Thoughts on Religion

I have felt impressed to share my feelings about my religion in lieu of the recent presidential election. Yes, I am a Mormon. Yes, I voted for Mitt Romney. No, I don't hate President Obama.

On the night of November 6, 2012 my Facebook news feed was flooded with every type of anger and happiness that man is able to express. I had friends and family happy for the reelection of President Barack Obama. They were thrilled that they didn't have to "move to Italy anymore" or "ditch [their] American citizenship of embarrassment." On the other hand I had friends and family who wanted to "move to Canada" stating "we're doomed" and "four more years years of destruction" are on their way. These comments are quite understandable. People's emotions can easily get roused when the fate of your country is put in one man's hands and you can decide who. What peeved me are the actions that followed.

Members of my own religion started to do things contrary to their beliefs. A few of them swore. Almost half were being unkind to others or to their President. They started using their religion to back up the results of the election saying, "This is the reason they are calling for more missionaries," or "More missionaries will be going foreign now." I also saw some using Helaman 5:2 as an explanation and a rationalization. This Mormon scripture states, "For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted." Since when has it been okay to apply scriptures to call people evil? Facebook is not the place to apply our religious doctrine to things of the world. It makes our entire religion look like self-centered, rude, and fake. I don't approve.

The religion I believe in is one of kindness, respect, and commitment. My religion is one centered on love for God and love for our fellowmen. My religion is in my heart. My religion is Mormonism. As members of God's church, we NEVER check our religion at the door, whether it be for politics, sports, or anything else.

The following is addressed to my fellow members of the church. You are disciples of Christ. Your actions reflect those of the church. You are standing, living, breathing, examples of what our church stands for. Represent your religion correctly. Do not do anything to disgrace it or harm it. 

To those who believe that most Mormons voted for Romney based on the sole fact that he is Mormon, think a little harder. Did you vote against Romney because he was Mormon? Are you being hypocritical? I did my research to avoid being pushed into this mold and unless you did too you have no right to make this assumption. I am not an uneducated Mormon voter.

I am tired of people criticizing my religion. If you don't agree, fine. I'm not going to force you to believe what I believe. I know there are people that make my religion sound haughty. Unfortunately every religion has these members. I ask you to simply look past these blemishes and see what we truly believe.

I love you all despite our differences. You are all my brothers and sisters. Keep being stellar.