The GOP Has a Mormon Problem

From today's WaPo.

Mormons have tended to vote overwhelmingly Republican. So a few trends are troubling for that esteemed political party.

1) Fewer people are choosing to be Mormon.

This is part of a larger trend in which Americans are turning away from religion in general. The percent of Americans who prefer "no religion" are up from 5% in the '70s to almost 30% today.

2) More young Mormons are choosing the Democratic Party over the GOP.

The reason? Donald Trump is a big one. "Trump turned off many LDS voters with his uncouth personal style, constant feuds with Mormon Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and attempts to restrict Muslim immigration. (Mormons faced religious discrimination throughout U.S. history and tend to react negatively to attacks on any single religious group.)"

3) Abortion: "...Mormons younger than 40 were more likely to favor abortion “for any reason” than their older peers.

4) Race:


The article ends with this observation: "In every election, the Republicans have to invent new ways to keep up with the nation’s increasing racial diversity, growing suburbanization and decreasing religiosity."

And yet it seems today's GOP is going in the opposite direction--doubling down on stoking white resentment while celebrating outdated religious practices regarding sex.

The LDS Church has suffered declining memberships largely due to the age of the Internet. There is so much out there regarding what I like to call the "worst theology wrapped up in the prettiest package."

Until I delved deep into their history, I could not understand how a faith that touts integrity and honesty as being a pillar could embrace someone as corrupt and immoral as Trump. Then I realized that church is a grift in itself and always has been. The younger generations of LDS are coming to this and it's hurting the church big time.

Say what you will about Mitt Romney, he's got more integrity in his little finger than Trump will ever have.