear the worker's seal... ." Something, you know ... socialistic. I just can't wrap my head around Romney proudly wearing "a worker's seal." Perhaps we can take up the communalistic roots of Mormonism another time.

Joanna: Now, that's a story I'd love to let the world in on: our secret communalistic past. And other progressive elements of our faith tradition, including its gender-egalitarian concept of God, its emphasis on the ability of individuals to find truth independently through study and prayer, and the beautiful concept of working together to build Zion. Put your shoulder to the wheel with me, Brother Bagley?

Bagley: You betcha, Sister Brooks.

Last week's Top Comment is from Builder John: "Even the "best" of wars have unimaginably horrible consequences."