What do I bring to a discussion of Mitt Romney and his particular religious faith? 

I’m a Western American history buff, with a special interest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints (LDS), known popularly as the Mormon Church. My brother and sister-in-law are graduates of Brigham Young University and former members of the Church.  On the general subject of the LDS Church, I may know more about it than I need to.

(If you'd like to know more about it yourself, I'd strongly suggest Mormon America: The Power and the Promise by Richard Ostling and Joan K. Ostling, both long-time writers with Time.

About Mitt Romney the human being.  I accept the view of Townhall’s Dean Barnett that Romney is a good moral man, devoted to hard work and family.  He has a long record of achievement.  He’s generally conservative in his views.  The evidence shows he's a patriotic American and would make a good President.

At the same time, he has what (Lucy’s) “Ricky Ricardo” once described as “a heap of ‘splaining to do.”  That’s especially true when it comes to his Mormon religion.  In spite of the words “Jesus Christ” in its  title, the LDS religion is dramatically different from Christ-centered religious denominations. 

Kenneth Woodward, the superb religion editor of Newsweek and a dedicated Christian, touched on this subject in yesterday’s (April 10, 2007) New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/09/opinion/09woodward.html?_r=4&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin  Woodward focused on statements Romney made to a group of (mainly Christian) Republicans in South Carolina. 

He noted Romney's comment that he accepted "Jesus Christ as [his] personal Savior."  Woodward believes (as I do) that the statement was deceptive, because Mormons don’t look at Jesus in the same way as Southern evangelicals. 

Yes, Mormons do see Jesus as the (literal and biological) “Son of God.”  Significantly, they also see Mitt Romney – and all the males in the world, including me, for that matter – as son(s) of God.   Not to be blasphemous, being a “son” of God – or a “daughter” of God – isn’t all that novel a designation in Mormonism.  Jesus' role is something of a mystery in Mormonism. 

Jews and Christians famously believe in ONE God.  Mormons believe there are three of them – God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  Oh, and they believe the three separate beings, including the Holy Spirit, were once “men [and not women] . . . of flesh and bone.”  They became gods through a somewhat murky process of “eternal progression.” 

Also, Mormons speak of salvation, but the term has an unusual meaning for them.  Specifically, it refers not to being "saved," but rather being admitted to heaven.  Woodward doesn’t go into the theological specifics, but Mormons believe there are three classes of heaven:  terrestrial, telestial, and celestial.  (I believe with many others that the three heavens come about through a misreading of remarks by the Apostle Paul.)

A Mormon couple’s admission to heaven allows them to progress throughout eternity, where a “worthy couple” (a term that refers only to Mormons) can eventually get to the highest level of heaven (the “Celestial Kingdom”).  A worthy couple is one that’s married in a Mormon Temple, either directly or indirectly by proxy (“marriage for the dead”). No Justice-of-the-Peace-Las-Vegas-Quickie marriages in this religion. 

Kenneth Woodward indicates that, eventually, “they” (the couple) can become “gods” themselves.  That’s not exactly true.  The male half of the couple can become a “god,” but the female will always be her husband-god’s better, albeit lesser, half. 

Mormons believe deeply in the family – and in fact affirm that the family is an eternal unit.  If you’re a good, Temple-marrying, tithe-paying, doctrine-adhering LDS, you will be with your family forever.  For some of us, perhaps, spending eternity with mom, dad, grandpa and grandma, great grandma and great grandpa, and all the associated siblings and spouses, doesn’t exactly sound like heaven.

All these things may just seem like so much mumbo-jumbo to most people, from laid-back agnostics and Jews to Unitarians and some Christians.  However, to many Christians – evangelical Protestants, Roman Catholics, and members of Orthodox Churches – they will sound like the rankest forms of heresy.

The Mormons have other problems, with academics, women, and African-Americans.  Brigham Young University (BYU) has been under censure by the American Association of University Professor for many years.  The university is not a big fan of academic freedom and academic rebels.

The same is true of outspoken women.  In the history of the U.S., one Mormon woman won a Pulitzer Prize (for a book on early American society).  When a BYU group wanted to invited her to speak at the university, the powers-that-be axed the invitation, feeling apparently that she wasn’t quite “worthy” enough.

The woman problem is a very big one for contemporary Americans.  The LDS Church is intensely patriarchal.  Almost with a vengeance, it affirms that a woman’s place is in the home. 

In this regard, I asked Romney-supporter Dean Barnett about Mitt’s wife, Ann.  I told him I feared she would be the kind of Stepford-wife revered in traditional LDS homes.  I told him I wondered if in fact she would differ with her husband on any conceivable issue ranging from what’s the best strategy in Iraq to what’s the best choice for dinner.

Dean assured me she was much more independent and substantial than that.  I accept his characterization of her, but I hope she demonstrates her own personality to the rest of the country.

(A good book that highlights both academics and professional women in the church is The Lord’s University, by former BYU students Bryan Waterman and Brian Kagel.  A fascinating general book that shows the workings of Mormon society in Utah is The Mormon Murders by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith.) 

As for African-Americans, prior to 1979, the Mormon Church asserted that God didn’t want them as members of the LDS priesthood.  At the time it was available to all “worthy” males, which basically meant all white males.  Then, the Mormon prophet of the time had a revelation that God indeed would henceforth deem African-Americans worthy.

Most Americans – say about 97% -- don’t believe any of these things.  Most Mormons do believe them.  Does Mitt Romney believe most or all of them?  If he truly does, that’s his right.  However, it will spell major trouble for his candidacy.

Surely, he’ll be asked such questions.  He should answer them candidly, not trying to fudge his own beliefs to make them more palatable to the nation.  If he says his beliefs will have no influence on how he governs, few people will believe him.

Final word:  If Mitt Romney is the Republican candidate for president, I will vote for him and urge others to do the same.