I agree 100%. I believe he is a politician first, a businessman second, and a Mormon maybe a distant third. There is nothing to prove that he actually believes in Mormonism.
But then again, there is nothing to prove that any GA or apostle actually believes in the BS, right? :)
"There is nothing to prove that he actually believes in Mormonism."
As mormon royalty, ex missionary & Stake President, the man is _heavily_ invested in his church. I also read him as a motivated organizational climber & status seeker.
Being a GA would be very seductive to him (either as ex-pres, or never-pres); the effect on the LDS population of an ex US Pres becoming a Mormon GA would be a massive group orgasm. ================================
The depth of his belief in mormonism would be distinctly secondary, if not outright irrelevant to the above.
Terrific prestige coming from Mormons maybe. Mormons are irrelevant in the political setting, however, and it would be political suicide if he ever did take a position like that.
That's probably because his father threatened to resign, rather then have the church use his political status to promote racial discrimination. It's one of the reasons I am hopeful about a Romney win, even if it will make Mormons insufferable.
BTW, I don't remember the exact details. I think Steve Benson wrote something about the Dad's moral stand, but I only vaguely recall it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/22/2012 12:24AM by forbiddencokedrinker.
I think his dad was actually a man with a lot of principles that would not be compromised, but Willard doesn't hold anything sacred. He'll blow with the wind at all times and on all issues. Would have made a sublime puppet leader somewhere in the third world.
Then again, if the purpose of elected officials remains to do what their constituents tell them to do, have no fear. Whether it's genocide against the unwashed masses or universal healthcare, Willard will give ya what ya want...
IIRC, G. Romney was the SP while I was serving there; not sure, as I beleive 'stronger' that he was CEO of American Motors. that would be a tough Double-Duty.
They won't offer it to him. It's a consolation prize. And they spend too much money making the 15 more important in the eyes of the members than any government leader, celebrity or clergy.
If Mittler didn't believe in Mo-ism (at least up to a point), he would have resigned a long time ago. He knows that it is a major problem for getting elected. Or maybe he could not even be true to himself enough to do that. He is such a liar, I think he even lies to himself continually.
He is in the same position as Richard Dutcher. He is shackled to the MORmON church. He needs MORmONISM as a stepping stone, for that first step, then the stepping stone becomes a stumbling block. MORmONISM is ALREADY DEAD! Romney will just hasten the final stages of absolute obsolescence for MORmONISM.
If he does, the credibility of GA's just took one more nosedive downward. Proves they don't care if a GA is a huge liar - so long as he has money and power!
He's like Huntsman, Sr. He's much more use to the church being in the corporate world making millions and giving them 10%. They can find many other corporate types who only make a measly million a year to tap for G.A.
If Mitt gets elected, he will serve his 4 or 8 years in office and the church will lay low for those years.
Then, as soon as he is out of the presidency, the church will call him to be head of the church's humanitarian missionary program. He and Ann will be photographed all over the world wherever there is human suffering and the whole world will know how wonderful and generous the mormon church is. It will be one great big photo op. And ex-presidents are pretty well liked for the most part. Even those that didn't like them in office seem to see them as a patriotic symbol of our country.
I will bet money that something very similiar to this will play out.
IMHO there is no chance Romney will be a GA. Even Mormons would not believe this guy if he got up in GC and bore his testimony and bored his audience. He comes across as even less authentic than the average GA, and that is a low bar to clear. The GAs know this, and wouldn't want him watering down their already low credibility.
Appointment as some sort of goodwill ambassador/lobbyist for LDS Inc is possible.
If Mitt loses then I could see him getting some calling to be an ambassador-at-large around 2014 for the church like David Kennedy was, but no sooner. And such a calling could be used to put him in as an Area Authority Seventy like Huntsman Sr. or Marriott Jr. were where he could be correlated into the LDS inc. program. If he wins then he'll never be a GA or Area Authority Seventy once he's done in 2017 or 2021 but he'd certainly be welcomed/embraced at General Conference.
The church will try to "lay low". The problem with that approach is that the media generally tries to sensationalize things in the lives of our Presidents. And we all know that Mitt's religion will be a problem for him IF he is elected President. It might not catch on in the "mainstream" religion. But his undies and other silly things won't go unnoticed altogether.