Our Message
Many Democrats wonder why they should even care about the Mormon population in the United States. It isn't a large segment and most of it is in red states. True. However, there are a few reasons worth the effort. First, the West is changing. An area known for the "Sagebrush Rebellion" and a swing to conservatism is now having what could be termed a "Yucca Mountain Rebellion". Nevada and New Mexico have become battleground states. Colorado is nearly there. Montana has a Democratic governor and senators. Wyoming and Arizona have Democratic governors. Change has been slow, but it is coming. The LDS population is the slowest in the West to change. However, there are more Democrats in the Salt Lake Valley than in most other parts of Utah. The Democratic Party in Utah is slowly gaining strength. Congressman Jim Matheson now represents a district that is becoming seen increasingly as a safe Democratic district.
This leads to the second reason. As the population of Utah continues to grow, those who are Mormon will eventually fall under half. If the Democratic Party allows itself to be painted as the anti-Mormon party it could cause bitter community damage for years. While the party might seize control in some areas, they would be locked out and persecuted in others. Proving political parties and religions are not mutually exclusive is in the best interests of both groups.
Third, the LDS church is more progressive than many outsiders know. We require members to pay 10% of their income to the church to be used for community projects and those in need. It is big government in action. The LDS church runs a very large, very successful church welfare program, donates millions of dollars, food, supplies and medicines around the world, operates a food bank, operates a thrift store systems similar to the salvation army, interest free student loans and many other assistance programs. Often the biggest challenge for Mormons is accepting that the United States government to try to help those the LDS Church can't reach because they see the church as efficient and government as inefficient.
The LDS faithful ideologically don't line up well with corporate conservatives or the evangelicals who think we are going to hell. It isn't going to be easy to change the majority of this community's thinking, but it is a worthwhile goal for those who believe in Howard Dean's 50 State Project.