This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Re "Utah couple's Mormon mission: Ease Syrian suffering" (Tribune, Oct. 26):
The front-page feature about a Latter-day Saint missionary couple in Jordan contained a great reason to vote for Gov. Mitt Romney. One story showed how he would be good for U.S. foreign policy:
"Though they are Mormon missionaries, the Andersons do not proselytize. Their aim is to foster good will and create relationships with people, communities and countries. Similarities between Mormonism and Islam have helped them bond with many in the Middle East.
"Once, at a conference dinner, after turning down a drink — devout Latter-day Saints, like Muslims, do not drink alcohol — a host turned to them and exclaimed, 'You! You are like a Muslim!'
"When they discover the Andersons are Mormons, many Jordanians immediately turn to talk of U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who is LDS."
The future of the United States and the Western world depends less on eliminating the few extremists and much more on relating positively to the vast number of peaceful Muslims who want peace and security. If LDS values and Muslim values are a cultural bridge, maybe the values Romney holds are exactly what we need.
Fewer guns and more relating.
L. Cameron Mosher
Salt Lake City